A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

By the time we got back to the cruise terminal for our walk around the old town the rain had nearly finished-

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More of the Cathedral square-

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Now here come the first of the scams.Ten CUCs a photo-$US10-

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As to the ladies they just put the cigar in your mouth.Afterwards you wonder just how many mouths the cigar has been in.
So if in Havana and you see those ladies with a basket head in the opposite direction or say a very firm NO.

 

[drron]

More of Cathedral Square-

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And in the Cathedral a string group was rehearsing-

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[drron]

Part of the original water distribution system.

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Some lovely old buildings naturally since this is the old town.The first 4 pictures are a boutique hotel.Los Frailes,The Friars.Even the staff are dressed as friars-

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[drron]

Arrived at another square where the entrepreneurial spirit was alive-

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Then to a café for some relief from the heat and a mojito-

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[drron]

Then back out to the square-

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[drron]

Now this fellow had no luck with the Expedition staff so I bought his paper.Fortunately he had an English language version-

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Museums for everything-

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The walk continues-

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[drron]

Then to a bar supposedly frequented by Hemingway.In the Square I had been called Papa Hemingway by an old fellow.Certainly some resemblance as an old guy!

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With a very old elevator-

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Music everywhere-

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Now by this time your correspondent is wearing his Fidel cap so when this group came up hailing El Presidente it would have been impolite not to accept their offer.Possibly the first time some strolling minstrels in Habana were singing Waltzing Matilda-

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The square here was surrounded by artists and booksellers but also the obligatory pigeon on a statue's head-

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[drron]

The walk continues-

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An old school with a tree sacred to the African community outside.A fellow called Picasso drew a picture of me here!

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[drron]

Then another fort-

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Next a place where the old city walls are being excavated-

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Then another square with a cathedral-

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[drron]

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Once again music.Some of the old buildings are used as apartments but with the high ceilings an extra floor has been created-

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More from round the square-

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[drron]

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Now the walk ends but before I got back on the bus I had time for a few pictures at the taxi rank-

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The last is a Lada.A lot of the police cars are this model.

 

[Julesmac]

I sure hope you nicked a couple of those beer glasses, Ron! OOps I mean bought or 'souveniered'

 

[Milboo]

Loving the photos - bringing back some great memories especially I have some identical photos!

Did you stroke the beard of the statue for luck?

And did you come across the chocolate shop? They do the best iced chocolates. It is just a bit further down the street you were standing on when you took the pic into the Square with the vendor carts!

 

[drron]

No glasses souvenired but a couple of bottles of Ron in the bags now.
We eat too well on board so no choccies.There is also a beer museum in the Square now.
So back to the ship,a nice cold shower and lunch.A very nice beef rending.
At 1500 it was off for a 2 hour walk by myself along the harbour promenade.A few shots along the way-

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However the tide was low.The rocks were covered by a thick,black,oily sludge-

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And another form of taxi-

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[drron]

People actually fish in these polluted waters and obviously then eat the catch.

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And these are vessels that some take out into the ocean to fish-

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[drron]

Now heading towards town-

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Cultural changes coming-

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[drron]

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[drron]

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So back to the ship again for another cold shower and an early dinner.

 

[drron]

So after dinner it was off to the show.Not this show-

But this show-

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But the first of a bad 24 hours. 2/3rds of the passengers are with an Australian Group Captain's Choice.Not sure of what actually happened.The group had been told that this was an exclusive Captain's Choice cruise but there are 18 of us to disprove that.We had booked in late August 2013.
For tonight there were 2 busses for Captain's Choice and one for the group which became known in the third bus as the "outcasts".The first 2 busses left but we waited for about another 15 minutes even though we were all on the bus.This meant we were placed at the last 2 tables to the side and behind the front of the stage.It was noted by all of our table that the best table was seating for SS staff.
Fortunately there were dancers behind us-

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Of course sitting behind the action we got to see a lot of bottoms.

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[drron]

More dancing-

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So the last of the Tropicana.

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Now each table was served 3 full size bottles of Havana Club rum.Noone else on our table drank rum so I did my best not to let the table down.Even so fortified I really didn't think this show was great.Two hours of very similar dances done in different clothes.The music had a sameness about it and the singing was often off key.I suppose OK to go once but definitely not on my recommend list.
On top of all that there were a couple of blackouts during the show and then everything stops.
A quick trip back to the boat and off to bed with an early start to our "Yank Tank"tour of Havana.