Havana, Cuba day 2-without photos

Havana Cuba day 2

 

Today's "Best of Havana" shore excursion took place primarily via air conditioned motor-coach and lasted eight hours. I set my alarm for 6:30 AM, made coffee in my room that I enjoyed on my balcony while reading from “the Happiness Project”, had a relaxing breakfast on the Lido deck, and joined group ‘fathom”-number 11, that left the port at 8:34 AM. (Today we got off to a much smoother and faster start since we did not need to change money.)

 

Today's tour guide was a young woman who has excellent English language skills, is very knowledgeable, and does not realize how much potential she truly has. I encouraged her to pursue a career at an embassy in an English-speaking nation. I said just do it. Don't tell a lot of people but just find a way to do it. She has a lot to offer. Dennise, our fathom impact guide, agreed with me.

 

Our first of six stops, (including lunch) on today's excursion was to a collective outdoor community art exhibit called Muraleando.    http://www.muraleando.org/. There, we saw a variety of exceptionally creative works from oil paintings, to watercolors, to pottery, to sculpture, to metal art, and more. This area was formally dominated by a water plant and even the water tank has been embellished along with the entire neighborhood which has been beautified with murals and thought-provoking and stunning outdoor sculptures. Dozens of local children attend music and fine arts classes every week, and join programs that build their self-esteem and imbue them with a sense of pride as they strengthen their burgeoning talents. Jesus, our tour guide, was passionate and informative.  He told us the leading industries in Cuba are pharmaceuticals, tourism, rum and tobacco. The finale to our visit was listening to a local band that encouraged us to dance with the vocalist and a five-year-old student who has been taking dance lessons. The group is Mambu and Company – – mambu93 @nauta.cu.  I bought their CD. We spent, in all, about an hour and 15 minutes there.  Of note, each tour group visited one of four community art collectives.

 

Our second stop was to the famous market (near the port )filled with hundreds of stalls of everything from traditional Cuban paintings and sculptures, to traditional clothing such as guayaberas, every form of Cuban tchotchke souvenir imaginable, and of course: cigars and rum galore. I purchased several small mementos. Having recently decluttered because of a big move, I resisted loading up on merchandise.

 

Our next stop was the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, home to some of Cuba's best examples of fine art and an entire floor dedicated to revolutionary art. I found the revolutionary art to be some of the most poignantly creative I have seen in all the museums I have visited throughout the globe. We only spent an hour here. I'd like to go back and spend more time appreciating these works of art. 

 

Next, at around 130, was a visit to a family owned restaurant known as a Paladares. It is called the La Bonita in Miraflores. Our choices here were a beef, a chicken, a fish, and a pork dish. I ordered a shredded beef dinner. Although the wait was long, because many other busloads of tourists had arrived before us, the experience was quite pleasant and I dined with Sylvia and her two young adult sons, Clarence and Jonathan, from Los Angeles.

 

Next we took a panoramic tour of the city where we saw El Capitolio, the famed Reina street where Art Nouveau buildings and colonial houses lined the Corridor, past Parque central, and we stopped at the famous plaza de la Revolucion where I took photos under the colossal iron sculptures of Che Guevera and under the monument memorializing Jose Marti, their national hero. So much history took place in the square as many of Fidel's most famous speeches were delivered here, right under the Jose Marti monument (Havana’s tallest structure.).

 

Our final stop was to the 140-acre Cemeterio Cristobal Colon,  a miniature city of mausoleums, crypts, family chapels, and vaults, soaring sculptures and ornate gravestones. My favorite and one of the most popular graves is that of La Milagrosa. Is the story of a young woman who died in childbirth in 1901 who is buried with her still born daughter placed at her feet. When the tomb was opened a few years later, the baby was found in her arms. This woman is now considered the protector of pregnant women and newborn children and there is a series of steps suggested to help her pay homage which includes touching the statue and backing away from the two upon leaving. Thousands of devotees visit her grave annually, adorning it with gifts and flowers. Once again, our tour guide was passionate and well informed.  This massive cemetery is almost a city of its own--reminding me of the famous Recoleta Cemetery, in Buenos Aires Argentina.

 

Just as we pulled into the port, the skies opened and it began to rain torrentially. I stood at the entrance to the port and snapped impressionistic photos of the scene as colorful classic cars and pedestrians sped past.

 

I hated to say goodbye to this beautifully haunting city. I joined the sail away party at 7 PM.

 

Tonight at dinner, I've met more South Floridians. We are everywhere.