Havana, Cuba

After a series of long delays leaving the U.S. due to the blizzards up and down the north east coast we spent 24 hours at home in Port of Spain before we jumped back on plane - this time to Cuba. On top of the delays out of the U.S., our baggage was lost but luckily delivered to us an hour before we left for the airport to fly to Cuba. It gave us the smallest window of opportunity to dump the winter gear and re-pack with some Caribbean appropriate attire.

We spent five days in Havana based in the gorgeous Hotel Raquel in Habana Vieja (the old town). We explored the old town squares, the fortresses, soaked up the abundance of music, ate Cuban chocolate, took a horse and cart ride through the streets of old Havana and into central Havana, visited the Cuban Art Museum and the Museum of the Revolution, drank mojito after mojito after cuba libre, after mojito, took a taxi ride along the Malecon in a '52 Chevy, bought cigars, marvelled at the revolutionary themed art that proudly took up spaces which, in any other city, would be diligently reserved for Nike, Coca-Cola or Kodak billboards and otherwise just soaked up the vibe of this marvellous city. I could go on and on about Cuba and Havana, just as I could have continued to take photo after photo of the city. Given the number of photos I have and the fact that I will find it impossible to leave many out, I think I'll let the photos do the talking:

Hotel Raquel

The lobby of Hotel Raquel.

The inside of Hotel Racquel.

The view from our bed.

A cute obstruction to the view from our bed.

The same maid from room service made a different character from the towels each day.

Our first meal in Cuba and, immediately, our first insight into Cuban music. Jesse was, as you can see, enthralled.

Samuel with the musicians' maracas.

Jesse was "taken" by the first musicians we saw and here he was literally taken by the carnival buskers.

The iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba with the obligatory pink Cadillac.

At the Hotel Nacional we asked for a taxi and along came this '52 Chevy. Amazing.

Crusing the Malecon in the '52 Chevy.

Coco taxi - Havana's other vehicle of choice.

Samuel on the ferry (more like a floating coffin, actually) from Habana Vieja across Havana Bay to Casablanca.

From the where the ferry moors in Casablanca it is a 10-15 minute walk up the hill, where not only are the views of Havana spectacular, but you're welcomed by Jesus himself.

The view from Casablanca back across to Havana.

Again, looking back across to Havana from Casablanca.

On the Casablanca side of Havana Bay is this fortress, which we also explored.

At the entrance to the fortress the boys decided that they needed to perform a concert for the lady taking the tickets. Here they are singing the beginning of "Isn't she lovely"

A harmonica interlude mid-song, and...

...the finale.

Samuel atop a pile of cannon balls inside the fortress.

And now atop a cannon.

Cigar shopping. You look lost Sarah.

The boys reaction to the taste of an UNLIT Cuban cigar.

My boys!

Tanty's boy!

Layers of Cuban history. In the background is the former presidential palace (now the Museum of the Revolution), in the middle one of the remaining corners of the old city wall and in the foreground a '50s American automobile.

Inside the former presidential palace.

Jesse making friends like usual.

Exploring the boy friendly parts of the Museum of the Revolution.

Again, again, it happened again. Wherever we travel with Sarah a waiter makes her a rose from a napkin. See our entries from Turkey (August 2006) and Mongolia (June 2008).

This is a fairly typical looking street outside of Habana Vieja.

Within Haban Vieja, on the other hand, the streets are a little more colourful. The whole district of Habana Vieja is UNESCO World Heritage Listed.

Dos Hermanos at the Dos Hermans Bar.

Yum rum.

Ready to see Havana from a cart.

Just because he's gorgeous.

The boys taking up painting with a street artist.

Samuel, ready to make it on his own in Havana.