We started our tour with our new group of friends in classic cars. We had a long drive of over two hours around Old Havana and the Malecon and up to the Northern part of the city with its old houses and embassies. Very interesting both for the cars that we travelled in as well as the passing scenery and the interesting stops.
. All the cars were convertibles! This line up is our starting point outside the Revolutionary Museum.
Our first car was this 1952 pink Buick. We loved the ride around the Malecon, the waterside road that is so popular to stroll at night. It stretches for about 8 miles.
Gail with the Buick. This stop was at an interesting wooded area where animal sacrifices were made and vultures cleaned up the remains. The second religion to Catholicism.
Gail on a bridge at this stop. Won't show some of the photos!
Our second car was a 1958 pink Edsel. The driver told us that it had been his Grandfather's then his fathers and it would be passed on to his son who is 11 years old when he can drive. They earn a good living with such an asset.
Next we stopped at the John Lennon Park. After the revolution people were sent to gaol for listening to "The Beatles" and similar offences. Eventually Castro decreed that this would cease and personally
opened this statue. Some years later John visited Cuba but didn't meet Fidel or visit the park. People regularly steal his glasses!
We swapped cars again into a red Chev Belair and drove to the Revolution Square on the highest part of old Havana. There is a classic huge memorial, parliament buildings along with various ministerial buildings with revolutionary leaders on the facade. There are none of Fidel Castro here or elsewhere in Cuba.
The pre revolution car and the revolution monument!
Che on the Ministerial building.
Line up of cars in the Revolutionary Square. No it isn't Fidel!
Gail in our final car..a 1928 "T" model Ford.
The Capitol Building. It was modelled on the one in Washington but they built it 15cm higher!
This year is the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana. The present from the Russians was the gold to resurface the dome. The present from the Japanese was much more practical...100 garbage trucks to clean up the city. It is an ongoing project!!
After the classic car ride we walked the streets of old Havana. We had spent two days doing this but saw new things and new areas.
Sure we visited some tourist shops but out of those main areas the shops for the people were very different. There are very limited goods and very basic styles. No multiple brands to select from. There was a serious shortage of bottled water and most shops had none. You can't drink the tap water!
We moved on to Plaza Vieja with its interesting statuary, visited a Franciscan church that is now a
concert venue and others. Nearby is the new cruise terminal now in mothballs. We saw the former stock exchange, passed water tankers delivering water to houses, peeked into a classroom and made a short visit to a small operating church.
After lunch we were back in Obispo Street and as the group moved on to the squares that we had visited twice we left and went to the hotel where Hemingway lived. The rooftop bar had great city views and one floor below was room 511 where he did his writing. It was here that he wrote "The Old Man and the Sea" We celebrated with a daquiri. It is said that as he left the building he would toss a coin. Heads he would go one way for a daquiri and tails the other way for a mojito.
Roof top view.
That night we went to the greatest cultural icon in Cuba- a night at the Buena Vista Social Club. It is recognised that this group personifies the musical culture of Cuba. We had a good table in the packed room. The large band of at least a dozen musicians-brass,guitars and percussion of many types plus about 20 singers many older than us! It was non stop for well over 2 hours. It was very loud! We walked back to our hotel taking about 20 minutes after midnight. At no time did we have any safety concerns in Cuba.
. All the cars were convertibles! This line up is our starting point outside the Revolutionary Museum.
Our first car was this 1952 pink Buick. We loved the ride around the Malecon, the waterside road that is so popular to stroll at night. It stretches for about 8 miles.
Gail with the Buick. This stop was at an interesting wooded area where animal sacrifices were made and vultures cleaned up the remains. The second religion to Catholicism.
Gail on a bridge at this stop. Won't show some of the photos!
Our second car was a 1958 pink Edsel. The driver told us that it had been his Grandfather's then his fathers and it would be passed on to his son who is 11 years old when he can drive. They earn a good living with such an asset.
Next we stopped at the John Lennon Park. After the revolution people were sent to gaol for listening to "The Beatles" and similar offences. Eventually Castro decreed that this would cease and personally
opened this statue. Some years later John visited Cuba but didn't meet Fidel or visit the park. People regularly steal his glasses!
We swapped cars again into a red Chev Belair and drove to the Revolution Square on the highest part of old Havana. There is a classic huge memorial, parliament buildings along with various ministerial buildings with revolutionary leaders on the facade. There are none of Fidel Castro here or elsewhere in Cuba.
The pre revolution car and the revolution monument!
Che on the Ministerial building.
Line up of cars in the Revolutionary Square. No it isn't Fidel!
Gail in our final car..a 1928 "T" model Ford.
The Capitol Building. It was modelled on the one in Washington but they built it 15cm higher!
This year is the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana. The present from the Russians was the gold to resurface the dome. The present from the Japanese was much more practical...100 garbage trucks to clean up the city. It is an ongoing project!!
After the classic car ride we walked the streets of old Havana. We had spent two days doing this but saw new things and new areas.
Sure we visited some tourist shops but out of those main areas the shops for the people were very different. There are very limited goods and very basic styles. No multiple brands to select from. There was a serious shortage of bottled water and most shops had none. You can't drink the tap water!
We moved on to Plaza Vieja with its interesting statuary, visited a Franciscan church that is now a
concert venue and others. Nearby is the new cruise terminal now in mothballs. We saw the former stock exchange, passed water tankers delivering water to houses, peeked into a classroom and made a short visit to a small operating church.
After lunch we were back in Obispo Street and as the group moved on to the squares that we had visited twice we left and went to the hotel where Hemingway lived. The rooftop bar had great city views and one floor below was room 511 where he did his writing. It was here that he wrote "The Old Man and the Sea" We celebrated with a daquiri. It is said that as he left the building he would toss a coin. Heads he would go one way for a daquiri and tails the other way for a mojito.
Roof top view.
That night we went to the greatest cultural icon in Cuba- a night at the Buena Vista Social Club. It is recognised that this group personifies the musical culture of Cuba. We had a good table in the packed room. The large band of at least a dozen musicians-brass,guitars and percussion of many types plus about 20 singers many older than us! It was non stop for well over 2 hours. It was very loud! We walked back to our hotel taking about 20 minutes after midnight. At no time did we have any safety concerns in Cuba.
2 comments:
What a wonderful experience! The cool cars AND the awesome music - I'm looking forward to hearing some of your new CDs when you get home.
Great cars!
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