Santa Clara, Che and back to Havana

From Trinidad we had another long drive back to Havana via Santa Clara and the Che memorial. We had been sick through the night but managed to catch some of the rural scenery between naps.

 

In Santa Clara we visited Che Guevara's mausoleum along with many of his comrades. The museum section had a lot of photographic material on his life. Che was not his name! he was actually Ernesto. He was born Argentinian and Che is a phrase they use a lot so the Cubans started to call him this and when he became a minister in the new regime he retained the name Che. He trained as a doctor but became a soldier and was involved in a series of revolutionary movements finally being killed in Bolivia.
Photos were only allowed in the open air section with the memorable sculpture.

                                                                  Che Guevara.

                                                             Che's mural wall

                                        Che's letter to the Cuban people on his resignation.

Skipped lunch and slept till we reached Havana. We stopped at the fort across the bay from the old section of town and the malecon. Great for photos!

                                                Gail with Old Havana as a backdrop.

                          It was close to sunset and a beautiful location.

 The guns of the old fort protect the city beyond from attack. The modern buildings of North Havana
and the malecon make up the background.

Our final photo of Cuba. A great place to visit and an interesting economy to study.
We fly homeward today!

Trinidad

We had the day to explore the city at leisure so after a sleep in, we set out, first visiting the smaller lower square. It is very picturesque although go 6 blocks away from the main areas and you get a different view!

                                               The small lower square and church.

On the way up to the main square we passed a water delivery. A little further on we came across the fumigator smoking out the mosquitoes. This is a serious health threat.

                              The buildings in the Upper or main square are excellent.

The church has a stained timber altarpiece and it is much larger than the church in the lower square.

                                               After shopping we did stop for a refreshing drink!

The best visit was to the former St. Francis of Assisi Convent that now houses a revolutionary museum. It was the views from the tower that we loved. Gail is looking down from the first level roof.

                                               Then it was up the tower! It was straight!

                                          Great views on the way up the tower.

                                           Rooftops and the areas beyond the town.

                                            Even the bells couldn't block the view.

Twice we were able to stop and take videos across the rooftops to record the music below.

                                          A town with real history at every point.

Back down we started back to our casa. These steps at night are transformed into a dance club and beyond is a cave venue for another nightclub but spoiled by filling with smoke. Just too many cigars in Cuba!

We enjoyed lunch in a formal restaurant and then had to hurry to make the afternoon bus to the beach.
It was about 20 minutes over bumpy roads but a great way to cool off. One of the best beaches we saw but don't look too hard underwater!

Ceinfuegos

After exploring the shopping options in Ceinfuegos we looked around this beautiful city. It is very diverse with historic streets with old colonial buildings but back a few blocks and it is not quite as beautiful!

 A great street leading up towards the central square. It is a great spot to visit.

                                           A rare quiet moment.You need patience to take photos!

                                              A superb streetscape in the old quarter.

We had time to walk around the square and down to the port. This has some of the most beautiful buildings in Cuba. We started with the Cathedral and worked our way around visiting artists at work and shops as well as the historic landmarks.

                                        The Cathedral is very simple but has beautiful lines.

              The Cathedral has some of the best remaining stained glass windows in Cuba.

                 The next building around the square was the old academy, now part of the university.

One of the best buildings was Teatro Tomas Terry. It has an interior that retained about 85% of the original woodwork. It is a wonderful place and it is good to see it being restored.

                                                            The external facade.

 The ceiling has its original detailed painted ceiling. Lots of interesting details throughout!

                                    The seating is in three tiers with great wooden boxes

                                 With construction work underway it was too dirty to sit.

                            The stage area was huge. Great for full operatic productions.

                                         The detail of the ceiling. Norman Lindsay would have felt at home!

                                               Gail and Old Tom. or Gail the peeping Tom!

We moved on and visited a few artists' studios. One told us the list of famous venues that held his work. He got a no from us!

                  The blue building on the corner was our favourite. A fantastic old colonial palace.

It held a wonderful collection of furniture and artworks as well as historic memorabilia. We especially loved the lines of the building and its fantastic views. The main square.

                                                     We had a great view of each other!

We went to the very top where you were standing with half of your body above the highest point of the building. Simply exhilarating!

                                             Gail at the very top. Only one at a time allowed!

                                                Still taking photos on the way down.

 We walked down to the port but no ships in port! The market stalls had no customers. From our high viewpoint we could see the water and across the bay to the current power station and also the nuclear power station that was 80% complete when the USSR funding and expertise dried up!

Our final stop was at a Moorish style building that is now a hotel. Great photo stop.

                                                One more step back and we would have to pay!

                                                       Now hurry for the bus!

Shopping in Cuba

We had a good look at the distribution of food in Cuba. We visited a local store that distributes the rationed products and also the stores that sell at market prices.

The local store in Ceinfuegos. There are about 380 families that receive their rationed goods and can only receive them from this store.

The prices and ration quantities. So plenty of sugar but not many eggs. Set amounts of rice, beans,oil etc.

                                        The ration book. A record is also kept at the store.

 We watched a meat delivery. The meat was in a non refrigerated truck and the day was hot. One side of pork bounced on the ground! No, the dog did not score a sausage and we didn't order any that night.

The local pharmacy. All medicine is free with a script. This shows the total stock. Medical treatment and hospitals are free.

We moved on to a public store, There are not too many. This was the first good stock of water we found at normal prices! The range of goods is very limited but it is where you can purchase extra food. So you only get your 5 eggs from the ration shop but move on to buy the extras that you need at market price.