I think I may have inadvertently published the un-edited version of today’s events. Here is the final version.
The thought of the hotel’s evening buffet made the decision for me. So, back to Old Havana I went where I had a most enjoyable evening, people watching, listening to music
and generally enjoying the sights and sounds of this elegant part of Cuba.
I was persuaded to try a certain restaurant by its ‘salesman’ on the street although I was a touch concerned when he led me into some back alley, through a kitchen (of some other restaurant, I think!) and up a dark and dingy stairway. My fears were totally unfounded as I emerged into one of the smaller eateries I have ever visited , packed with Cubans swaying and singing along to the inevitable live band (squeezed in at the back). I ate and drank well (for app £16) and was having a truly wonderfully relaxed time until two very drunk, late twenty something American girls walked (or rather stumbled) in. We’ve all been there, I suppose, but there’s nothing more likely to kill a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere stone dead than the entrance of loud, inebriated souls who think they are being terribly funny. I suspect they won’t have been quite so jolly this morning.
As this was likely to be my last visit to this fine part of Havana, I treated myself to a taxi ride back to the hotel in a 60 year old Chevrolet (or was it a Cadillac?).
The driver told me this car belonged to his grandfather so, even though it was a real gas guzzler and expensive to run/maintain, as long as he could still get parts, he would never sell it. As the average wage in Cuba is app US$50 per month this must be quite a challenge. Not surprisingly, many people have two or even three jobs to make a decent living. My driver is a fully qualified civil engineer
As I travelled in such ostentatious and old fashioned luxury last night, I avoided the line of taxis waiting outside the hotel today
and settled on a more modest form of transport
to the last on my list of ‘Things to do in Cuba’ – a visit to a cigar factory passing, on the way slightly less elegant abodes than in Old Havana.
The factory -at least from the outside – is quite an impressive, early 20th century building.
The inside, though is more reminiscent of the inside of a prison (not that I have been to many!). You know the sort of thing I mean: metal walkways with ‘rooms’ off! Perhaps not surprisingly, during the tour, we were not allowed to take pictures other than some description of the cigar brands made
but our guide was quite forthcoming with some facts and figures. 600 workers making 20,000 cigars a day, all by hand. It’s easy to see why cigars are so expensive. It’s very labour intensive work. I was expecting that the air inside the factory would be drenched in the smell of cigars – especially as some of the workers were smoking (they are given 5 free cigars a day)- but, amazingly this was not the case. For sure it was hot but there was little or no aroma. Strange.
On the way back to the hotel I again passed many splendid old colonial houses in desperate need of some TLC
and came across a bronze sculpture that is, apparently, of John Lennon. Weird!
Well, that’s me done here. Next stop : Roatan island in Honduras. It’s relatively close to Cuba but, for whatever reason my routing means a full day’s travel to get there. No gain without pain!
Host la luega again!
Richard
thelasthurrahsite 