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papermoonloveslucy · 3 years

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ROUGH ROAD TO TOP

August 16, 1953

(1)

One of the more famous CBS-TV shows is “I Love Lucy.”

Its two chief characters - Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz - have had a rocky road to their present status as one of the top comedy teams in the country.

At the end of Lucille's first year in dramatic school she was told by her teachers that she was wasting her time and money, that she would never become an actress. She was fired from all four of her first jobs as a chorus girl. Later, as a model, she almost lost her life in an automobile accident and was told she would never walk again.

Revolution Factor

It was a revolution in Cuba and a mishap in World War II which were fateful turns in Arnaz’ trip to stardom. The Cuban revolution destroyed his family’s wealth, drove them to the United States. World War II got him a broken kneecap in basic training, and since he had been a professional entertainer, he was placed in limited service and assigned to entertain hospitalized G.I.s'.

Columbia Pictures gave Lucille a contract as a stock player, and, convinced that her luck finally had turned, she sent for mother, grandfather, and sister to join her in California. But, the morning after she wired her family, the studio decided to dissolve its stock company. When the family arrived, Lucille was working as an extra at Paramount.

Bit parts and extra roles in a number of pictures kept Lucille busy, but not prosperous, until she was cast in ’"Roberta.” RKO officials, impressed by her work, gave her a contract. When not busy before the cameras, she was a mainstay of the studio's Little Theater. (2)

Offered Stage Lead

Her performance in the second lead in “The Girl from Paris" (3) drew Broadway's attention to Miss Ball and she was offered a lead in the musical "Hey Diddle Diddle.” After satisfying her yen to perform on the Great White Way (4), she returned to Hollywood for "Stage Door” and “Too Many Girls.” In the latter picture, she was costarred with Desi Arnaz. They were married Nov. 30 1940 in Greenwich, Conn.

Back from her honeymoon, Lucille walked into her first really big break a role in "The Big Street,” based on a story by Damon Runyon (5). Overnight it made her a star.

Her first assignment at M.G.M. in 1942 was the title role in the Technicolor production "Du Barry Was a Lady” (6). Stellar roles followed in "Best Foot Forward” and "Meet the People" (7). After completing "Easy to Wed” with Van Johnson (8), she headed for New York to be with her husband, then out of the army and on his way to success in the orchestra business.

Starred on Tour

Shortly after completing "Her Husband’s Affairs,” (9) Miss Ball went on tour as star of Elmer Rice's play "Dream Girl” (10) then worked with Sonny Tufts and Victor Mature in "Interference” for R.K.O. (11)

Lucille, Desi, arid their year-old daughter Lucy Desiree, live at Desilu, their five-acre ranch at Chatsworth, Calif. They raise cattle, chickens, dogs, and cats and dabble in farming. Enthusiastic fishermen they spend a lot of time on their boat.

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha was born in Santiago, Cuba, son of the mayor. Desi’s mother, Dolores de Acha, was considered among the 10 most beautiful women In Latin America.

Three ranches totaling 100,000 acres, a palatial home in the city, a private island in Santiago Bay, speedboats, a fleet of motor cars, and a racing stable were all at the command of the youthful Desi during the pre-revolutionary days. His father, after eight years as mayor of Santiago, was made a member of the Cuban congress In 1932.

On Aug. 12, 1933, came the revolution. Congress was dissolved. Its members jailed. The Arnaz property was confiscated, the homes burned to the ground. In 24 hours everything was gone except $500 Desi's mother had hidden. Desi and mother fled to Miami, devoted the next six months to efforts to free Papa Arnaz. from prison. They were finally reunited in Florida.

For Desi, life in these United States for several years was hard but interesting: he worked at truck driving, train yard checking, taxi driving, bookkeeping, and, of all things, bird cage cleaning. Desi’s father managed to launch an importing business. It went broke when a shipment of fruit spoiled in transit.

Show business at this point finally caught up with Desi. His first job was playing guitar and singing with a seven-piece rhumba band at Miami’s Roney-Plaza Hotel (12). Xavier Cugat (13) spotted him, was impressed with this Cuban boy who was to be dubbed "The Tempo” by critics of modem music. After a year as featured vocalist with the Cugat band, Desi organized his own group of musicians and moved into the swank La Conga Café in Miami (14).

George Abbott's Broadway hit "Too Many Girls” (15) was Desi’s next step up the ladder, in 1939. He played a Cuban football player, one of the leads, and played tropical drums. RKO bought the film rights and signed Desi to play his stage role. When the shooting was over Desi married the leading lady, Lucille Ball.

He spent from Feb. 1943 to Nov. 1945 in the Army, after which he toured the nation with his band playing theaters, dances, night clubs. He hasn’t been without a band since. In 1948, Desi made the Columbia film "Holiday in Havana.” (16)

He made a vaudeville tour with Lucille Ball and that convinced them they’d do well as a husband-and-wife team on television. The tour inspired the CBS-TV show “I Love Lucy,” which has been highly rated since it started. (17)

Desi Arnaz’s personality is as vibrant as the music he makes. He is friendly, direct in manner, has flashing dark brown eyes and brown hair. He’s an avid fisherman, rides and swims expertly: his tennis is the envy of his San Fernando Valley neighbors, Sue and Alan Ladd, Francis Lederer, Jackie Oakie, and the Andrews Sisters. (18) A good cook, he specializes in such tempting dishes as Ginger Beef and Bouillabaisse.

# # #

FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

(1) The photo is from “Be a Pal” (ILL S1;E2) aired on October 22, 1951, nearly two years earlier. There’s one thing missing from this file photo: Vivian Vance. The success of the show was its foursome, not threesome! If you look closely you can see the hands of the other poker players, Richard Reeves (Hank, left) and Tony Michaels (Charlie, right).

(2) Lucille did several plays at the RKO Little Theatre under the direction of Lela Rogers (above), Ginger’s mom. When Lucille later bought RKO, she dubbed it the Desilu Playhouse, a training ground for new young performers, often hand selected by Ball herself.

(3) “That Girl from Paris” (not “The” as the article states) was Lucille’s 33rd film. The light-hearted musical romance earned an Oscar nomination for Sound Recording. It was released on the first day of 1937.

(4) Lucille was indeed cast in the Broadway-bound comedy (it was not a musical, however) “Hey Diddle Diddle!” It opened in Princeton, New Jersey, the first of several out-of-town stops on the way to Broadway. What Lucille’s publicity omits is that the show never got further than Washington DC due to the serious illness of its leading man, Conway Tearle. So Lucy’s Broadway debut would have to wait - until 1960!

(5) “The Big Street” opened on September 4, 1942. It was based on a Damon Runyan short story about a night club singer (Lucille) embittered by an accident that left her in a wheelchair and her romance with a naïve admirer (Henry Fonda) named Pinks. Lucy later said it was her favorite of the many films she made. It was her 55th film.

(6) “Du Barry Was A Lady” premiered in August 1943. It was Lucille’s 57th film, but her first for MGM. She nabbed the role from her friend Ethel Merman, who had done the Cole Porter musical comedy on Broadway. It was filmed in color, and was the film that earned her the nickname “Technicolor Tessie” because of her bright orange hair - a color she committed to from then on, despite her roots! This is the film that introduced Lucy to the song “Friendship”, which she would also sing on “I Love Lucy.”

(7) In the musical comedy “Best Foot Forward” (1943) Lucille Ball played herself. It was her 58th film. “Meet The People” (1944) was a romantic comedy for MGM, Ball’s 60th film.

(8) In 1946 she released her 63rd film, “Easy To Wed” co-starring Van Johnson and Esther Williams. Lucille and Van had appeared together in “Too Many Girls” and he would appear on Lucy’s television shows.

(9) “Her Husband’s Affairs” (1947) was a romantic farce with Lucy teamed with Franchot Tone. It was her 69th film.

(10) Back to the stage, Lucille accepted the leading role in a revival tour of “Dream Girl” a fantasy comedy by Elmer Rice. Once again, the play launched in Princeton, but this time Broadway was not the goal. It had already played the Great White Way two years earlier. The play toured the country at select cities, landing Lucille back in California in late 1947. In one SoCal gig she was appearing simultaneously with Desi and his band just a few blocks away. No doubt this was by design.

(11) RKO’s “Interference” was re-named “Easy Living” (1949) and dealt with the world of professional sports, namely football. It co-starred Victor Mature and Sonny Tufts. It was Ball’s 71st film.

(12) The luxurious Roney Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach was located on the corner of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street. It opened in 1925 and was demolished in 1968. The resort attracted a who's who that included Hollywood stars and even the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The hotel's Bamboo Room & Restaurant was the place to be seen on the Beach for decades.

(13) Xaviar Cugat (1900-1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City he was the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf–Astoria before and after World War II. He was a mentor and friend to Desi Arnaz, who kept his name before the public by making him a rival of Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy” where his name became a punchline. In reality, Desi was grateful to Cugat, not jealous of him!

“I learned a lot from Xavier Cugat” ~ Desi Arnaz

(14) La Conga Café was located in New York City, not Miami, although the article may be referring to a different, lesser known establishment where Desi Arnaz performed. He became a regular headliner at La Conga, even issuing a record titled “La Conga” in 1939.

(15) Speaking of 1939 New York, Desi appeared in his only Broadway show in 1939, Rogers and Hart’s “Too Many Girls.” When the film rights were purchased by RKO, Desi was hired by director George Abbott to recreate his role. It was while filming this movie that he met Lucille Ball.

(16) “Holiday in Havana” was a Columbia picture released in October 1949. The film is about a Cuban hotel busboy (Arnaz) who dreams of becoming a composer. His love interest was not Lucy, but Mary Hatcher.

(17) The Tour incorporated some of the same routines seen in the “I Love Lucy” pilot as well as early episodes of the series, most notably the “Cuban Pete / Sally Sweet” duet. The tour culminated at the Roxy in New York City, where Desi was playing when he married Lucille in 1940.

(18) Before moving to their Beverly Hills mansion, Lucy and Desi lived on a ranch in Chatsworth in San Fernando Valley. They dubbed their ranch home Desilu. About their neighbors:

Alan Ladd (1913-64) was a chorus boy when Lucille was an Earl Carroll showgirl in Murder at the Vanities (1934). He was married to Sue Carol (1906-82) from 1942 until his death. Carol’s name was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “The Fashion Show” when Lucy selects the same Don Loper original that Carol has chosen to wear in the fashion show. She does not appear on screen.

Francis Lederer (1899-2000) was a Hungarian-born actor. In 1960 he did an episode of Desilu’s “The Untouchables”. From 1941 until his death he was married to Marion Irvine.

Jackie Oakie (1903-78) did four films with Lucille Ball between 1934 and 1938, including both “Annabell” movies.

The Andrews Sisters were the pre-eliminant close-harmony girl group of their time. The consisted of Patty, Maxine, and LaVerne. They were mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “Be a Pal” in the same scene that the photo at the top of the article came from. In 1969, Patty Andrews guest-starred as herself on “Here’s Lucy”. Lucy and Lucie played the other two Andrews sisters.

#Lucille Ball #Desi Arnaz #1953 #I Love Lucy

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uomo-accattivante · 4 years

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I recently came across a bunch of press articles and photos about Oscar Isaac that are so old, they appear to be out-of-print and pre-date social media. Considering they were probably never digitally transcribed for internet access, I’m guessing that the majority of current fans have never seen this stuff.

Even though a lot of these digital scans are challenging to read because they are the original fuzzy news print, I think there some gems worth sharing with you guys. Over the next several weeks, I will transcribe and share those gems on this page. Hope you enjoy them!

Let’s start with this fantastic 2001 profile piece done before Oscar was accepted into Juilliard:

South Florida’s rising star isn’t just acting the part

By Christine Dolen - [email protected]

February 4, 2001

As fifth-graders at Westminster Christian School in Miami, Oscar Isaac and his classmates were asked to write a story as if they were animals on Noah’s Ark. Oscar turned in a seven-page play – with original music – from the perspective of a platypus. Then he starred in the production his teacher directed.

He hasn’t stopped expressing himself creatively since. Today, Isaac is one of South Florida’s busiest young theater actors, and certainly its hottest. And not just because he’s a slender five-feet nine-inches tall with an expressively handsome face and glistening brown eyes.

Since making his professional debut as a Cuban hustler in Sleepwalkers at Area Stage in July 1999, he has played an explosive Vietnam vet in Private Wars for Horizons Repertory, a pot-smoking slacker in This Is Our Youth at GableStage, another Cuban on the make in Praying With the Enemy at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the entrancing narrator of Side Man at GableStage, a Havana-based writer in Arrivals and Departures for the new Oye Rep and, most recently, a young Fidel Castro in When It’s Cocktail Time in Cuba at New York’s Cherry Lane Theater.

Beginning Wednesday, he’ll be juggling five roles in City Theatre’s annual Winter Shorts festival, first at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, then at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. But that is not all: During the two weeks he is doing Winter Shorts, he’ll also be playing dates with the punk-ska band The Blinking Underdogs (www.blinkingunderdogs.com), which features him as lead singer, guitarist and songwriter.

Oh, and he just got back from auditioning for New York’s prestigious Juilliard School of Drama.

All this for a guy a month shy of his 22nd birthday.

Sure, you could hate a guy who’s that talented, that charismatic, that transparently ambitious. But the people who have worked with Oscar Isaac don’t. On the contrary, they’re all sure he has it – that magical, can’t-be-taught thing that transforms an actor into a star.

Playwright Eduardo Machado, who put in a good word for Isaac at Juilliard, says “he does have that star quality that makes your eyes go to him. It’s great that someone with that talent still wants to train.”

“He has a star quality that’s rare in a young actor,” adds Joseph Adler, who directed him in Side Man and This Is Our Youth. “Without a doubt I expect to be hearing great things from him.”

‘I JUST LOVE CREATING’

Isaac, who also makes short films, can’t say exactly why he was attracted to acting. He just knows it makes him happier than anything, that it’s what he was meant to do. And he’s been doing it since he was a 4-year-old putting on plays in his family’s backyard with his sister Nicole.

“I just love creating, whether it’s music or films or a character on a stage. I love taking people for a ride,” he says. “In Side Man, every night I would love being that close to the audience. I felt like I was talking to 80 of my closest friends.

“I could feel what the audience was feeling.”

His powerful, mournful-yet-loving monologue near the end of the play, he said, “worked every night. I knew it would get them. I’d hear sniffles.

“But it had less to do with me than with the atmosphere [created by the playwright and director].”

You could understand if Isaac, surrounded as he is by praise and possibility, had an ego as burgeoning as his career. Instead, he channels the positive reinforcement into confidence about his work.

“He has such a charm and an ease onstage, but he’s very modest,” says New York-based actress Judith Delgado, who shared the stage with Isaac in Side Man. “He’s hungry. He’s got moxie. I was blown away by him.

“He saved me a couple of times. I went up [forgot a line] and that baby boy of mine came through. He’s a joy.”

FORGING HIS OWN PATH

The son of a Cuban-American father and a Guatemalan mother, Isaac was never a stellar student. But he found ways of turning routine assignments – like the Noah’s Ark story – into creative challenges.

His science reports were inevitably video documentaries underscored with punk music. He acted through middle and high school, though he had a falling out with his drama teacher at Santaluces Community High in Lantana over his misgivings about a character. When she refused to cast him in anything else, he got his English teacher to let him play the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors his senior year.

His skepticism about authority and love of playing the devil’s advocate have long made him resist doing things the usual way. His post-high school “training” consisted of one semester at Miami-Dade Community College’s South Campus (where he met his girlfriend, Maria Miranda), touring schools playing an abusive character in the Coconut Grove Playhouse’s Breaking the Cycle, and working as a transporter of bodies at Baptist Hospital, where he absorbed the drama of people in emotionally intense situations.

“It was the most magnificent dramatic institute I could’ve attended,” Isaac said. “I was able to observe the entire spectrum of human emotion, people under the most extreme duress. I was mesmerized watching the way people interacted with each other in such heightened situations.

“I learned everything about the human condition, and it was real and harsh and brutally honest.”

Yet even given his propensity for forging his own path, something nudged him another direction while he was in New York making his Off-Broadway debut in December. Walking by Juilliard one day, he impulsively went in to ask for an application. Though the application deadline had passed, Isaac persuaded Juilliard to accept his, noting in his application essay that most of the exceptional actors he admires had acquired “a brutally efficient technique” to enhance their talent by studying at places like Juilliard.

Though he won’t know whether he has been accepted until the end of this month, his audition last weekend went well, he says. He did monologues from Henry IV, Part I and Dancing at Lughnasa, adjusting his Shakespearean Hotspur to a more fiery temperature at the suggestion of Michael Kahn, head of Juilliard’s acting program – though not without arguing that Hotspur wouldn’t be speaking to the king that way.

Isaac, not surprisingly, loves a good debate.

Adler, GableStage’s artistic director and a man who is as liberal as Isaac once was conservative, savored the verbal jousting they did during rehearsals for Side Man.

“He knows exactly how to pull my chain,” Adler says with a laugh. “Intelligence is the cornerstone of all great actors, and he’s bright as hell.

“He has relentless ambition but with so much charm. He’s very hard to say no to. He has incredible raw talent and magnetism that is very rare in a young actor along with relentless energy, perseverance and ambition. I see his growth both onstage and off. He’s mature in both places.”

Part of his growth, of course, will necessarily involve dealing with the rejections that are part of any actor’s life. His career is still too new, his string of successes solid, so it’s anyone’s guess how failure will shape him. But director Michael John Garcés, who picked him for When It’s Cocktail Time in Cuba after Isaac flew to New York at his own expense to compete with a pool of seasoned Manhattan actors for the role, believes his character will see him through.

“Oscar is realistic, but he’s so willing to go the whole nine yards,” Garcés says. “He didn’t go out when he was in the show here. His focus earned the respect of the other actors, some of whom have been working in New York for 30 years.

“He hasn’t had a lot of blows yet, when the career knocks the wind out of you. But he has talent, determination and focus, and if he has perseverance – my intuition is that he does have it – he could achieve a lot.”

FAMILY TIES

His father and namesake, Baptist Hospital intensive-care physician Oscar Isaac Hernandez, couldn’t be more proud. (Isaac doesn’t use the family surname in order to avoid, in his words, being “put in that Hispanic actor box.”)

“I’m ecstatic that he’s probably going to be going to the most prestigious drama school in the United States,” he says. “School will help him focus his energies and give him discipline. He’s got the raw material and the drive.”

Isaac’s mother, Maria, divorced from his father since 1992, is a kidney-transplant recipient who acknowledges that she’ll miss her son if he moves to New York. But, she adds, she wants him “to live out his dreams. He amazes me every day. He calls me every day. I’m very proud of him.”

Even the other guys in The Blinking Underdogs are fans of Isaac’s acting, though it could take him away from South Florida just as the band appears to be, Isaac says, on the brink of signing a recording deal (it has already put out its own CD, The Last Word, with songs, lead vocals and even cover photography by Isaac.

“Oscar’s the leader of the band, a great musician who amazes me and motivates us,” says sax player Keith Cooper. “I’ve been to see every one of his plays. He’s a phenomenal actor.

“I completely buy into his role in every play. As close as I am to him, I forget it’s Oscar.”

His South Florida theater colleagues credit that to Isaac’s insatiable desire to learn and grow.

Gail Garrisan, who is directing him in Donnie and One of the Great Ones for Winter Shorts, observes, “It’s not often that you find a young actor who is willing to listen and who doesn’t think he knows everything. He loves the work.

“He really brought the young man in Side Man to life. When I saw it in New York, it seemed to be the father’s play. When I saw it here, I felt it was his [Isaac’s] play.”

Oye Rep’s John Rodaz, whom Isaac calls “the best director I’ve ever worked with,” gave the actor his first important job in Sleepwalkers at Area Stage. They met when Isaac came to see Area’s production of Oleanna and the actor, knowing Rodaz ran the theater, introduced himself.

“He has so much energy and such a sparkling personality,” Rodaz says. “He knows how to move in the world. He seems to take advantage of every situation in a good way; he’s not a cold, calculating person who’ll stab you in the back.

“[But] he wants it so badly. Everything he does, he’s the leader. When I was 21, I was taking naps.”

Rodaz coached Isaac on his Juilliard monologues and found the experience energizing.

“I got chills just watching him. That happens so rarely. I was so exhilarated when I came home that I just had to go out and run. You just know he’s got all the tools.”

Christine Dolen is The Herald’s theater critic.

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#oscar isaac #vintage #juilliard #blinking underdogs #area stage company #john rodaz #gablestage #when it's cocktail time in cuba #side man #arrivals and departures #this is our youth #praying with the enemy #sleepwalkers #private wars #winter shorts #the miami herald

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sohannabarberaesque · 5 years

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Underwater America with Peter Potamus: Florida’s Treasure Coast

Continuing our cross-country tour (and fictional TV series), our heroes travel further south along Florida’s coast in our latest installment. This episode takes place in July 1970.

The ten of us continued down State Road A1A after finishing off a dive in Pelican Flats off Cape Canaveral—a dive that started with the exploration of a grassy reef and ending with all of us swimming alongside three-dozen-or-so manta rays. What a way to make a living.

“We’re going to a wreck next?” Magilla asked, peeling a banana in the back seat.

“Yep! We’re going to Fort Pierce.” I replied as I waited for the traffic light to turn green.

“Ahhh, but can it top the rays we saw?” Breezly said, still giddy from the experience.

The more I thought about it, the reef dive seemed somewhat ordinary up until that moment. “Who knows. I think we got lucky that day,” I said as I drove the minibus along the street. “We were just…there until that happened.”

Hokey, who rode shotgun that day, agreed. “True, true, Peter my buddy. We may have swam with the rays, but we came out of there wet and hungry, as we always do!”

I snickered. “Okay, okay, I get the picture. I suppose we should get some dinner in a little while. We can get a snack before then.” Everyone else agreed. We had lots of time before we got the nitrogen out of our systems, anyway. I decided on a seafood restaurant—complete with patio—in North Hutchinson Island, only a short drive from Vero Beach, one of the northern cities of the region of Florida known as the Treasure Coast.

The food was plentiful, even for the ten of us: a few lobsters, fried catfish and plenty of battered shrimp would keep us full for awhile, and the sides—cole slaw and hush puppies—topped off this delicious meal. “OH, BOY!” we explained, and dug in.

Naturally, the lobsters were claimed by Hokey and Wally, who had desired them ever since a failed attempt to bring back a couple of them from our Pelican Flats dive. We didn’t mind; I filled myself up on the shrimp and hush puppies, while a couple of others, notably Squiddly and Mildew, admired the catfish.

“Oooh, those spices!” Mildew said joyously, savoring the seasonings put into it. “What do you think’s in it?”

“I don’t think they’ll tell!” Squiddly chuckled, biting into a delicious shrimp.

Wally had a pair of shrimp at once, together with plenty of scooped-up cocktail sauce. He found it delicious, although he did not expect the sauce to be as strong as it was—there was plenty of horseradish in it to clear his sinuses. Fortunately, a glass of water helped him through his little coughing spell. “Perhaps a little sauce isn’t a bad idea. Just a little, dont’cha know!” he said, laughing.

The sea breezes added that extra bit of enjoyment indoor eating just doesn’t have. We also got to view some small beach gettogethers of about five or six people, and were able to get an up-close view when we walked along the beach after dinner. Unfortunately for Squiddly, not a single one of those parties had a guitar, though it did have plenty of beer.

For many, the combination of the tides and the wet sand feels so nice between the toes of those who walk along it. For us, the water was just a fact of life. We had been underwater for so long by this point that we simply didn’t experience as much of a pleasant surprise as other people usually have, those who stroll along the beach or wade in the ocean to unwind after a long day. Not to take away from the wet sand, though; we felt it and we liked it—that is, until we were about to get into the minibus. I was adamant about us not tracking sand into the car, and we wiped off our feet with a towel before we got inside.

We spent the night at a motel in Vero Beach, booking three rooms for the ten of us. While Magilla watched some television and Squiddly filled the bath for a good night’s rest, I read up on further information regarding our next destination, the Spanish wreck Urca de Lima.

The Urca de Lima, a 305-ton Dutch-built merchant ship, was one of a dozen ships in the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, tasked with carrying goods and treasure from the New World back to the Spanish Main. The Urca de Lima was one of five ships captained by Juan Esteban de Ubilla.

On July 24, 1715, Ubilla’s fleet, supplemented by six other Spanish ships, commandeered by Antonio de Echeverez, and a French ship, El Grifón, sent to ward off pirates, set sail from Havana, Cuba, intending to reach the city of Cádiz in Spain. Among their combined booty was a large amount of gold and silver. The Urca de Lima, though, mostly carried goods, along with some private silver kept in chests. The fleet, however, made it as far as Florida when a hurricane hit them, pushing the ships to the coast and either sinking or grounding them. Only the French ship escaped unscathed. More than half the crew of those eleven ships died, including both commanders. The Urca de Lima, however, steered into a river inlet, and the hull remained intact. This allowed the goods to be salvaged, keeping the survivors well-fed for a few days.

The ship’s cargo was eventually salvaged and the ship’s hull burned down to the waterline in order to hide it from pirates, although the existence of the sunken fleet was widely known by that time.

In December, the salvage camp was heavily raided by two British privateers—Henry Jennings and Charles Vane—and their men, and made away with gold and silver totalling over $3 million in today’s money!

Since its rediscovery in 1928, numerous salvage permits were granted, but very little came of it, as far as treasure was concerned. There was a silver piece here and there, but that was it.

Those thoughts were still with me even as we took a stroll along one of Vero Beach’s most popular tourist attractions, McKee Jungle Gardens, a botanical garden off U.S. Route 1.

This time it was Loopy de Loop’s turn to enjoy himself, following the semi-carnivorous overtures his lupine colleagues Hokey and Mildew gave at Tosohatchee. He stopped to smell the flowers with every new variety that came into view, and there were well over a hundred different species, in addition to the gorgeous streams and ponds we viewed that morning.

“Ahh, nature!” exclaimed Loopy. “Is there anything as breathtaking as a botanical garden, with so many magnificent flowers on display in a single place?”

“Yeah, underwater!” Squiddly eagerly replied, taking a bit of power out of Loopy’s monologue.

“Uh, yes, that as well, but I’m sure you understand, for you are but an octopus!”

“True…” Squiddly’s voice wandered off.

Having cleared our minds of any ill thoughts, and rejecting a suggestion by Mildew to abandon Loopy at the garden, I drove back onto the highway and headed east back onto A1A.

Upon stopping in the city of Fort Pierce we chartered a boat to take us to the Urca de Lima, east of Jack Island Park on the opposite side of the Indian River. Everyone checked their gear and put it on, while I piloted the craft out of the river and back onto the ocean.

I was happy to learn that, as the wreck was only 200 feet from shore, we would be diving at very shallow depths compared to Pelican Flats: ten to fifteen feet. I set a diving time of sixty minutes, with no decompression necessary. Maybe we would get a look at some more fish, but for now, it was all about the ship. To ensure that the wreck would not be damaged by an anchor, we instead used a mooring buoy to keep the boat in place.

We dove in following the safety briefing. Once we were close to the floor, we split up into our usual groups. As we swam along, we noticed that there was very little of the ship left, with only the keel, garboard and one side of the boat visible after that entire time, and even then what remained had a lot of vegetation grow on it. After all, this was a wreck that was over 250 years old, and a lot of things tend to happen near the shore in that length of time. The sands and the wildlife come and go—mostly come. Nevertheless, some of us were still in awe over what is basically an old-style artificial reef.

Although I was convinced the chances of finding even one coin were slim, that obviously didn’t stop Hokey, who brushed along the ocean floor with his hands in the hope of uncovering said coin. Wally, being his trusted friend and divemate, couldn’t help but join in and also find nothing. Convinced their big score wasn’t going to happen, they continued to swim along the hull.

We explored the area outside the ship for other remnants. South of the ship’s main structure, Lippy and Hardy were able to find some cannons strewn about—five in all. This in itself is a fascinating thing, although there were originally more cannons around the ship; several of them had been salvaged, cleaned up and exhibited. Mildew and Loopy soon joined them, and Mildew had a little fun by peeking inside, and reaching his hand into, one of the cannons. Eventually, the others joined in after seeing enough of the hull.

As they enjoyed themselves, I was reminded of the salvage operations that took place for decades (and which brought several of the cannons to the surface for exhibition) and continue to take place today, and felt that continued operations would evenually diminish the diving and snorkeling experiences many locals and tourists greatly enjoy. After all, it isn’t every day you have a shipwreck in your own backyard, let alone one that is very accessible.

Art by Bob Jiggles

I began to swim with Hokey and Wally away from the cannons after awhile, heading west. We had intended to see the sights of some fish that may be around, but we ended up finding one of Urca de Lima’s anchors instead, laid out along the ocean floor. It appeared to be about ten feet long and, like the cannons, were completely rusted. It gave us an idea as to how much of the ship actually remained, as almost everything else was broken up over time. The other anchor was also among the items salvaged and exhibited to the public.

Meanwhile, Mildew, still hoping for a trinket or two, reached into the other cannons and found nothing but maybe a stray rock or two perhaps making their way inside. Running his hands along several spots on the ocean floor didn’t work, either. Although the others were convinced they weren’t going to find anything, it didn’t stop Mildew, one of the most tenacious among us in whatever he did. Not until Loopy placed a hand on Mildew’s shoulder and shook his head did he give up his own little treasure quest; the bubbles gushing from the regulator hinted at a sigh of disappointment.

Squiddly swam along the remnants of the hull, his camera picking up the entirety of it, along with some of the animals for size comparison. He would tell me later that it might have been better were we to create a chain by grabbing each other’s legs. We might’ve made a good animal yardstick.

Feeling that we had seen enough of the wreck, I called for the whole crew to surface. We made our way back to the boat, somewhat disappointed. It was a delight to view a wreck, sure, but our expectations had been set too high. Although the ship was burned centuries ago to prevent detection by pirates, we still thought there was plenty for us to see.

We continued further south on our journey. Our next stop was Key Largo, home of John Pennekamp State Park, featuring some of the finest coral reefs in the country and home to a diverse group of marine life. Many of us felt like going on another dive before then, so we parked our minibus at a beach in Jupiter, just north of West Palm Beach.

Magilla and I broke out the bike pump and set about refilling the tanks with pressurized air before we could hit the water again. “It won’t be long now!” Magilla said excitedly, even though we had nine tanks to fill.

This time, we entered from the sands of the beach, donning our fins once the water was halfway up to our knees. This was strictly a pleasure dive where we could just play around in the water for awhile at a shallow depth. Usually this consisted of playing tag with one another, as Breezly and Magilla demonstrated, although some others had fun in different ways: Mildew felt like basking in the sun’s rays even in the water, and posed as though he was laying back in a beach chair, letting nothing bother him. Wally, a bit of a zany character himself, joined Mildew a minute later. Hokey and Loopy interacted with the occasional fish passing by them, while Lippy and Hardy just swam around, unsure of what to do themselves; they were simply content with watching.

We explored further by swimming towards the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Our heads above water, the view was clear for all of us. Squiddly pointed in the direction of six creatures congregating together. “Manatees!” he exclaimed joyfully.

I removed my mouthpiece. “Must’ve gone after a female,” I said, before putting it back in. We swam closer to the pack while keeping our mouthpieces on, even though our heads were above the surface; we didn’t want to deal with ocean water in the hose.

The manatees turned and started to swim away from the shore, where we confronted them, eager to pet and stroke their heads and play with them for a few moments. Some of us wanted to stroke their bellies, too, and the manatees felt so happy to receive some attention. Squiddly joined in on the lovefest, too, even though his job was to film; I got his back, however, recording him nuzzling against a manatee’s cheek.

We spent a few minutes with them before they had to leave, looking to try again someplace else. We waved goodbye to them and began to head back to where we began our dive. It was getting a little late, anyway, and we needed some food in our bellies. We were also a little exhausted from all the diving, as was easily demonstrated thusly:

“Why’m I walking all topsy-turvy?” Breezly asked, wobbling as though he had a few beers.

“Alors! Those sea cows must’ve made us love drunk!” Loopy added.

Only Squiddly and I walked properly, with my fins slung over my shoulder, as we discussed plans together.

“Hey, how come those two are all right?” asked Mildew.

Everyone else still had their full gear on, well after they had been completely out of the water.

“You need a rest!” Squiddly and I called out to them.

We had to rest up for what I figured would be the pinnacle of our vacation: Key Largo and John Pennekamp State Park, and what better place to do so than what Hokey called “The Entertainment Capital of Florida,” Miami. At least it still is, while Jackie Gleason is still taping his variety show, and until Walt Disney’s next big thing opens to the public.

Avoiding all kinds of alcohol—which probably knocked out half the potential restaurant options in this city—we also wanted a place with prices within our means, which knocked out another quarter of the city. After twenty minutes of driving around the city with no place to go, we decided on a small diner where they not only served the usual fare, but also come Cuban delicacies.

The lively conversation soon switched from the wreck and the manatees to Key Largo. Pennekamp State Park had some of the best coral reefs in the nation, along with a diverse section of marine life. I could hear the excitement in their voices. Some of them even wanted to enjoy a second day there, as we did with Wally’s secret spring.

“If I can find a good motel, sure!” I quipped.

Anyway, that’s our Treasure Coast adventure. If you like wrecks that you can enjoy at shallow depths, I strongly recommend the Urca de Lima off Fort Pierce. If relaxation is more your thing, be sure to visit the almost-endless stretch of beaches. Remember, if you’re interested in diving, please receive proper instruction and follow all safety protocols before going in.

While I’m mentioning relaxation, why don’t you relax awhile yourself? Our next episode will be diver’s heaven—Key Largo. Look for us next week at the same time.

#scuba diving #underwater america #hanna barbera #peter potamus #squiddly diddly #hokey wolf #wally gator #mildew wolf #loopy de loop #breezly bruin #magilla gorilla #lippy the lion #hardy har har #florida #submission

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melvinpmiller · 2 years

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Havana 60 Classic Car Tours {Cuba}

The post Havana 60 Classic Car Tours {Cuba} appeared first on Gr8 Travel Tips. This Content Originally Appeared On And Is Copyright Protected By The Author at https://ift.tt/QJu2SpZ Post Last Modified – August 09, 2022 Trinidad and Cienfuegos Tour From Varadero On our vacation to 🏖 Varadero Cuba a few seasons ago, one of the things I most wanted to do, was to take a private 🚗 Classic Car Tour to the historic city of Trinidad. My wife and I had the pleasure of taking this full day tour with – 🚘 Havana 60 Classic Car Tours. This tour also included a stop and walk about in the old city of – Cienfuegos. A Full Day […] The post Havana 60 Classic Car Tours {Cuba} appeared first on Gr8 Travel Tips. You Can Find The Original Post at https://ift.tt/QJu2SpZ from Havana 60 Classic Car Tours {Cuba} Source:

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havekiddoswilltravel · 6 years

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Cuba Travel Tips

Havana, Cuba trip report and pro tips for a safe, personalized family travel adventure to Cuba.

Tips for family travel to Cuba - A guide to exploring Cuba with kids, friends, family or multigenerational groups.

Did you know that you can in fact still travel to Cuba independently?

Updated: July 2019 with new Cuban travel rules.

We cruised prior to the US restrictions. You can however, still enjoy these Cuban tours by traveling by air to Cuba. Keep reading for more details.

Our family of six enjoyed a 5 night Key West and Cuba overnight cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas in December 2018 prior to the cruise ship restrictions. We traveled with four kids ages 13, 10, 7 and 5 and thus felt that a cruise was a comfortable way for us to explore Havana. We’re hooked and already planning a return land trip in order to enjoy more of the island. The Cuban people were gracious, funny and talented. Our guide Dayami is fluent in both English and Spanish and a breath of information about the history, culture, art, music, architecture and food of the island.

2018 Cuban travel update: The U.S. announced new travel rules for Cuba. Americans can no longer travel to the island under the People to People category as an individual and you're unable to patronized any military - owned business.

Legal travel to Cuba is still possible under the Support For The Cuban People category and my recommended tours can assist you in planning a safe, educational and cost effective trip to the island.

Have Kiddos Will Travel Cuba Tours offer: A one of a kind safe, private tour option for those wanting to visit Cuba and experience it like a local.

What we did in Havana:

Dayami picked us up at 9:00 am at the Saint Francis of Assisi Square

(the plaza right across from the cruise ship terminal in Old Havana).

We started with a guided walking tour in Old Havana (about 2 hours) which included:

- All four main squares

- Some of Hemingway’s favorite places in the city

- Handcrafted perfume shop - the perfume is inexpensive and comes in beautiful hand made pottery.

- Free entrance museums - our kids loved these museums. We had to drag our 10 year old son out of the art museum.

- Cigar/coffee/rum shopping - Dayami was an angel and sat with our kids at a nearby table while my husband and I enjoyed this amazing tasting. I can’t recommend it enough. There was a live band playing during our tasting. In fact, music and dancing was everywhere in Havana. Buy Cuban coffee (I regret not buying more as gifts). Dayami is incredibly knowledgeable about Cuban rum and cigars. We bought two boxes (4 bottles total) of Havana Club 3 year white and 7 year dark rum for approximately 20 CUC. We also brought back 25 (fiftieth anniversary) Cuban Cohiba cigars. We bought handmade individual cigar boxes for the ones that we gave as gifts.

We did a coffee-rum-cigar tasting/sampling. This service (about 1 hour) is provided by a Habanos sommelier Cuban cigar expert). I highly recommend this tour option. We learned so much and it added to our overall experience in Havana.

After the walking tour, Dayami had a air conditioned car with ready to drive us to the main places of interest in the city. I loved that she was flexible and worked with our children. We took extra breaks for water, snacks and to use clean bathrooms. She knew all of the best places to use the facilities and though I was prepared with my own toilet paper, we ended up never needing it.

Our family’s personalized itinerary:

- Ride along the Malecon (sea wall drive)

- Colon Cemetery (World Heritage Site)

- Callejón de Hamel (rumba performances/Afro-Cuban religion/art scene)

- Central Park

- Capitol building

- National Hotel

- San Jose Handicraft market

- Fusterlandia community/art project

- Revolution Square

- Rainforest of Havana (National Park)

- Bay fortresses and the Christ of Havana (viewpoint)

Dayami made a reservation for us a privately owned restaurant and we enjoyed it. We were lol a bit when we arrived because we literally walked behind a normal looking home in Havana and entered a massive outdoor restaurant which was packed with people and even had a live band. Our total lunch cost was 74 CUC which included drinks, 3 orders of chicken and all you can eat white rice and beans.

The whole tour was from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, take into consideration that lunch may took over an 1 hour.

What to buy in Cuba:

- While cigars and rum are the main things that people buy when in Cuba, we also bought an amazing art piece (beware that customs will attempt to charge you art fee if you travel back with it in an art tube), engraved leather baseballs, Cuban key chains that I then turned into Cuban Christmas ornaments and a small piece of wood art. We ran out of time to stop by Clandestina, but they do have an online shop that you will not want to miss.

Pro - tips: - Everyone (including children) will need a passport book (not a passport card) that is valid for at least 6 months after your trip. Two pages are required for entry - exit stamps.

- Each traveler will need a Cuban Visa if you're a US citizen (please research Visa laws for other countries) which cost $75.00 per person. Take your time completing this simple form, as mistakes are not accepted and you will have to buy another one.

- U.S. credit and debit cards generally do not work in Cuba. Bring cash to cover your stay. The Cuban government requires that travelers declare cash amounts over 5,000 USD. Travelers should note that the Government of Cuba charges a 10 percent fee for all U.S. dollar cash conversions; this does not apply to electronic transactions or cash conversions in other currencies. - US dollar and credit cards are not accepted in Cuba. Do your research regarding how much money you will need and plan accordingly. I recommend changing money into Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) before meeting your guide (for lunch, souvenirs, rum, the sampling, etc.). It is recommended that you change US currency to Euros prior to your trip (AAA will do this without an additional conversion fee for members) and then change euros to CUCs upon arrival. At the time of our visit The official exchange rate (at the time of our trip in 2018) is 0.87 for every 1 USD (due to the 13 percent US dollar fee). The exchange rate for the euro at the time our trip was 1.15.

- The export of Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) is strictly prohibited, regardless of the amount. When departing Cuba, U.S. travelers are advised to exchange Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) back to US Dollars well before reaching airport security checkpoints to avoid potential confiscation of the CUC. For other currencies, travelers may export up to the equivalent of 5,000 USD. Anyone wishing to export more than this amount must demonstrate evidence that the currency was acquired legitimately from a Cuban bank. - Dayami was very helpful in regards to helping us figure out how much cash we would need for all of our tours, meals, and shopping.

Getting there:

- You can fly to Havana depending on your group size and family needs. We’ve had family members fly and we did an overnight Havana cruise with Royal Caribbean as we were traveling with small children and wanted access to the comforts of the cruise line. Cruising if no longer an option as of June 2019.

Where to stay:

- If you’re flying, I highly recommend Casa Habana for a one of a kind, local Cuban experience.

What to pack:

- Bring sunblock, hats, and sun glasses. I packed a back pack with safe drinking water, snacks and treats for our kids.- Wear comfortable walking shoes. Havana streets are beautiful, but the cobblestone is hard on your feet.

What NOT to do:

- Leave your jewelry and fancy items at home.

- Don't take pictures of Cuban police or military.

- Keep your strong tourist opinions about Fidel, the Castro family, the Revolution or communism to yourself. Avoid discussing politics (history discussions are okay) and you're good.

- There are two currencies in Cuba. The first is the Cuban Convertible Peso CUC (which tourists use) and is worth 26 Cuban Pesos CUP. Count your change and keep your street smarts about you.

- Don't expect to have access to the many comforts of home. There is almost no access to many of the consumer goods that are common for us in the United States. So, make sure to bring that which you can't live without. If you wan't toothpaste, a toothbrush, toilet paper, hand disinfectant, mints or snacks, make sure to bring them with you.

- Print out all of your relevant travel documents prior to your trip. I know, we’re digital people but access to technology in Cuba is pretty much nada. If you think you’ll need it, print it at home.

- We’re big foodies and thus find it crucial to discuss Cuban food in Havana versus Cuban food in the United States and other parts of the world. Due to trade restrictions and general lack of access to ingredients that we take for granted, (our guide Dayami did a great job explaining the Cuban rations to our kids) we found the food to be good enough, but not something to write home about. The saving grace was that our kids love white rice and beans and literally were “starving” from all of the walking. They ate their food and loved it, with no complaints. Pro tip: if you’re traveling to Cuba, pack some salt and hot sauce. You’ll thank me.

- Book your Cuba tours before you travel. The internet is hard to come by in Cuba and thus, don’t expect to be able to research or use the internet to communicate with tour guides while on the island. We arrived via a cruise ship, and I had all of my confirmation information from Dayami printed and I had confirmed pick up times and location with her while we were in Key West and still had internet service.

By booking a trusted private tour, you will save hundreds of US dollars on your excursion time while on the island. Our tours are priced per car, not per person for a group of four and can be coordinated to accommodate larger family - group sizes.

- Lastly, let’s talk about safety. We’re a family of avid travelers. Our kids have had passports since they were newborns and we travel extensively throughout the United States and abroad. This cruise to Cuba was our third cruise in 2018 alone and all six of us are Diamond Crown and Anchor with Royal Caribbean International. Even with all of the stamps in our passports, I was perplexed by how safe we felt in Havana. Despite what our history classes and news tell us about communism and Cuba, we felt safer in Cuba than any other place that we’ve traveled to. Use common sense and respect the local culture and you’ll have a blast.

Havana, Cuba - YouTube

https://havekiddoswilltravel.net/cuba-tours

Check out the link above for a full list of tour options and contact Dayami Interian [email protected] to discuss further planning. Your won’t be disappointed!

About Ruth: I’m a wife and mami of 4 active and globe-trotting kiddos. I’ve always loved a good adventure and truly believe that it’s possible to travel with kids. Join me, as I share our adventures and inspire you to get out of the house with your kiddos. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a road trip or a trip of a lifetime to an exotic destination, I’ll share insights, trip reports and information that will inspire you. Check back often to stay up to date on things to do with kids at your next travel destination.

family travel - adventure - explore - Travel with Kids

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travelnbabble · 4 years

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Havana, Cuba, Mar 6-10, 2020

[Cigars, Vintage cars, communism but so so much more]

Since we’re still in a pandemic right now, this might not be the best time to blog about International travel (it is honestly starting to sound like a joke to me now after 7 months of being at home), but still I want to document this JUST IN CASE one day the world opens up again. Fingers Crossed.

Cuba is the one of the most interesting places I’ve traveled to. Having lived in a communist country for so long and learned about Chinese communist history, I definitely see some similar traits on how things operate there (compared to China before 1980s). 70-80% of locals have government jobs, limited quantity and variety of everyday supplies and a generally closed off economy. However, the culture was a huge surprise. Because of colonization all the way until 70s or something and close proximity to the US, the architecture, the people and even the food are just a fascinating mix of old Spanish, Caribbean and the Americas with a touch of Chinese influence (from I guess inter-governmental support). Glamours western looking palaces, stunning hotel rooftops (with Hemingway’s favorite daiquiris), extremely welcoming people, run-down multi family homes, Chinese brand buses, vintage (and very loud) Fords, moka coffees, and of course music cigars and Havana Club rum. There’s literally a little bit of everything which makes this place unfathomable at times but definitely very unique.

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I spent 5 days in Havana, RIGHT before the US closed the border due to COVID-19.

Stayed in an Airbnb in Old Havana

[balcony of my airbnb]

Everything was great besides no Wifi, which was pretty much the case with any accommodation besides large government operated hotels. With the visa I have (support for Cuban people) I was not supposed to stay in those so...My Airbnb host gave us a phone for emergency contact.

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Participated in 2 Airbnb experiences

One was a rooftop tour (with drinks) in vintage cars (yes one of those very ‘fancy’ ones you see I tourist pics). Went to some of the best hotel roof tops, Madonna’s favorite restaurant, etc.and just amazing views.

[sunset so pure and holy]

[Another one]

[rooftop of Kempinski with a pool and direct view of the Capitol]

[the host had such good energy the group chatted into later in the evening and everything lit up]

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The other was lot more cultural, basically a city tour with two Cuban college students learning about Cuban people. Had some very open and honest conversations about locals’ lives, struggles, Cuban government, social systems, political views etc. Very eye opening and informative.

The most shocking part for me was the drastic difference in lifestyle between the rich and the poor. Pretty incredible to see what tourists get to experience vs. how locals actually lives.

Remember the rooftops and impeccable views? Well for local Cubans working government jobs, one drink will probably cost half months’ salary, let along staying overnight in a hotel room.

We got to go inside to a local multi-family homes and spoke with people living there. 12 families (or was it 15) cramped in a tiny tiny yard. The living conditions were...brutal to say the least. Photographing their private rooms felt a bit too intrusive to me so I took photos outside.

[outside of the multi-family home. Each window is at least one household]

As we walked towards the Chinatown area, which was right across Capitol (the central area), this is how different things are. I took these two photos standing in the same spot, just facing opposite directions. On one side-

[grandiose]

and on the other side:

[slum, building were literally falling apart and mostly empty with no windows]

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I would recommend both experiences because I got to this country under very different lights and pretty in depth. In short, local life here is really tough but tourist/rich life is pretty damn amazing.

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Havana Club Factory

I personally like visiting distilleries when I travel. Being able to see how different types of liquor come to be is interesting and it’s always good to learn about the history behind the brands. Like, sugar cane to rum? Magic. And honestly the silver one makes great Cuba Libre even with Diet Coke.

Since Havana Club is THE local rum brand and one of the most famous exports of Cuba besides maybe Cohiba, I had to pay the factory a visit. Unlike Bacardi factory in Puerto Rico, where they literally take you around in a golf cart, this place is a lot smaller but still very impressive. Needless to say I brought some back for friends but unfortunately they are still sitting in my home coz ugh COVID.

[look at that molasses]

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Cigar Factory

Also worth a visit. I didn't have a photo here but it’s a operating factory and the whole cigar making process open for display. I watched workers literally from picking the right leaves, rolling the cigars, cutting, packaging them, etc.

[on my way to the Cigar factory]

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Food and Drink

Great but not as cheap as you think. The prices are comparable to US, not NYC but maybe...Charlotte? I went to mostly restaurants for tourists instead of local ones which were generally way cheaper but not the best quality. You are welcome to try but I didn't want any accidents and was on vacation so decided to treat myself okay.There were plenty of decent restaurants and amazing food. Clean, fresh and amazing flavors. Not just rice and beans for sure.

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Internet and communication

Like I mentioned before, wifi is not really a thing. I got Internet cards from my Airbnb host and also bought from the post office. It’s hourly and with the card I can log in and use internet at Wifi spots. Some specific park and post office.

In terms of calling and texting, I used T-mobile and the local phone my host provided to contact them.

Language - locals speak Spanish. I... don't really. Most people understood a little bit of English especially if they are in the service industry (like they know ‘water’ if you're trying to buy water in a store, most restaurants have English menus ). Locals in general are nice and will help as much as they can. I mean I survived pretty easily.

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Traveling right before pandemic/lockdowns?

It was a little scary at the end coz there were very very limited internet access for tourist and we were worried we won't be able to go back or worse - get the virus and be stuck sick in a foreign (and definitely not very medically equipped) country. Thank God that didn't happen, and it was an amazing trip.

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Alrighty, hope this is some what helpful and I realllyyyy hope we get to travel again soon. My inner travel bug has definitely been buzzing.

Until then, stay safe and have faith:)

xxx.

Cindy

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cubagayfriendly · 5 years

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Hello, my name is HUmberto and I am a professor of Spanish language and Cuban History. I make private city tours in Havana. A walking tour in the old town and a tour with a vintage car in all Havana. the walking tour takes 3-4 hours. It is mostly in Old Havana, but not exclusively. It can be adjusted to your wishes and expectancies. The passion for my country and my city is what identifies me. I will teach and show about little streets, the details, the colors and great History of Havana. [email protected] +5352646921 Whatssap #Local #GUIDE #GUIA #caribbean #sea #HAVANA #HABANA #rentals #travel #rooms #apartment #alquiler #beach #airbnb #vacation #city #ciudad #rooms #travel #travel #tour #street #calle #cubanos #cubans #architecture #arquitectura #old #vintage #people #cars #walking #tour (en Havana, Cuba) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9cBjKQgdjp/?igshid=w64cs6m11yd0

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thevacationer-blog1 · 5 years

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Local food walking tour in Old Havana

Vintage cars, cigars, Salsa music and the sunny beaches come to mind when people think of Cuba, not the food, surprisingly many travelers are pleased to try the good quality and variety of food that can be found in the island. Willing to know more? Join us in our local food walking tour in Old Havana. While for locals beans and rice are the staples, foreign visitors joy in the large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that can be bought directly from street vendors, while delicious seafood is best made at local "paladares" (privately own restaurants). Special place is set for the Cuban coffee, best to try with a Cuban cigar.

Local food walking tour in Old Havana: the highlights

Start your tour by digging into delicious “cangrejitos”. Try a Cuban hamburger, made from ground pork or chorizo. Drink a refreshing batido (fruit shake). End your tour in Plaza Vieja with some coconut ice cream. What you'll do Let's start our day making our way through Old Havana, in the search of tasty local food samples from street vendors. Your local guide will be waiting for you at the meeting point approximately 30 minutes before the excursion departure time, from there we will go on a walking tour to admire the colonial architecture of Old Havana but we will also focus to find those delicious snacks that locals and foreigners like so much. You will have the chance to try "cangrejitos", a local specialty of fried dough shaped like crab legs filled with guava. Delicious local fish-filled crepes and street pizza will also be in the menu for local food lovers in this tour. While we visit the four main squares of Old Havana we will try a refreshing batido (fruit shake) and after learning about the city's history and talk about what's happening today in the island we will end our tour in Plaza Vieja with some coconut ice cream. Related reading: World Heritage Sites in Cuba: list of 2020 To have in mind: Its recommended to bring water and sun protection. Long sleeves clothes and a hat are also recommended. Vegetarian friendly tour, however we are unable to accommodate vegans or gluten-free customers. Child-friendly tour. Don’t forget your camera! Note to U.S. travelers: Services are OFAC compliant under any of the permitted licenses, please refer here for the latest information about Americans' legal travel to Cuba. Need to make a question? Use the "Trip Enquiry" tab or contact our destination experts by following this link. Read the full article

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moayoub1 · 5 years

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How to Spend a Day in Fener and Balat, Istanbul

On my most up-to-date trip to Istanbul, Turkey, I did a walking tour focused on hidden architectural gems in Karakoy and Taksim. One among the opposite travelers on my tour was curious about knowing more about the city’s Jewish history, and our guide recommended that she spend a day exploring Fener and Balat (which he mentioned as simply “Fener Balat”), a colorful neighborhood with an upscale, multicultural history and a fast-growing cool factor. Well, that sounded right up my alley too, so I decided to form the trip to Fener and Balat the subsequent day.

It’s hard to draw a politician border between the 2 small neighborhoods of Fener and Balat so that they are often spoken of as one unit. Although the world has been occupied since the Byzantine Empire, Fener and Balat came into their own when the Ottoman Empire took control of Istanbul and lots of the city’s Greek residents built traditional wooden houses in these communities, followed years later by the arrival of the many Jews and Muslims from Spain. Elements of all of the cultures remain today within the sort of religious buildings, educational institutions, residences, cuisine, and art… which makes Fener and Balat a serious draw for travelers trying to find something different in Istanbul.

I spent about four hours in Fener and Balat and would recommend that you simply decide to stay for a minimum of that long (especially if you would like to eat in one among the district’s hottest restaurants). As I mention within the transportation section below, attempt to time your visit to avoid rush-hour traffic, perhaps visiting from 10:00 to 15:00, so that you don’t spend an hour (or longer) making the seven-kilometer bus trip from the Galata Bridge.

Things to try to to in Fener & Balat Find Istanbul’s Most Colorful Houses

Most people come to Fener and Balat to see the rows of colorful houses dotted throughout both neighborhoods. While a number of the more famous streets (like the hilly Merdivenli Yokus) can get crowded with Instagrammers and amateur photographers, you'll still find colorful side streets with few crowds (like the one I snapped above). Many of the homes have had their facades refreshed with the support of UNESCO, which recognizes all of Fatih as a neighborhood of cultural significance.

See the Historic Architecture

It’s a brief walk up a steep hill to Phanar Orthodox College, a monolithic red-brick building that houses Istanbul’s oldest Greek-Orthodox school. Although a faculty has been on the location since the 1400s, the building you'll see today was inbuilt the 1880s. Inside, students still study a balanced curriculum that has the Turkish national curriculum and along with side key subjects in Greek also.

You might also want to see out Kadir Has University, one among Istanbul’s newest universities. The university’s building was originally an old tobacco factory, and therefore the reconstruction work won a gift for architectural beauty from the multinational NGO Europa Nostra.

Visit a spiritual Site

Fener and Balat are both full of houses of worship spanning centuries and faiths. I used to be taken by St. Stephen Bulgarian Church, shown above, with its unique cast-iron facade. St. Stephen’s undergone an extended renovation and reopened in 2018, so visit while it’s still in great condition.

You can also visit the Ahrida Synagogue, but to pass beyond its red gate you'll be got to arrange entrance beforehand, for security purposes. Similarly, to enter the Gul Mosque, which was inbuilt the eleventh century because of the Saint Theodosia Church, you'll need to hunt the groundskeeper and convince him to allow you to the inside, which I’ve read isn't a simple feat.

Although some blogs mention Saint Mary of the Mongols Church, it’s located behind a reasonably big wall and infrequently hospitable the general public. Don’t leave of your way for this one.

Browse for Antiques & Curiosities

It’s impossible to steer quite two or three blocks in Fener and Balat without encountering the community’s famous antique shops, full of everything from second-hand trinkets to legitimately valuable antiques. However, I used to be more curious about a number of the opposite shops I found, just like the Electrician of Havana shop where antique electrical items like lamps and telephones are converted into contemporary art, and Balat Bahce, where they sell quite fifty different sorts of homemade jams, jellies, and spreads, mostly featuring local and seasonal ingredients.

Scope Out the road Art

Again, follow the Instagrammers and you'll be led to Balat and Fener’s most evocative pieces of street art, including murals of mysterious portraits, perfume bottle grenades, random acts of automobiles and, yes, your standard graffiti. If you would like to ascertain art off the road, pop into The Pill Contemporary gallery, which was closed thanks to a change of exhibits once I visited, but that often features exhibitions of up-and-coming Turkish and international artists.

Where to dine in Fener & Balat

Cook life Balat

Out of all the restaurants in Fener and Balat, I used to be most drawn to Cook life Balat for my brunch during this Istanbul neighborhood. An adorable corner cafe travel by the team behind Cook life culinary magazine, the main target here is on fresh, local ingredients sourced from the owners’ farm outside Istanbul. I had their spectacular Turkish breakfast for one, shown above, featuring homemade bread, jams and spreads, salad, olives, cheese, butter, nuts and more.

Forno Balat

I also considered eating at Forno Balat because I could see it had a stimulating menu of Turkish flatbread pizzas, including some vegetarian options, plus soups, salads and homemade desserts. If you’re in Fener and Balat on the weekend, Forno also serves a weekend buffet brunch.

Mitis Manti ve Cafe

This was my backup-backup just in case I couldn’t get a seat at either Cook's life or Forno. With a more traditional vibe, this small restaurant focuses on manti or Turkish dumplings that they had two different vegetarian options (potato or mushroom) and three meaty options, all of which accompany a liberal covering of special yogurt-based sauce and a drizzle of their secret manti sauce.

Brew Coffeeworks

When I mentioned I’d been in Fener and Balat, one among my readers asked if I’d been to Brew Coffeeworks. Consistent with them, it's the simplest coffee altogether of Istanbul, so I used to be disappointed to possess missed it. Stop by when you’re in Fener and Balat, then come and let me know if it is that the best coffee altogether of Istanbul!

How to Get to Fener & Balat

Fener and Balat are located in Fatih, on the ECU side of Istanbul and northwest of Eminonu. To urge to Fener and Balat from Eminonu, walk to the bus exchange that's labeled “Eminönü (Turyol)” on Google Maps (zoom in and you'll see four small lanes of bus stops) and mountboard one among the frequent buses traveling northwest along Abdulezelpasa Caddesi. If you’re bad at remembering bus numbers, it’s easiest to recollect 99, 99A or 99Y, all of which can take you to Fener and Balat. Traffic moves at a snail’s pace at hour, so attempt to time your visit to avoid the push of drivers getting to, or leaving, work.

Hotels in Fener & Balat

I didn’t stay in Fener and Balat and that I don’t necessarily recommend that you simply stay here. As it’s only accessible by bus, with no subway or tram service, it is often time-consuming to succeed in other areas of the town from here. However, if you would like to base yourself in Fener and Balat because you’re within the neighborhood for private reasons or work, you'll check out Hotel Troya Balat, which is found during a nineteenth-century historical building on the near side of the district, or Balat Residence for a standard, family-run hotel with self-contained apartment units.

Istanbul is one of my favorite cities on the earth, and I’ve already planted the seeds for a return visit (my third!) next summer, but this point with my mom as my travel companion! I can’t wait to introduce her to everything from Cook's life Balat’s beautiful brunch to the traditional sights of Sultanahmet.

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searchingforstillness · 5 years

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Havana

Our Havana Vacation

Earlier this year the husband’s brother and his wife took a cruise that had a stop in Havana. They enjoyed the day there so much, they said they’d love to go back to spend more time exploring the city. That got us thinking….this year is our 20th wedding anniversary and in June our only son would be traveling for 2 weeks with a school group…..maybe we should take the opportunity to visit Havana ourselves. I mean, we currently live just a 45 minute plane flight away, why not!

I’d like to get a few details out of the way before I start telling about our trip.

1) Traveling to Cuba from the U.S. is still allowed, you just can’t go there on a cruise ship. Through some research we discovered that the easiest way was flying there under the Support for The Cuban People visa. We found it as easy as traveling to Mexico.

2) I recommend changing your US dollars to Euros or Canadian dollars (which ever has a better exchange rate at the time) before you go to Cuba. There is a 10% tax on exchanging US dollars in Cuba (also, when we were there, Euros and Canadian dollars had a better exchange rate than US dollars regardless of the extra 10% tax). When you get to the Havana airport, only change what you need to pay your taxi. You can get a better exchange rate at the banks in town than you will at the airport.

3) Water in casas and hotels (anywhere, I assume) comes from a large blue tank on the roof that is filled by a large water truck. I’m not sure how often they are filled, but you see the truck all over the city constantly filling tanks. We found out the hard way that you can run out of water. Now before you go on the “wasteful American” kick, we don’t/didn’t waste water. We took quick showers and shut the water off while brushing our teeth, etc., but it seems that the toilet continued to run one day after we left our casa. That evening we ran out of water during our showers. While our host was quick to switch the tanks and get our water back running, it would have been nice to have been aware of the water situation (and toilet situation) when we got there so we could have kept an eye on it.

4) They don’t have any emissions standards, so be ready for some pretty noxious fumes (Thank You EPA Emissions Standards!).

5) The average salary in Havana is $15-$20/month….yes, MONTH. So you will have many friendly Cubans offering to show you around, sell you cigars, take you to the best restaurants, etc. as a way to try to make extra money. Also, what we Americans consider a normal tip (15%-20%) is often the monthly salary for these hard working people. So be generous, gracious, and tolerant. These folks are just trying to get ahead while sharing their wonderful hospitality and beautiful country.

6) We booked all of our trip, except for the flight, through AirBnB (we flew Southwest). You can rent a casa particular for much less per night than a hotel room in the U.S. There are homes, condos, apartments, or just rooms available, depending on the type of trip you want to have. The casas are privately owned by locals, so the money is going to the Cuban citizens. You can also book tours through AirBnB. That’s what we did. These are hosted by the locals as well. The tours we took were very informative and certainly recommended.

7) There are two forms of currency in Cuba, the CUC which is the tourist currency, and the CUP which is the local currency. The CUC is very close in value to the U.S. dollar, so keeping track of how much you're spending isn’t that difficult. The CUP is worth much less (the CUC is worth 25 times as much as the CUP). So when you are looking at prices, make sure to note whether it is in CUC or CUP.

Now, on to the trip……

Day 1 - We flew into Havana from Ft Lauderdale on a Wednesday afternoon. Our casa host arranged a cab to pick us up at the airport. Our cab driver was waiting when we got there. The airport is about a 30min ride from Old Havana, where we were staying. The cost of the cab ride was 30cuc and we tipped on top of that. Also, I want to note that the cool classic ‘50s cars you see in all of the pictures are not the cabs that will pick you up from the airport. If that is what you are wanting, you will need to make special arrangements, and those cabs will probably cost a little more. Otherwise you will get to ride in a Russian Lada. Our host greeted us at our casa, showed us around the area, and helped us get settled. We scheduled a walking tour of Old Havana for our first evening so we could get a feel for the area and what we wanted to see/do (FREE walking tour: Welcome to Havana is the AirBnB listing). This is a tour I would definitely recommend. Our guide, Daniel, was a great host, knew much about the city and its history, and was happy to answer questions. The tour was listed as free, but you should tip what you feel the tour was worth. As I said earlier, the people of Cuba offer these services as a way to make extra money. Daniel works as a journalist and does these tours on the side. Our tour started at Parque Central, just a block from the capitol building (Explanada del Capitolio) and where all the cool ‘50s cars park and offer city tours. From there we learned the history of the Gran Teatro de La Habana (Great Theatre of Havana), and that the Explanada del Capitolio was modeled after the U.S. Capitol, but is one meter taller ;). It also has a diamond in the floor in the middle of the rotunda and the distance to every place in Cuba is measured from that diamond. From there we toured on foot to the Revolution Museum, saw the remains of the original walls of the city, the fort protecting Havana Port, and visited the four Plazas. We ended the tour at the Plaza Vieja, which was just a few blocks from our casa and was the location of one of the restaurants our host recommended. That evening we enjoyed some Cuban beer on the balcony while people watching.

Day 2 - After a surprisingly restful sleep (I was worried because I didn’t bring my pillow and the beds there don’t have box springs, just a mattress) we went to meet up for our second tour. This was to be a 9.5 hour nature walk and swim at Canasí Ecological Reserve. Well, after meeting the guide and checking the weather, we opted to head back to the casa and just wing it that day. And after it stormed all afternoon, we were glad we made that choice! We spent the part of the day, before the storms, exploring some of the areas we were introduced to the night before. We also began the husband’s quest for authentic Cuban cigars. After the storms started, we found a nice rooftop bar (covered) and watched the storms roll across Havana. That evening we enjoyed dinner at El Rum Rum de la Habana where the husband had the biggest lobster tail we’ve ever seen. Delicious and inexpensive (by U.S. standards)!!

Day 3- One of the best things we found in Cuba was the coffee! So our mornings were spent coffee shop hopping (kinda like bar hopping, but for coffee instead of beer). All that caffeine made the 8 miles we averaged walking each day a little easier. Our favorite place to stop was the Iberostar by Parque Central. There we could get one hour of wifi with the purchase of a drink. So coffee and stalking the son became our morning routine (#StalkerMomReturns). After our coffee, we spent the rest of the morning on the quest for cigars. After visiting one the government stores, the only place you can ensure you’re getting authentic Cuban cigars, we tracked down a classic ‘50s cab (a beautiful ’56 Ford Fairlane) to take us to the Vedado neighborhood for our final scheduled excursion. This last tour was a cigar tasting. We met at Cigar Passion (which also happens to be the name of the tour on AirBnB) and ordered drinks. We each received a Cohiba to enjoy with the tapas and mojitos while our host, Luis, told us the history of cigars in Cuba and what makes Cuban cigars special. Luis has worked at the cigar factory for 20 years and is now one of the tour guides at the factory. We were joined by a lovely young Russian couple. This was probably the most splendid evening of our trip. Our 2 hour cigar dinner turned into 3 hours of wonderful conversation. Luis was a great host. A definite must do when visiting Havana. After returning to Old Havana we enjoyed dinner at Esquina de Cuba, then back to our casa for drinks, cigars, and people watching.

Day 4 - During our tour on our first day, Daniel told us there is an art show every Saturday at the Paseo del Prado just down the street from Parque Central. So we left our Saturday open for this and to check out all the things we had seen but hadn’t had time to explore. When we got there we were surprised by a fun run taking place along the Paseo de Marti. Of course I had to stop and cheer for the runners, and be jealous that I wasn’t able to participate. The art show was very interesting with a mix from whimsical to political in a variety of mediums. Another recommended activity if you are in the Old Havana area on a Saturday. After the art show, we decided to take a city tour in a beautiful ’56 Cadillac. These tours last about an hour and cost 40cuc. Our driver spoke English very well and showed us all of the highlights of Havana…from Revolution Square and Lennon Park to the University and Hotel Nacional de Cuba. Another recommended experience.

Day 5 - Our host arranged a taxi to take us to the airport. We changed our left over CUCs back to Euros at the airport. While we probably should have done that at the bank in Old Havana, we didn’t think of it in time. The flight and customs was easy to manage. They just want to know what you purchased while in Cuba. I believe that you need to pay tax if it’s over a certain dollar amount, but with only a box of cigars and a couple of paintings, we were safe from extra fees.

While this was not your typical relaxation vacation, it was a wonderful cultural experience for both of us. The husband said that if he were asked to describe Havana in just one word it would be ‘alive’ and he is correct. The city is very much alive, and just like their music, there is movement everywhere.

#Havana travel cigars

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story-the-world · 5 years

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Cartagena

Cartagena is a colorful city that combines the culture of Colombia with the influence of the Caribbean/North America. It reminds me a lot of the beach towns in Mexico before they got overrun by western tourists/college spring breakers. Based on our flight (and the number of bachelor parties) I can only hope that Cartagena can keep its charm and stay true to its Colombian roots. See my other posts on Medellin, Salento and Tayrona National Park for more on Colombia!

Must do:

1. Bazurto market

This is number 1 – and the exact reason for this blog. If you go to Cartagena and only stay in the ‘walled city’ you will miss out on all of the unique culture/food/experiences Colombia has to offer. Sure, the market is dirty and unorganized… but it has thousands of stalls where you can literally buy anything. There are sections for household goods, clothes, fresh vegetables/produce/meat/fish, and even a food court (using this term liberally). We went on a Tuesday around noon and the market was packed. I can only imagine how crowded it must be in the morning when restaurant owners go there to pick up food for the day.

Contrary to the reviews, I believe the market is extremely safe. Everyone was friendly and eager to show off what they had in their stall. There are several companies that offer walking tours of the market – which might be a good option for those that don’t feel comfortable. Note, we speak very little Spanish (probably the level of a 3rd grader) and were able to communicate with the locals and found everything we needed.

While there, we had some fresh watermelon juice (around 20 cents US), an amazing spread of seafood (around 1 USD) and a few beers in the bar area. There was dancing, singing and the locals made us feel at home. No map needed, just follow the maze of paths and listen for the music. The only reason we ended up leaving is the power went out (which it does quite often in Cartagena). A great experience for those who want to see the real Colombia.

2. One (or two) day trip out to the islands

The beaches of Cartagena are not very nice. Although the city is beautiful, there are no ‘white sand’ beaches/turquoise lagoons within walking distance. For this experience, which is a ‘must’, I would suggest taking a boat out to one of the islands. There are several tour companies and several islands to choose from. Be very careful in which tour companies you go through/which islands you book. Many can be overcrowded or filled with bachelor parties, make several stops, or bring you to tourist traps. Ideally, with a large group you can rent your own private boat and create an itinerary yourself – free from all the hassle. However, with two people, we were stuck with the larger tour companies. Below is a quick assessment:

Rosario Islands: IslaBela: This was the day trip we went on. It cost 180,000 Pesos per person. It left around 9:00am and returned around 4pm. We chose this for a few reasons… a) It is a ‘private island’ which means there will be one boat of passengers that go to/from the island per day (no people hounding you on the beach for jewelry/food…). Our particular boat had around 30 people on it. b) Because it is part of a hotel, they provide you with lunch (I had the grilled fish) and will serve drinks to you on the beach. They also have activities (we went snorkeling – but they also had paddle boards, and kayaks. c) The island is far enough into the sea where you get ‘white sand’ and ‘turquoise water.’ I would highly recommend for a one day or two day excursion.

Playa Blanca: This was our other top choice – as it is accessible via shuttle bus and/or taxi. As it is not a private beach, there might be a larger crowd and you might get people trying to sell you things.

Isla de Tierra Bomba: Blue Apple: Similar to IslaBela, however does not have as nice of a beachfront. It does have the comforts of a 5 star resort (pool, beach staff, activities). Full disclosure – it is owned by my friend Portia.

When doing our planning, we used Cartagena Connections for research. They can also be used to book excursions: https://www.cartagenaconnections.com/ Would recommend checking them out before booking a trip (as mentioned before, some tours can be quite disappointing.

3. Explore the old city (day or night)

This probably seems obvious but there is a ton to do in the ‘walled city.’ Including walking along the wall! You do not need a tour guide and do not really need an agenda (as everything is super close).

My favorite: Holy Trinity Square. Go here any night of the week for street performers, street meat, and beers. There will be ton’s of people hanging out, drinking, socializing, and generally having a good time. If you want a cheap meal/great start to your night, I would suggest going here around 9pm, grabbing something from the cart (I got the ‘grande combo’) and either bring, or buy a few beers from the local vendors. Sit, listen to music, and hang in good company.

Some other highlights include: Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas – this is a bit of a walk, and you might want to take a taxi. It is about $10 to get in and you can walk up to the top for good views of the city. Probably only worth it if you like history. Garita del Baluarte San/Clock Tower Monument good for walking by and taking pictures. Café del Mar Ltda. Best view of the sunset – but touristy, crowded and expensive. Get there before 5pm if you want a seat along the water. Cafe Stepping Stone/ Café del Mural two cool coffee shops – the first is a run with a good mission – a way for local Colombians to improve their economic situation. The second is a cool coffee shop with a million different types of local Colombian coffee. El Arsenal: The Rum Box/Alquimico Bar – cool cocktail bars. Expensive but will make you a good Manhattan. Café Havana and the other bars on Calle 30 – late night bars, good to dance the night away – beware some have covers after certain hours. Caffé Lunático/ Basilica Pizzería good tapas and good pizza. Something different and both had good atmosphere and really good food. Café/ La Cevichería/ Carmen Cartagena the ‘famous’ places. Honestly wasn’t really impressed too much by either. The food was good, but expensive and the atmosphere was all tourists.

Can Skip

Las Bóvedas Market/ Apolo Park/Baluarte de Santa Catalina

All three of these are in the same corner of the city. I found the market to be nothing but stall after stall of tourist items. All shops had the same things and nothing was unique. The park felt rundown and there was no one taking care of it (it might be interesting if you had a good handle on Colombian leaders). And the Baluarte de Santa Catalina was similar to the other castle – just another stone structure. The views are nice from the top – and it looks to be a big plaza that might have events from time to time – but when we went nothing of interest was going on.

Other notes:

-No one in our group spoke good Spanish and we were able to get by. It helps to know the basics - some verbs/vocab words ('where is' 'do you have'...), but nothing beyond that. A lot of people will have a very basic knowledge of English and if all else fails, use google translate.

- Taxis are cheap and not once did I feel the driver was trying to rip us off. They are all over the city and I would highly recommend over Uber.

- I have heard from others that there are some nice ‘all inclusive’ resorts in the area. I did not go to any of these – and if you are staying at one, the advice on the ‘beach day’ might not be needed.

#cartagena #storytheworld #travel #travelblogger #colombia

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politicalstash · 7 years

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Members if campground dvd selection on one shelf lol

Movies 3 pack- Dodgeball, Me,Myself and Irene, There's Something About Mary 4 pack- Mo'Nique I Coulda Been Your Cellmate, Katt Williams 9 Lives, Bruce Almighty Losin It, Tony Roberts Wired 5 pack- Edge of Darkness, Conspiracy Theory, We Were Soliders, Payback 4 pack- Robocop, The Terminator, Red Dawn, Road House. 4 pack- Miami Vice, Jarhead, The Kingdom, Ray 4 pack- Casino, Carlito's Way, Mobsters, Carlito's Way Rise to Power 4 pack- GoodFellas, The Departed, The Aviator, Mean Streets 3 pack- BraveHeart, Gladiator, Hercules 8 pack- Knockout, Valley of Angels, Bloodrayne, Lords of the Street, American Breakdown, Garrison, Extracted, After The Dark 8 pack- The Code, On The Edge, Dead Heist, King Of The Adventure, Way of War, Sacrifice, Elephant White, Act of Vengeance 4 pack- Office Space, Mrs. Doubtfire, My Cousin Vinny, Super Troopers, 4 pack- Midnight Cowboy, The Usual Suspects, Thelma and Louise, Platoon 3 pack- Patriot Games, Eagle Eye, Echelon Conspiracy 4 pack- The A-Team, A Good Day To Die Hard, Unstoppable, Man on Fire 4 pack- Trouble with the Curve, Gran Torino, J. Edgar, Invictus 2 pack- Little Man, White Chicks 4 pack- Which Way Is Up, Brewster's Millions, Carwash, Bustin' Loose 4 pack- Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison 2 pack- The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider 5 pack- Trading Places, Dream Girls, 48 HRS, The Golden Child, Another 48 HRS 3 pack- Juno, Napoleon Dynamite, Little Miss Sunshine 3 pack- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers In GoldMember 3 pack- Revenge Of The Nerds, Revenge Of The Nerds ll, Revenge Of The Nerds lll 3 pack- Legion, Priest, Gabriel 3 pack- Animal House, Dazed And Confused, Fast Times At Ridgemont High 4 pack- Me, Myself, And Irene, Super Troopers, The Girl Next Door, Grandma's Boy 2 pack- P.S. I Love You, The Lake House 2 pack- Kevin Hart Laugh At My Pain, Kevin Hart Seriously Funny 4 pack- Act of Valor, Limitless, Machine Gun Preacher, Paranoia 3 pack- Gamer, The Next Three Days, Setup Forest Gump Special Collector's Edition Pablo Escobar The ATV Movie Destroyer Librium World Surf Inspiration 3x Hypnotic Ocean Journey Accepted Ace Ventura Pet Detective Ace Ventura When Nature Calls Anger Management Alex Cross All About Steve Gabriel Iglesias Aloha Fluffy Anchorman Aviator Alien Outpost 2x A Knights Tale American Hustle Armageddon Armored The A Team Alice in Wonderland Avengers AVP Alien vs. Predators AVP Requiem Bad Boys Bad Teacher Barber Shop 2: Back in Business Batman Begins Battleship Beastly Because I Said So Bedtime Stories Benchwarmers 3 pack- Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop ll, Beverly Hills Cop lll The Big Lebowski Collector's Edition Big Top Pee Wee Biker Boys Bill Cosby... Far from finished Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure Little Black Book 4 pack- Blade, Blade ll, Blade: Trinity, Blade: House of Chthon Blades of Glory The Blind Side Blow Bowfinger Blue Collar Comedy Tour The Body Guard The Boondock Saints ll: Saints All Day The Bounty Hunter The Bourne Supremacy The Bourne Ultimatum Boys Don't Cry Braveheart Brian Regan Standing Up Bad Words Brother Grimm Bride Wars Bruce Almighty Blast The Bucket List Camp Rock 2 Captain America: The Winter Solider Captain America: The First Avenger Cars 3x Click 3x Chuck and Larry Center Stage Charlotte's Web Coach Carter Cliffhanger Cold Mountain Collateral Con Air Casper Catch and Release The Condemned Coraline Couples Retreat Cowboys and Aliens Coyote Ugly Crank Chicken Little Crank 2: High Voltage Crazy Beautiful The Crucible Dance Flick Dane Cook Vicious Circle The Dark Knight Rises Dark Shadows Platinum Comedy Series Dave Chappelle Dawn Of The Dead Dear John Death Race 3: Inferno Death Race 2 Definitely, Maybe Descent 2 The Dilemma Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Django Unchained Dolphin Tale Doom Doomsday The Davinci Dead in Tombstone Dodgeball Domino Due Date Double Jeopardy DrillBit Taylor Finding Dory Drumline End Of Days The Dukes of Hazzard Easy A Envy Eragon Escape Eternal Sunshine Everybody's Fine The Expendables The Expendables 2 Facing the Giants The Family 2x Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer Fight Club Fire With Fire 50 First Dates 2 pack- Footloose, Flash Dance Forrest Gump Free Willy Freedom Writers Friday the 13th From Hell 2x Four Brothers Four Christmases Fun With Dick And Jane Gabriel Iglesias Stand-Up Revolution Green Lantern The Gambler George Carlin: It's Bad For Ya And Life Is Worth Losin Get Hard Grease: Rockin Rydell Edition Get Rich or Die Tryin' Ghost Ghostbusters Ghosts of Girlfriends Past Ghost Rider 2x G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra G.I. Joe: Retaliation Gladiator GoodFellas 13 Going On 30 Goldmember A Good Day To Die Hard The Goonies 3x The Green Mile Gridiron Gang How The Grinch Stole Christmas Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn 2x Hancock The Hangover The Hangover Part ll Hansel and Gretel Harold and Kumar: Go To White Castle Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets The Heat Hellboy Hellboy ll: The Golden Army Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy High School Musical 2 High School Musical 3 3x Hitch Hitman Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 2x The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Hulk The Incredible Hulk The Hurt Locker Identity Thief The Illusionist Immortals Inception Independence Day Inglorious Basterds Insurgent The Internship Into The Blue Invincible Idle Hands I, Robot Iron Man The Island Jack Frost Jack Reacher Jeff Dunham Spark Of Insanity Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special Jeff Dunham Minding The Monsters Jennifer's Body Johnson Family Vacation Joyful Noise Jumper Just Go With It Just Married Just Like Heaven From Justin To Kelly Katt Williams: Pimpadelic Killer Eliter Killers 2x King Kong Kingsman: The Secret Service Kingdom of Heaven Knockaround Guys Kung Fu Hustle Kiss The Girls Kung Fu Panda Ladies 49 Land Of The Dead The Last Castle The Last Dragon The Last Stand Looper Legally Blonde 2 Lemony Snicket's: A Series Of Unfortunate Events Let's Go To Prison Liar Liar The League of Extraordinary Gentleman Life Of Pi The Longest Yard Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers 2x Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring Lost In Space 2x Man On Fire Madea's Big Happy Family Madea's Witness Protection Madea Goes To Jail Madea's Family Reunion 3x Matrix Reloaded Maggie The Magnificent 7 Martian Child Max Mad Max Major Payne 2 pack- MIB, MIB II Mario Bros MIB Michael Clayton Michael Jackson: History: The King Of Pop Mr Deeds Mask Meet The Fockers Meet The Parents Men Of Honor Michael Jackson Number Ones Michael Jackson Mr 3000 Mrs Doubtfire Miss Congeniality Mortdecai Monster Monster's Bail Monster-In-Law The Monuments Men 2 pack- Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat Annihilation My Super Ex Girlfriend Napoleon Dynamite National Treasure Neighbors 2x Never Back Down My Baby's Daddy Never Been Kissed The Nice Guy Night At The Museum: Secret of The Tomb Night at the Museum Margaret Cho: Notorious C.H.O The Notebook The Nut Job O'Brother, Where Art Thou? Non-Stop Ocean's Twelve Ocean's Thirteen Kill Bill Old Dogs Open Range Pacific Rim Vin Diesel the Pacifier Paddington Padre Kino: The Legend of the Black Priest Parker The Patriot Poltergeist Peter Pan The Phantom of the Opera Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest Point Break Practical Magic Predators Premium Rush Premonition Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Princess Bride The Proposal Pearl Harbor P.S. I Love You Pulp Fiction Mo'Nique Phat Girlz 2 pack- The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy The Pursuit of Happyness Real Steel Redline Rush Hour 2 Red 2 Remember the Titans 3 pack- Pitch Black, The Chronicles Of Riddick, The Chronicles Of Riddick: Dark Fury Rise of the Planet of the Apes Robin Hood Prince of Thieves The Rock Rocky ll Rocky Balboa Ron White A Little Unprofessional The Rookie Rounders The Rum Diary Saving Private Ryan Sabotage 2x The Sandlot School of Rock The Shawshank Redemption Snitch Scott Pilgrim Silent House Shaun of the Dead Sherlock Holmes She's the Man Step Up Revolution Snow White and The Huntsman The Social Network She's all that Soul plane Scooby Doo Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Shallow Hall Son in Law Song One Sorority Row Spider-Man 2x Spider-Man 2 3x Spider-Man 3 Space Jam Spy Stand and Deliver Starship Troopers Star Wars: The Force Awakens Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Stuck on You Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Taken Taken 2 Taken 3 This is 40 The Ringer The Croods Thor Tomb Raider The Time Machine The Time Traveler's Wife Toneloc T.V. 2 Tombstone Total Recall The Exorcist Trading Places Training Day Transformers Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Bucket List The Eye Transformers Beginners Troy Directors Cut Two for the Money The Man From U.N.C.L.E True Grit UFC: Best of 2012 Unforgiven Unknown Uptown Girls Unfinished Business Van Helsing The Vow Warm Bodies The Wedding Date The Wedding Planner The Wedding Singer A Walk to Remember Walking Tall Wanted The Waterboy War Dogs We Bought a Zoo Where the Wild Things Are Kevin Hart What Now While You Were Sleeping White Chicks The Whole Nine Yards Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Wild Card Wild Hogs Wings of Life The World's End World War ll X-Men Origins: Wolverine The Last Stand 40 Year Old Virgin Zombieland Zookeeper Zoolander 2 Guns 8 Mile

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cosmicsonglines · 7 years

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Pssst, Taxi? … Boyfriend? …Wifi?

My Cuban Chronicles

It’s been 56 years since the Cuban Revolution, and the spray-painted signs all over crumbling, yet vibrant Havana won’t let you forget. Yes, stepping out of the airport and into Havana is like entering a time capsule, but there’s something more complex going on. My friends & I immediately sensed that Havana housed parallel worlds. There’s the world of the ordinary Cubans struggling daily, and that of the yuma, or foreigner, in town on a vacation. They exist simultaneously, yet rarely collide.

Cubans don’t even use the same currency as tourists, they use moneda nacional (MN). It’s worth about 24 cents to 1 CUC. MN isn’t even accepted at any of the places tourists go. All Cubans who are not in tourism have a side hustle because even doctors and engineers make 25 CUC a month (what it costs to get from the airport to the city). Taxi drivers make more than professionals. As such, you’ll find a lot of ex-engineer cabbies. Almost everyone uses the black market to get by, to get things that Americans would consider basic necessities. Many Cubans receive weekly (illegal) USB “packets” with all the new movies and more, to compensate for the lack of internet access.

As part of the emerging private sector (20% of the economy), I found that airbnb hosts were at this odd intersection, straddling the parallel worlds described above. I recommend staying with an airbnb Superhost — they can help arrange taxis for you, get you additional services like a cook, bartender, or masseuse (often the same person), and they can also call in reservations for you, which brings me to a few tips I wish I’d known beforehand.

Top Tips:

Make reservations in advance if there’s somewhere special you want to eat, especially at the following restaurants:

El Cocinero

Los Naranjos

Doña Euitmia

San Cristobal (where Jay-Z & Beyonce & Obama went)

La Guarida

I found this a bit shocking but you really do need reservations even on weeknights. Old Havana is small and there are only a handful of raved about dinner spots - this makes sense considering that regular Cubans cannot afford to go to any of these tourist spots.

Exchange your USD to EUR at the airport in the states and then exchange EUR for CUC (1 EUR = 1 CUC) at the airport in Havana - once you leave the airport, there are very few places to exchange in the city (maybe 2) and they are very slow.

Bring more than enough cash. American money is ok, but you can’t exchange USD there without a 10% fee. You won’t be able to use your credit card or withdraw money from the ATM. Budget about $100 USD a day and that should be more than enough, not including accommodation. Most meals cost about $10 and cocktails cost $3-4, and beer $2.

Off the beaten path are really cheap local bakeries selling bread to locals for $.04 a loaf and street vendors hawking fresh fruit for $.50. Street food consists of sandwiches.

As always, confirm the amount with your taxi river before getting in. There are no metered taxis. A cab from the airport to Old Havana should be about $25. It cost us $25 to get to Santa Fe from the airport as well. Both trips take about 30 min.

Before you leave, download the Cuba App from iTunes - it will work offline & the map will combine clutch. The GPS will work while your phone is on airplane mode.

Be prepared to have absolutely no wifi. There is wifi in select spots but it's usually a pain to connect.

Take the time to learn a few key Spanish phrases like:

“Necesito ir a…” means “I need to go to…”

“¿Dónde está…” when you’re asking about where something is.

“¿Cuánto cuesta?” = “How much does it cost?”

“¿Puedo ver un menú, por favor? ” which means “Can I see a menu please?” You could also say “Necesito una mesa para dos, por favor” which means “I need a table for two, please.”

To order a drink at the bar, say “Me gustaria un/a … por favor.” So if you want a beer, it would be “Me gustaria una cerveza por favor.”

My shitty Spanish was enough to get us by, but it wasn't enough to ensure things didn't go wrong when trying to iron out the details. This trip solidified my resolve to become fluent in Spanish.

The Trip

Day 1: We arrived in Havana and had dinner at the house in Santa Fe, which is a suburb (consejo popular) about 15 min. west of Havana. I was there for one of my best friend’s bachelorette party & we wanted an escape from the city and not to have to split up the group. So our house was perfect for those purposes. It was right on the water and had a small pool. They are installing an infinity pool soon, which will be amazing.

After dinner at the house, we took a taxi into Old Havana and wandered by one of many bars that was playing music, dancers spilling outside onto the cobblestone street. That was the spot where we got inadvertently hustled by a guy named Lando who told us that, “today is the salsa festival” nah, dude…everyday is a salsa festival here.

He then took us to get the “best mojitos” at an Irish pub. We took one sip and it was apparent that we were being hustled. Soon his friend joined us and we noticed them getting some kind of commission for bringing us to this bar. Then there was the whole Buena Vista Social Club fiasco - we told them we were planning to see the band and they told us they knew where we could get tickets.

They took us to Legendarios del Guajirito. It was some bogus place, overpriced and full of older, cruise ship type folk. AVOID at all costs.

Lando was charming & polite, but definitely a hustler.

Day 2: The one good thing Lando told us about was Santa Maria, a local beach about 20 min. by taxi - free chairs and umbrellas. 2 CUC for a chaise lounge.

We drank plenty of coco locos (coconuts filled with rum, $4) and jammed out with our floatable speaker. Our driver Luis chilled with us the entire day and watched our stuff in exchange for a beer or two (but I think he would've done it anyway).

That night we showed up at El Cocinero for dinner, without a reservation, and it was impossible to get a table. So, we walked to the closest restaurant, which was 1830. That place had terrible “second wedding vibes” as my friend aptly put it. The interior had a retro colonial look. The service was poor and the food was lacking, especially considering the price. I hear 1830 is known for good outdoor salsa after 10pm, however.

Afterwards, we headed to the outdoor club Don Cangrejo, on the water. The band went on at midnight. The singer was so suave and grinded his way into my heart. Regrettably, I can’t remember his name but his selfies (flashing on screen behind him) are etched into my memory.

It was weird that there were all these tables instead of a clear dance floor- people just stood up and danced at their table, or right below the stage.

They say NYC is the city that never sleeps, but I don’t think the originator of that saying has visited Havana. In Havana, the party doesn’t get started until after midnight. The clubs are dead before then so plan accordingly.

Day 3: We explored Old Havana, had drinks and a tasty bite at 304. Then toured the city in an old hot pink convertible, wandered round markets, and stumbled upon a free art gallery with some interesting pieces composed of repurposed trash and used objects.

La Bodeguita Del Medio: where the Mojito was invented and a Hemingway hangout. They play good live music (so do most places) and the Mojitos are the best. People gather outside on the street.

La Floridita: Another Hemingway hangout, equipped with Hemmingway statue at the bar. This is the home of the Daiquiri. A lot of older people, but the tasty drink was worth it.

That night, we had an amazing dinner at Doña Eutimia,a traditional restaurant in Old Havana. It’s at the end of Callejón Del Chorro, an alley full of restaurants, to the right. The food is amazing and cheap and the frozen mojito is the specialty of the house.

We had all heard about Fabrica de Arte (FAC) which is a relatively new art space right next to El Cocinero. It’s a gallery plus music venue/experiential art space. Some dudes said it was 10 CUC to cut the line - I was with 5 girls & couldn’t cut the line without paying, which we opted not to do.

We consoled ourselves by agreeing it was pretty much like a Bushwick warehouse party.

Instead, we had drinks at El Cocinero’s rooftop - so many people from Brooklyn!!

El Cocinero is an old cooking oil factory in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana.

Day 4: Viñales day trip - countryside about 2 1/2 hours away.

Taxi there and back: 100 CUC

We went horseback riding through limestone hills and tobacco fields. Our tour included tasting honey made by bees underground, rum with a special type of guava only found in that region of Cuba, a coffee farm, a lake, and a cave.

(A 4-hour tour for 20 CUC per person; cave entry 2 CUC.)

We had a true farm-to-table lunch & the best piña colada i have ever had in my life.

When we got back, we had dinner across from 304, at FRENTE. Unfortunately, they had rude service. The food was good, but they’d run out of all the seafood on the menu (we got there around 10pm).

Although I wasn’t able to perforate the tourist parallel world and experience life like a local and I came away with more questions than answers, I still have a fondness for the self-reliance I saw and tremendous kindness I experienced.

#havana #cuba #guide #vinales #travel #cubans #bachelorette party #americans in cuba #habana #old havana #habana vieja

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pgitlin · 8 years

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12th to 16th March

Cuba continued I am continuing to write up the account of our Cuba trip on our return to Monaco as it proved difficult to find the time to write while we were on the trip. On Sunday 12th we visited Trinidad as reported earlier. Following a walking tour of the little well preserved town, we visited the Museum which is a beautifully restored mansion built around a colonnaded courtyard. It was a good example of an early 20th century plantation owners mansion, and contained some fine examples of colonial furniture. The main rooms were also decorated with beautiful frescoes of Art Nouveau design. Following lunch in a rather typical tourist restaurant whiere the service was extremely slow, and the menu the standard fare at most Cuban restaurants – pork, fish or chicken with rice and black beans, followed by dessert of flan (a type of crème caramel) or ice cream with cake. This was followed by a drive back to Cienfuegos where the boat had returned. After some free time during which we visited the craft market again, we were treated to a wonderful concert by a guitar ensemble from the local music college. The 7 professional musicians played mostly classical guitar music interspersed with typical Cuban melodies. Then it was back to the boat for the Captain’s welcome dinner before we sailed to our next destination, Cayo Largo. The following morning (Monday 13th) the boat was anchored about 3 miles off the island of Cayo Largo, one of the nearly 3,000 islands of the archipelago which makes up Cuba. We boarded a motor launch for the 10 minute ride to the island which has been developed as a tourist resort. Most of the tourists staying there were Italians, with a smattering of other Europeans. It is a completely self contained resort with its own airport and direct charter flights from Rome, Milan, and airports in Canada and Germany. I couldn’t help feeling that the tourists staying there were missing the best of Cuba as they are completely isolated from real Cuban life. Undoubtedly the beach on Cayo Largo is lovely – long stretches of fine white sand, clean and clear blue sea, but there was nothing in particular to distinguish it as typically Cuban. A group of us got back on the launch to go snorkeling at a coral reef about 20 minutes distance from the island. It was sad to see that the coral has been quite badly damaged by boats but we did see a variety of tropical fish swimming in and out of the coral. I understand that this area is now designated a marine reserve and that slowly the coral is being restored. After lunch on board we had an interesting talk on Cuba’s history by the Cuban guide who was travelling with the group of 16 Americans on board. They were on a “People to People” programme, one of the categories required of US citizens wishing to travel to Cuba, so had a dedicated Cuban guide and the cruise’s programme of excursions was designed to allow them to visit clinics, schools and other Cuban cultural activities. I have to say that Brian and I gave some of these ecxcursions a miss, as for us the trip was also about being at sea on the boat. In fact as the Voyager would be in port in Havana for the last 3 nights of the cruise, we were not going to have that much time at sea. On Tuesday 14th we were anchored off the Isla de Juventud, the largest of Cuba’s subsidiary islands with a population of around 87,000. It was historically a pirate refuge, and was home to a prison camp for revolutionaries and is also an international education centre for foreign students. Fidel and Raoul Castro were sentenced to be imprisoned here for 15 years but only served 2 years before President Battista was prevailed upon to grant an amnesty to about 3000 people imprisoned as revolutionaries in 1955, at which time he went to Mexico. Brian and I decided that we would skip the excursion to the Island and relax on board, a decision we didn’t regret. It was as if we had a private yacht, the staff could not have been more attentive, and instead of more pork, rice and beans, we had a delicious Greek salad on deck followed by fresh guava and papaya. Yasmin was quite envious when she returned as the food at the local paladar where the group lunched was not very appetizing at all. Dining in Cuba is quite a problem for someone who doesn’t eat pork or shellfish as quite frequently the black beans are cooked with pork, and sometimes even if one is told there is no meat in the rice, one discovers that it does contain finely chopped pork. On shore we were always a little reluctant to eat salad which was usually cucumber, onions and tomatoes with sometimes a little cabbage. On Tuesday evening, the Captain warned us that the wind was rising and the forecast overnight and the next day were for rough seas. For this reason he decided that we would sail into the Bay of Corrientes, on the western tip of the mainland, where the ship would anchor for the night and so avoid the heaviest seas. It was still very rough as the winds reached Beaufort 7, and the ship pitched heavily during the night. On Wednesday we set off to sail to Havana, a distance of some 90 miles. The coastal waters are very shallow on this side of Cuba so the ship had to travel some distance off the coast. The wind was still at Beaufort 7 and the sea was rough so the Captain reduced speed to around 6 knots for the comfort of the passengers. Almost everyone on board, including me, was seasick and it was very difficult moving around the ship. Some of us sat up on deck, despite the wind, so that we could be in the fresh air. However Brian was really laid low with sea sickness and couldn’t even sit up in his bed. At about 4 pm we turned east towards Havana and were then sideways to the wind which meant that the ship stopped pitching, and the sideways rolling was definitely less uncomfortable. Fortunately almost everyone, including Brian, had recovered by dinner time which was as sociable as ever. We finally arrived in Havana around 7am on Thursday. It was a fairly chilly start to the day, but by the time we were ready to disembark for our excursion, the sun had come out and we were able to discard our sweaters. We started with a visit by coach to Fusterlandia, a village on the outskirts of Havana. Cuban artist, Jose Fuster, wanted to enrich his impoverished neighbourhood and he began by building the walls of his property and his garden in organic shapes and covering his studio and garden in mosaics. His work is nãive in style. His work has been likened to Gaudi and indeed the neighbourhood abounds with similar designs as he has decorated the local clinic, bus stops, and other public spaces. His neighbours have copied this style and the whole village is a celebration of colour and shapes. The local guide said that Fuster pays for all his materials himself, no mean feat as many of the tiles he uses are often hard to come by in Cuba. (A later, private guide we had, doubted that he was as independent of government support as he is alleged to be, because Fidel Castro’s son is known to be a friend of his, and Fidel also had one of his many residences in the neighbourhood). This visit was followed by a lecture by a Professor of Architecture on Understanding Havana through its Architecture. It took place at the Hotel Nacional, an large historic hotel owned by the government. The Professor’s talk, illustrated by good photographs, was very informative, amusing and both Brian and I felt it was a highlight of the trip. He explained how the policy of housing after the revolution, while ensuring that no one was homeless in Cuba, had in fact led to dilapidated state of many buildings. The properties owned by people who left after the revolution were either left to be occupied by those owners servants or employees, and properties which were left empty were allocated so that everyone had a dwelling. No one was allowed to own the properties, so in most cases, especially with blocks of flats or buidlings in multiple occupation, no one takes responsibility for maintenance. This is beginning to change with some houses which are now in private ownership. In fact in parts of Havana such as Miramar, Vedado and Nueva Vedado one finds large well kept mansions which would not look out of place in Miami or Johannesburg. Some of these are ambassadorial residences, but many are now in private hands. Lunch at a local restaurant turned out to be excellent. The restaurant is apparently well know for its roast chicken, which was moist, tender and tasty. The rice and black beans were the best we had had, served together with delicious fried bananas. Then it was back to Old Havana by coach for a walk around this beautiful area, with its historic buildings in various stages of repair or disrepair.

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