October 3 - Havana

October 3 Saturday - Old and New Havana 



It pays to get up earlier - breakfast was so much better this morning and they had little sandwiches that we took along for lunch. The hotel has a free shuttle to the Hop Off, Hop On bus stop and gave us a ticket for that as well so we spent most of the day in Havana City. 

We had seen this same car from the bus.

Naturally as soon as you get off in the center of town you're accosted by pitchmen. Bienvedo talked us into a 2 hour, 60 CUC (for all of us) city tour in a 1952 Chevy convertible, assuring us that if we didn't like it we didn't have to pay. We assumed he was coming along but the driver took off without him. In just a few minutes we realized the driver spoke no English so we made him turn around and go back. Much to our surprise instead of giving up or finding another driver he just jumped in the car. He did a pretty good job of pointing out all the sites and stopped when we wanted to. 

Booth 110 if you get there.

Stops: vegetable market - bought beer; Cigar/Rum shop - bought cigars and a bottle of rum; Hemingway's favourite bar - bought drinks; tourist market - bought a band. I just wanted a simple wooden instrument but next thing you know Gerry had enough  for a band. That guy saw him coming; claimed he was from Toronto, born in the wrong country. Not sure which country he thought was the wrong one - Canada or Cuba. Ellen and Rudy got a hat and a knick knack and were so harassed fled the market.

 
Beer at the vegetable market.




Rum at Hemingway's bar
 
 
 
 
 
Gave pencils to some kids.
Only derelict I saw. 

Lots of buildings need repairs.

Hospital

Square near Hemingway's bar.

Back in Central Park we went to an ATM which accepted Gerry's card but didn't give out any money. Hope it didn't really take any money out of his account. By now we're exhausted, and overheated so we didn't bother hopping on or off the bus on the way back, but most of the stops were things you can easily get pictures of just driving by.

Fort

Cuba's famous old cars

Some lights have big count down signs - great idea!

A lot of traffic and pollution

Cop dressed in hot wool and spurs

 




Wish I knew what this was.


They offer tours of the cemetary
A lot of statues.
Add caption


Revolution Square

 


That evening we tried to get into the fancy restaurant but were told we need reservations despite the fact only one table was occupied. Musicians at dinner again, different ones. There was a synchronized swimming show at 10. We just happened to be on the balcony and saw there was something going on at the pool or we wouldn't have known. They really should post information for us gringos.