CUBA JAN 2015

Havana is a magnificent city, one of the greatest architectural gems of Spanish colonization. It has further had the benefit of being virtually untouched over the last 55 years, when so much fine old architecture has been torn down all around the world. The downside is that this abandonment has caused much of the city to look rather tatty;

however the opening up of the island to tourism has generated a huge inflow of funds, a large portion of which is earmarked for the restoration of the city. Work has already been going on for some years and large parts of Old Havana are now restored to their former splendour.

In what remains unrestored, work is proceeding apace – the Capitol is sheathed in scaffolding.

The plan is then to work outwards into Havana Centro. The famous Malecón (seafront) is a particularly high profile area which is receiving attention. We were warmly welcomed to our “casa particular” (private sector hostel) on arrival, then set out to explore the city. We took in the Museum of the Revolution – ex-presidential palace – which contains the Granma, in which Fidel sailed from Mexico to start the revolution. It is an interesting historical record, although a grain or two of salt is needed occasionally. It also records with glee the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961! – of which more later. We visited the cathedral

and went for the first of several mojitos in the Hotel Inglaterra. In the morning we went to look for the bus station to buy tickets for our trip to Santiago the next day. In most of Cuba this is not even possible, but here in the capital there is a system… We finally found the station (a long way from where our hostess said it would be!) of Viazul buses – the only line which tourists are allowed to use. There was a long queue for the only desk selling tickets to individuals; here at least commercial customers are served at a different desk, which is not the case elsewhere. We reserved our passage to Santiago de Cuba – but were issued with a voucher instead of tickets and advised to arrive one hour before departure next day so that they could print the tickets! The classic car taxis continue to be a feature of the city - most of them have had the engine changed in the interests of fuel economy!

Magda found dozens of little old ladies, dogs and cats to photograph, and I bagged her dancing with one of them!