PHOTOS+AND+NOTES

Although it took us over 90 minutes to clear immigration and customs (nothing like good communist efficiency to slow everything down – queuing here is just part of life it seems) we are enjoying what little we have seen of Havana so far. Our hotel (Hotel National de Cuba) is a grand hotel build in 1930 when Havana was the //Riviera of the south// for rich Americans. It has obviously faded somewhat since then but still has some “grandeur” – as well as a couple of pools, numerous bars and restaurants plus some great music playing everynight – nice and mellow with a cold glass of something, lazing back in large overstuffed chairs.
 * Havana, Cuba** here we are! See also **VINALES** **TRINIDAD** and **CIENFUEGOS**


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We spent our first full day walking around the “centre” of Havana plus a few excursions into museums – esp the Museo de la Revolution which documented the struggle to achieve the present day Cuba. Unfortunately most of the writing explaining the photos, documents etc was in Spanish – we discovered (shock, horror) that our Spanish wasn’t quite good enough to translate them!!! I can still order a white wine and a beer OK though! Entry was interesting as the lady in the collecting booth had a bit of trouble with her maths – it took us three goes to get her to fork over the full amount of the difference – price was $6 each plus $2 ‘cause I had a camera – she gave us $4, then $5 when we pointed it out, and finally, and reluctantly, she produced the full $6. Every little bit helps I suppose! We had read that this sort of minor scam is common so we weren’t surprised or even offended.

The streets are so full of people! It amazed us … how many people actually live here? And why are they all out at once? Some streets were so crowded we were dodging coming “traffic” almost every step – others not so crowded but lots of folks outside, chatting on doorsteps, or leaning over balconies to chat to others on the ground or just mooching about in the street, kids kicking flat soccer balls around, and people using the public telephones which are attached to the outsides of many buildings – no shelter or privacy- just yell your message over the traffic and crowd noise (hey, better than noisy buggers with mobiles though!)
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The buildings generally looked rundown – haven’t had a paint in probably 50 years, shutters broken (sometimes roughly repaired or maybe not) – all in all, probably what we expected – a city stuck in a time warp where not much has changed and very little has been maintained.

We decided to walk back to our hotel along the Malecon (sea wall pedestrian walk alongside the main street). This is where young people meet, stroll and generally get together in the evenings. The waves regularly crash against the wall sending walls of spray over the top causing the usual squealing from the girls who get wet. I managed to get drenched as I was taking some photos – Gail had wisely decided to stay on the otherside of the roadway. I was very wet, but not cold and I felt almost a “local” after it!


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 * [[image:fix_car.jpg align="center"]] || We spent our second day wandering around the streets on the fringes of Old Havana following a self-guided walking tour we came across. We saw lots more old run-down buildings, fended off numerous cigar sellers, others wanting us to take their picture (pay later) and also chatted easily with many locals curious as to where we were from and willing to welcome us to Cuba.

The crowded, narrow streets are fascinating – small window shops with people queuing for “whatever”, vendors on the streets with queues for their wares also, pedal-bike taxis calling for your trade, horse carriage drivers doing the same and a wonderful fusion of cultures intermingled and thronging on the pavements. Its an eye and ear-opening experience! (and occasionally one for the nostrils too)

And, of course, the wonderful old cars everywhere. As Cuba was completely isolated for many years they have somehow managed to keep an amazing number of 1940’s and 50’s cars on the road and running. I’m pretty sure they don’t have roadworthiness checks here as many look like they are well past their last legs but somehow they keep going. There must be some really incredible mechanics here! Other are obviously well cared for and shine like new.

There seems to be music in every café, restaurant and hotel so we are getting an earful of Cuban music….. even some very cool salsa dancers at a spot we stopped for lunch. Two helpings of prawns (one with lobster pieces as well) a couple of mojitos - $22 (that’s Cuban pesos but roughly equivalent to Aussie dollar) ||


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And finally, we managed to get some extra cash using our Visa today – haven’t seen an ATM but found a money exchange that would give us Cuban CUCs using our Visa card (as long as we showed our passport). We still have some Euros to exchange if we need to but are now keeping them for emergencies (we can always use them again on another trip to Europe!!! Gives yet another reason to go)

And …. After having free internet access all over USA (and even the night we spent in Mexico) we have come down to Earth (OK, Gail didn’t care one way or the other but ..) its now $2:50 for 15 mins or part thereof!!!! I doubt that we’ll have any internet access outside of Havana but at least here our phone works with the Travelsim card – it didn’t in USA.

Can’t wait to get our tour started on Monday and spend some time in “Old Havana” and then get out of Havana and into the countryside.
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