Lifestyle:
The best way to get a true sense of a city or place, is to take the streets. With the help of our guide, Claudia, we journeyed to the heart of Havana with the intention of seeing what the city looks like, and feels like.
The “tourist” area gave us the taste of what Havana was like when controlled by the Church and the Spanish. Churches and government offices were dominant with varying degress of impressive structures and also of decaying inner city. The harbor area was dotted with old forts and military structures.
The goal of many of these buildings was to create an aura of protection and imperialist grandeur. Old World families either lived or commissioned buildings in their names.
We viewed many examples of highly evolved edifices that screamed money and riches. It was not clear if any of the local populice actually benefited from these towers of power.
We walked around just about every corner looking at similar designed architectural behemoths. It was hot, so after several hours of this tour, it was enough.
I did make one stop to an approved Cuban cigar store. Many of my favorite Cuban cigars were there for purchase, and picked up a Partagas Serie D Robusto and Ramone Allones Robusto. Prices were about 1/2 of what the going rate is in the US, which are not available in the states.
Plenty of places to eat and drink lined the area if you were so inclined.
There were not many people frequenting the plazas and streets. Prime tourist season was over, and the heat of the early day also must have impacted the crowds.
* We watched local school aged kids and their teachers playing in the plaza , taking PE classes and screaming their heads off. Loved this scene.
* A dance group performing in front of a pretty good crowd.
* Shops which sold souvenirs of varying sorts were available to purchase.
* A woman was feeding a group of cats who seemed to know her, and were very content to get a free meal.
* I was glad to see this part of Havana but felt several hours was more than enough.
* As is the case of old Havana, there were many buildings that were in need of repair. This is a common theme wherever we went. The hostel where we resided for the first two days, had more buildings that needed major care and living in them must be very difficult with electricity , AC, and a good paint job in very short supply or non existent.
We left downtown Havana and next met our driver for a convertible car tour.
Cuba is well known for the countless number of 50’s and 60″s American made cars that still are used as transportation. Cubans are totally resillent in making the best of the situation in fixing and maintaining 50 year old cars. The cars are rigged with diesel engines which must be easier or cheaper to maintain. The smell of these engines are choking to your lungs and eyes.
Our buggy was a Dodge convertible of I think 60’s vintage. We drove through many of the neighborhoods, getting a better understanding of Havana looks like. As stated earlier, houses are in poor shape, yet people need to make the best of the situation. Folks on the street, going to their daily business, some walking, some using public buses, some hitching. Lots of hitching throughout the whole of Cuba. Owning a car is problematic for most.
The tour was great as we went to smaller hoods, got out of the car and walked around. We saw unique places as well as more government buildings. Eventually after a two hour tour , we were dropped off , back to our apartment, refreshed and looked for a place to eat.
Upon the recommendation of the hostel manager, we were directed to a neighborhood joint in a local plaza. Having no sense of direction, we still were able to find the eatery with a great mix of locals and Europeans. The plaza was a bee hive of activity, kids playing, folks hanging on the benches, people selling wares of some sort. The restaurant was up a flight of stairs and overlooking the plaza. The menu featured fish, pork, chicken and pizza.
We ordered a couple of appetizers, two entrees, bottled water and orange soda.
The food was fabulous, the service was friendly and the scene at the resturant was even
better. The total price of the meals was about $7.00 with a $3.00 tip.
That evening meal was what we were looking for. A real sense of the Cuban people.
Everyone was having a great time.
Somehow we made it back to our apartment, not getting lost. The rest of the night’s entertainment was looking over our terrace, watching the street scene of people dancing, playing loud music , drinking and enjoying what they had.
Keep smoking
