Cuba 2012 – Vol. 1
I recently returned from a trip to Cuba. Before you ask – how’d you do that Americano? Fly through Canada? – let me tell you that tourism direct from the USA is beginning to become more available. Mind you, it comes with some rules and stipulations like I must be able to produce my travel journal at any time in the next 5 years should the government request it. But it is possible through a number of travel groups. I went with National Geographic Exepeditions and it was worth it! We had a jam packed schedule every day but we learned so much, got to see potentially much more than you might on your own and made some new friends along the way. We met with Cuban historians, legal experts, artists, school administrators, tobacco farmers and more. At times it felt like there was a film of propaganda and a sense of trying to demonstrate all is well despite a total lack of resources, but the people were wonderful and amazing and I’m thankful for the experience.
Because there is just so much to share I’m going to break this into a few bite-sized pieces. This first one will share some scenes of Habana Vieja (Old Havana). This is the oldest section of Havana dating back to the earliest settlements when it was surrounded by a brick wall and traded hands between Spain and England and back to Spain. The architecture is amazing. It’s also falling apart – quite literally. The Cuban government has begun to pump tourism money back into refurbishing this area. Tourism and the fact it’s been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site will save this section of Havana from crumbling into dust.
Castillo de la Real Fuerza – oldest fort in North America
The rumors are true car aficiandos, there is a wealth of 1930s-1950s era Detroit classics.
All iPhone photos in this post are from the Hipstamatic camera app
Some examples of the transition happening in Habana Vieja. Below is Plaza Vieja which has undergone major renovations.
Looking down Obispo street toward the Ambos Mundos hotel (pink on the left) where Ernest Hemingway spent some time writing and probably drinking if the stories are true.
View from the rooftop bar at the Ambos Mundos hotel where my new friends and I spent some time drinking Cuba Libres and Daquiris.
I never once saw anyone in this amusement park or on the ferris wheel. I can only guess at why, but I’m sure cost vs. average incomes might have something to do with it.
To be continued…..