Buick to the future

No visit to Havana is complete without a trip in one of the gas guzzling, politically incorrect and undoubtedly beautiful classic American cars. I had my heart set on a blue convertible, but things weren't looking too promising. It was our final day in Havana and the weather was menacing, a huge storm rolled in from the sea and fat heavy raindrops were hurled at the restaurant windows during breakfast. Plan B was raised up to plan A status, so we headed out (raincoats and brollies at the ready) to walk around the central Havana district, starting at the Plaza de la Revolucione. In fact the weather improved steadily throughout the morning and by the time we'd finished our walking tour and headed to El Floridita for a Daiquiri reward, the skies were blue, sun shining and a glorious blue convertible Buick awaited us - it seemed that the Gods were with us once more. The price seems to be a set rate (30 CUC/ £20 for a 1 hour tour). Cruising along, blinded by the chrome, and bouncing along on the well padded bench seat in the back, we were not disappointed. Starting in the old district we made our way to Plaza De La Revolucione to say Hi to Che and Camillo once more; then on to a residential area, stopping at a park to see the John Lennon statue sat at a park bench. For a small tip a guard comes along and puts the glasses on the statue (they used to always be there, but were stolen so many times that the spectacles now require their own guard). Apparently the Beatles were originally banned in Cuba, but as Lennon became more politically active and outspoken, so Fidel warmed to him and his music - culminating in the statue. Back into our cruise-mobile, along a tranquil river through a park, back along the windswept coastal road, where the waves constantly break over the sea wall, drenching anyone unwise enough to use the pavement that runs alongside it. We round a corner and there is our hotel, the majestic towers and central building have a classic elegance that matches our car. Our driver turns into the entrance and we sweep elegantly up the driveway to the front entrance. We explain that this is our hotel and the driver kindly offers to take our photos with the hotel as the backdrop (one for the album I reckon). I check my watch and realise with surprise that our hour is nearly up and we make our way back to El Capitolio, to our start point. I would defy anyone not to emerge from the trip with a grin that a 5 year old has when they contemplate a huge ice cream. Worth every peso, cent, penny!

Fidel to Fidel

Perhaps it was the heavy rain laden grey skies, but when we arrived at the Plaza De La Revolucione it was the first true sense of 'Eastern Block' communist austerity we had experienced. Drab, concrete, unforgiving buildings surround this enormous square. At the museum the previous day we'd seen photos with it full of supporters Fidel to Fidel, but it was only when we were here, that we realised just how many people must have congregated in this enormous expanse. Jon sat in Fidel's marble seat, just below the Jose Marti monument, and you could imagine the spectacle of the square full of supporters, the outline images of Che Guevara and Camillo Cienfuegos staring down at the massed throng from the ministry of the Interior and Communications buildings, respectively. We got a bit lost on our 'Central Havana' walk and ended up walking through part of a hospital complex, past office buildings before finally descending to the base of the steps that lead up to the Havana University. Fidel went to University there, met his first wife and unsuccessfully tried to be head of the FEU students' union (completely unlinked, I'm sure, with the fact that they were banned when he came to power). A visit to the renowned Ice Cream parlour that Cubans queue up at to eat in the flying saucer shaped concrete complex, to chat, meet friends and lovers. It was also part of the movie set in Havana called 'Chocolate y Fresa', alluding to the choice of Chocolate or strawberry ice cream (if you're a guy ordering strawberry, that meant you were gay), this is an iconic Cuban movie about homosexuality and forbidden love. We'd been to the Paladar (private family restaurant) that was the setting for the movie, so we felt we'd come full circle.

Quote of the day:

Suzanna: "You can't go wrong with a mixed salad".....

That was before it arrived complete with cold tinned mixed vegetables with the piéce de résistance... cold boiled Brussels sprouts!