Habana
Trip Start
Aug 23, 1996
1
428
561
Trip End
Ongoing
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La Habana Vieja, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba
Monday, June 1, 2009
Havana Day 1
Straight through customs, changed some money and jumped in a cab. We had been watching the weather recently and it stated that it was going to rain a shitload, and not to be disappointed, it did !!! The cab dropped us off to our Casa Particulares. We were close to the Capitolo, so we had a quick walk around, had dinner, and then went back and died as we were now behind our usual time, our bodyclocks were so far out.
Havana Day 2
Glorious sunshine greeted us. We hit the streets and all I could think was that this looked like a rundown version of Spain. The buildings would have been quite nice once, but now they were falling apart. We visited the camera oscura and it gave us a great 3D live sight of the city. It's not very big, but there was plenty to see.
It didn't take long before we saw our first 50's American car. They were everywhere. All Lucy wanted to do was shoot, but there was more to see. We forgo the museum of the city and ended up at Plaza de Revolucion. It was the old presedential palace but was now a museum for the revolution. It kind of reminded me of the propoganda museum in Hue Vietnam, with things like comrade so and so ate from this spoon !!! Never does it for me. Out in the grounds were vehicles and planes that had been used, and there was even the boat that brought Fidel over as he invaded Cuba. It was behind bullet proof glass, which we didn't understand why.
Back on the streets, we both went back to shooting cars. Trust me, they were impressive. As we walked/shot, we ended up at the Capitolo. We tried to enter, but it was shut !!! So we took a walk through a shit part of Havana until we reached the sea. We followed the coast along until we came to an area that had some bars. Whilst sitting there, the skies turned black, and then the rain came. After two beers and sitting for what seemed like an eternity, we pulled out the umbrellas and set off. Lightening and thunder was everywhere, and we actually received electric shocks, but that was the least of my cares. The roads/footpaths were flooded and all I could think about was the amount of dogshit/human faeces that were washing over my feet. Trust me, I've never got over my Hep E, even if it is now just a mental scar !!! Eventually soaked, we arrived back at our casa, where our owner made us a great home cooked meal
Havana Day 3
Once again, the sun was out, but you know, you could feel rain in the air. The weatherman on the internet told us it would rain and you must believe him !!! Straight down to the museum of the city, but it was closed, so we tried the automobile museum, but it was closed as well. Our book said that all should be open, so we checked at the tourist info, but they said that all is shut on Mondays. I only thought that happened in Euroville !!!
Back on the road, we ended up in Cathedral square. We climbed a tower and shot a load of locals who were trying to scam the touros. Once down, we headed back towards the Capitolo. Behind it was a tobacco factory, so we paid up and did a cigar tour. You were not allowed to take photos, and being a non-smoker, you could taste the tobacco !!! It was impressive seeing these Cuban cigars being made, but all I could think about during it was I wonder how many workers die of lung cancer !!!
Knowing that everything is closed on a Monday, to our amazement, the Capitolo was open. We walked around checking out various rooms, even finding the assembly hall. It kind of reminded me a bit of Bucharest. Huge palace and the rest of the place falling down around it. Still, it was impressive !!!
After lunch, we went back to the water and found the ferry terminal. On the other side was a statue of Jesus, 30 metres high. Now you all know I am not religious, but the views were superb. As I looked, I still thought it looked like rundown Spanish city, or maybe even parts of Porto. And after a while, we came back down, jumped on a ferry and went looking for a restaurant for diiner.
Seeing that we are in Cuba, it would be rude not to drink Mojitos, so we did. The first one was ordered as a Mojita. It was strong, or maybe I'm a pussy. The second came out as a Marita, whilst the third sounded like Makita. I realised that it was better to quit than to fall over !!!
Thankfully, it did not rain.
And Finally
So that was Havana, tomorrow we have a car, and we will be off exploring, but Havana, we will be back. You owe me museums and a few other things, plus Mojito, we have a debt to settle !!!
