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The trip was an adventure from start to finish. First, we were supposed to
meet our friends in Mexico City, and they were the ones who had been to Cuba
before and had taken care of all our plans/hotel bookings/etc. But, they
didn’t show and we hadn’t heard from them. Tony Prado (business card
pictured) chatted us up in line at the airport, and we ended up hanging out
with him throughout the trip. He was particularly knowledgeable about Cuba.
We ended up abandoning our fancy $280/night hotel for an apartment at
$35/night. Here was our view.
We went out for incredible Cuban bbq by the water
the first night.
Carmel snapped this shot before Rio and Daddy woke up.
The local market where we picked up platinos, jugos, and other delectable for desayuno
each morning.
 
Rio loved the playground near our place, which was the playground of the
elite’s kids, so we mingled with some money on the playground.
Rio loved the roosters in the streets.
Cuba was stuck in a time warp, completely surreal, and a whole other planet.
Imagine this place in its heyday in the 50’s, when wealthy Americans would
drive their cars onto a boat in Miami, and drive off a few hours later to
live the high-life, gambling, parties, glitz and glamor. Money was streaming
in, mansions and elaborate hotels springing up all over. Now, hit pause on
all that, enter the revolution, communism, dictatorship, and let all that was
built deteriorate over the course of 50+ years. It is post-apocalyptic
Hollywood. Even the cars remain unchanged. This is crossing the street at a
typical intersection.
An example of an old mansion taken over by the State, now in disrepair.
Another mansion falling down.
While the buildings were falling apart, the cars were in impeccable
condition. This was because the State owned all the buildings, but
individuals could own their cars, and given that this was basically the only
car one could get in Cuba, they developed an amazing talent at keeping these
beauties alive and shining. These are just normal cars, the stuff taxi
drivers drive.
Us in the back of one of these taxis.
The Jewish Synagogue. There was a healthy Jewish population that came in
originally as the bankers and lawyers to handle all the money coming in to
Havana.
Walking around the town with Tony.
The climate change institute! I had to take a photo of that.
At lunch at a café, where one can see another mansion falling apart in the
background.
Havana University, which is the #1 university in Cuba, where the elite send
their kids. During a demonstration against the government in the ‘50s,
Batista surrounded the students with tanks and let loose machine guns on
them, killing and injuring tons. Needless to say, the rich and powerful
families whose kids were fired upon were not pleased, and suddenly money and
resources poured into the revolution. Fast forward some awesome war stories
later, Fidel reigns supreme.
Here is a government building, where some employee has a Che
Guevara poster in their window. Reminded me of a typical Berkeley dorm.
Orange and green leaves.
Random background colors that may or may not resemble a flag of a country we
may or may not have been in.
Some of the glitz and glamor has been restored, such as the Hotel Nacional, where we relaxed with some rum-based drinks
(e.g., piña colada, mojito, daiquiri, …).
Beach side pool.
Rio enjoyed running around the green areas of Havana.
This is where the land-to-air missiles used to sit aimed against the
Americans when the Soviets had more influence here.
An example of the panorama feature on my camera not working too well. The
canon isn’t actually curved.
Look at all those toy houses below!
This building is modeled after the US State Capital building, but since they
hate Americans, they don’t use it for government.
Pano of city below.
During a rainy day we took a car out to explore the countryside.
Countryside villa.
These are the famed tobacco fields that comprise the Cuban cigars.
Very sub-tropical.
Could be a painting.
A little Che propaganda.
Rio checks out a road sign.
Mountain art.
We explored some caves deep into a mountain.
Inside the caves.
We got to the end of the path, which was blocked by a large underground lake.
As we turned around to head back, a boat came up from around the corner and
the driver told us to get in. So we did. And, he took us all around the underground
cave lake.
After taking us around the underground lake for a while, we were spit out on
the other side of the mountain, here.
The outlet of the sub-mountain lake.
Pleased to see daylight again.
Rio finds a stick in the middle of an illegal sub-tropical communist
dictatorship island country, and is happy.
So much to look at up above!
The rest of our crew went to check out the cigar-making factory.
Dinner at a really great place atop an apartment building.
Back in Old Town, wandering the streets.
 
Building detail.
Old Town architecture.
Cool plaza art.
More cool plaza art.
This fortress was part of the original slave trade (the drawbridge goes
straight into a dungeon), though the government refuses to admit it.
HDR shot of the fortress.
This was the original fortress built by the Spanish to protect their
important trade outpost against pirates.
Fortress in the distance.
HDR shot.
Cathedral of Havana.
Cathedral entrance detail.
Ernest Hemingway used to chillax here.
Everyone writes their names on the walls/chairs/etc.
here. We told Rio that this is the one and only place ever allowed where he
can write on the walls/chairs/etc.
He seized the opportunity to write on the walls/chairs/etc. with great
enthusiasm, possibly starting a few gang wars.
Our neighborhood gang, enjoying some rum-base drinks.
Endless energy, running around the plazas while the rest of us sat back with
a few beers at the cafes.
Zoom zoom!
Meanwhile, we went through one of these concoctions.
We went dancing.
Cruising along the coastline, local Cuban youth hang out beachside.
Sunset over Havana.
Good night Cuba!
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