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Cuba—2018: <<Part 1  Part 2 Part 3>> 

Havana, Cuba

Havana was a first for us and while we were prepared to go off on our own adventure, the shore excursions group asked us to be escorts on two different buses for "Highlights of Havana" tours. Usually, as one bus was leaving an attraction, the next one would be arriving. Dean and I ran into each other several times, so what I've done here, since we saw approximately the same attractions, is that I chose the best photos between us of each venue and some of the other scenery along the way.

 
The crescent moon and Venus just before sunrise. The closest pier has been refurbished, but the others have not...


The sunrise.

 
Mosques and churches...

 
The Lonja del Comercio (Commerce Market) building with a bronze statue of Mercury on its dome. It served as the stock exchange in the capital until the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Today, it is an office building.


The air was hazy.


Flying the Cuban flag.


Waiting for the bus with a tour guide for the 7-hour day...

 
The capitol building. The dome was undergoing renovation.

 
Many buildings and other infrastructure needed repair. Even at this huge cemetery, repairs were being made...


This cemetery is the second-largest in the world and one of the most historically important. Established in 1876, the Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón was named after Christopher Columbus. Built around a central chapel, the 150-acre cemetery is laid out in a grid of main avenues and smaller side streets. Here's a link to Atlas Obscura with more information.

 
There was a funeral while we were there.

 
Inside the main church and this was one place where we ran into each other.

 

 
Angels and bats both have wings...


A fleet of vintage cars pulled onto a side road of the cemetery.

 
One of the ship's excursions was a classic car tour. This couple said it had been a fun ride.


Fun. And other classic cars were frequently seen on the roads.

 

 

 
El Cristo de La Habana is made of European Carrara marble. The statue is made from 77 separate pieces, which were sculpted in Rome and blessed by the pope before being shipped to Cuba. It was inaugurated on Dec. 25, 1958.


A coconut vendor near the foot of the statue.


A view back to the Veedam and the city.


On to Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana, one of several forts in Havana.

 

 

 


The gate and ramp mechanism.

 
Just outside the fort, a classic truck was used to transport workers.



  

 

 
The writings on the walls...


Dean's lunch spot.

 


My lunch spot had writing on the walls.


A lively band for lunchtime entertainment.


This was fun... An art project on the outskirts of Havana turned this neighborhood into a gallery of murals, sculptures and more. This area used to be home to a garbage dump. But since 2001, artists have turned the trash into treasures through the Muraleando Community Art Project.


We went into the community building and the back garden is protected from leaf fall and maybe birds or burglars with a net.

 
Whimsical sculptures inside the courtyard (and under the net).

 

 


Good entertainment and snacks were offered.


We were herded back onto the buses for the next venue.

 

 

 
A different set of classic cars...

 
An outside restaurant was very busy.

 
A sculpture of Antonio Gades, a Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer, stands in front of Palacio de Lombillo, overlooking the Plaza de la Catedral in Havana Vieja (Old Havana).

 
Handmade dolls were for sale next to another column.


Sepia colored painted mural of upper class intellectuals of colonial times in Old Havana.


A flea market

 

 
The Havana Club was a popular stop for people on our bus who wanted to buy real Cuban cigars.

 

 
A worker looks down from a high-end residence, still under under construction. A Seamen's memorial statue.


So Havana is a study in contrasts. Our next Cuban port, Cienfuegos was canceled due to high winds and a long, narrow channel to reach the harbor. Passengers were pretty upset with the captain's decision.

We had an assignment for two more Cuban cruises, but Trump's new Cuban policies meant that all Cuban cruises originating in the US were canceled. We hope that will change, because we'd like to go back after this brief introduction.

On to Grand Cayman & more... >>

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