Day 1, Havana

Or Habana as the Cubans say it.

When the program manager, Josette, said we were traveling back to the 1950’s, she was so correct.  As we came out of the airport in Havana, the parking lot looked like a car show in the US featuring 1950’s era Chevy’s and Ford’s.  The process of going thru immigration felt like it was Pre-9/11.  The stores carry only Coca Cola and Sprite, we could get Lucky Strike or Salem cigarettes (at least that is what the cigarette machine said on the outside but the actual cigarettes are from Cuba or non-US countries.), and the young folks are dressed like hippies!  The books being sold by the Used Book sellers on the square are also from the 50’s.

Our first stop today was in the Revolution Square where a large obelisk and statue commemorate Jose Marti’.  He is considered by the Cubans to be the greatest poet, journalist and writer in Cuba.  Fidel Castro followed his ideals.  This square is surrounded by old and new government buildings.

We drove along the malecon which is a 7km long sea wall on the Bay of Havana.  We passed at least three different forts that were built to protect the harbor over the past 300 years.

Lunch was at El Templete.  We all had a complimentary Mojito as well as an additional beverage like beer or water or cola. The main course was mahi mahi.

Lynette said we would visit four of the main squares in the colonial ‘Old Town’ of Havana but we only saw three today since we ran out of time.

Square #1 was The Arms Square which was the first square built in Havana.  Carlos M. Cespedes is the Father of Cuba and he was its first President.  The square has a fort on one side, the first government building, the Governor’s mansion which is now the City Museum and other 19th century buildings.  This area was built after the Spanish American War and Cuba’s Independence in 1902.

Square #2 is called the St. Francis of Assisi Square because one side of the square is the St. Francis Cathedral that was built in the 16th century.  The other three sides have building from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Square #3 is the Cathedral of Havana Square built in 1777.  This church is made from soft limestone so it is not intricately carved but has a simple elegant Baroque architecture. Near this square was a University that used to be a monastery and a business called Habaquanex which restores UNESCO sites.

Hard to tell, but these are wooden bricks.

Since we walked past the Floridita Bar, one of Ernest Hemmingway’s favorites, we went back there after supper to try their famous Daiquiris.