It just took me less time to upload 109 photos than it did to upload 3 in Cuba. The internet there…well… You don’t realize how much you use it until you don’t have it!
So, you have been warned. This post contains 109 photos (and this is after I tossed at least 2/3 of them out!) 😀
The second day we walked in the old, historic part of Havana. This place is a dream for a photographer – endless buildings, people, scenes, and interesting things. I need to research many of these places. There were churches, squares, monuments, and other buildings that were obviously old and full of history. I’m glad I took photos of some signs to help me identify things.
Buildings seemed in many states of repair, some being well cared for or restored, and others showing the passage of time. The old section is obviously a tourist attraction and there were people everywhere speaking many languages. Many tourists were in groups with guides, and there were many many buses. Our hostess said the buses meet the cruise ships to take people on tours of the city, and others told us bus tours are also arranged by hotels for their guests.
Our hostess is really spoiling us! She fed us such a big breakfast that we had to save a lot of it for later. When we returned the bed was made and the room cleaned up. Even the toilet paper was folded into a little point at the end like a hotel service, and our towels had been replaced with clean ones. Speaking of toilet paper, she doesn’t know where so many visitors get the idea that there is a shortage of things in Havana. She says they have paper, soap, everything they need available in stores and she doesn’t know why people keep bringing these things. Maybe it’s different in other areas but in Havana, people are able to get what they need.
We had a great day walking in the old, historic part of Havana and we saw so much that our heads were swimming by the time we got back.
After a day of walking, we just relaxed for the evening. We got on line for a short while to check email, etc. But it wasn’t long before the slow internet stopped working entirely, probably because there were too many people using it on a Saturday night. Internet is a luxury in Cuba. You have to have all the equipment, and then you have to pay by the minute for something that is painfully slow if it works at all. It feels strange not to have our constant internet connection, but it’s not so bad to take a break. I’ve been able to post to Facebook so family knows we are fine and everything else can wait.
So, that’s what I wrote that night about our day. Here are all the photos!
Check out this breakfast! There’s a basket of really good rolls to the side too, and the thermos off coffee and pitcher of milk, and a pitcher of fresh made juice. It was like this every morning.
Happy Joel. This is pretty much the extent of their living room. The main door is behind my seat and there is a loveseat against the wall behind my seat.
The kitchen, small but pretty. They had decorated all the walls in this very pretty stone looking decor.
Tree trimming, on top of a 5 story buildling!
We headed out in Old Havana
Many buildings have been beautifully restored
I don’t know what this means
I love the sculpture though
a tourist oriented market
many buildings have huge amazing doors
Walking down Obispo, a car free tourist destination street
a very interesting pharmacy
more of the pharmacy, which is actually a working, medicine selling pharmacy
beautiful entrance to the Hotel Florida
lobby of the hotel with an art show
so I would remember which hotel this is
look at these elegant doors
another gorgeous doorway
there were many outdoor restaurants
there were many herds of tourists with their guides
one of many squares we found
There were quite a few of these colorful women around, probably willing to pose for photos for a price
another doorway
a building under renovation, and a couple unconcerned dogs
we just caught this cruise ship in the distance leaving port
Plaza de Armas
very cool trees
more really interesting trees
an outdoor restaurant with music
I believe most of these buildings are from the 1700’s
another tree
a little info about the Plaza de Armas so I’d know what to look up
statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the man who set Cuba on the road to independence in 1868
more colorful women
Castillo de la Real Fuerza, from the 1500’s
I love you for your pink Cadillac Crushed velvet seats Riding in the back Oozing down the street Waving to the girls Peeling out of sight Spending all my money On a Saturday night
Across the water – Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro, built in the 1500’s. There are also museums, and a place used as Che Guevara’s headquarters for a while. Many executions and bad things happened there.
a military shop on the other side of the harbor
tourist ville! Many fancy old cars for tours, and a whole lot of tourist buses
interesting old car
another sidewalk restaurant, or in this case on the road restaurant
pretty colors. I wonder how old the cobblestone streets are and who’s feet have walked on them
check out this one
another beautiful square
San Francisco de Asis, late 1500’s
The port and cruise ship dock
customs
rum museum, though we didn’t realize it at the time
Catedral ortodoxa Nuestra Señora de Kazán
Russian Orthodox, built in early 2000’s, consecrated in 2008, an attempt to improve Cuba-Russian relations
lowering down the pail to buy something from a street vendor
entrance in an apartment building, pretty, but all the paint falling off the walls
a colorful market
We found our way back to the rum museum, but decided it wasn’t worth the $7 admission fee
another heard of tourists heads in
a pretty lady in her colorful clothes, and a young lady not looking as thrilled with her day
Back out in the square again near the San Francisco de Asis
I stopped in the entrance long enough to get a quick photo
a few outside shots
and, we set off walking again
another square, not sure exactly what this was
back to the church again
I think she was available to tell your fortune or pose for a photo. Check out the cat
meat market, with some prices but in which kind of pesos?
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, late 1700’s
we happened on quite an event in the street!
There is a youtube video
lunch, pizza and beer, enjoying the sights on a beautiful day
interesting man hanging out in a doorway
Ahh, here come the musicans
pizza and beer. we like this local beer
the cats hang out
fun music!
interesting ornament
Cathedral of Havana 1700’s
A guy trying to lure us into his restaurant told me this used to be a bath house and public bathroom. I can’t find this backed up anywhere on line though
fortune tellers
Plaza de la Catedral habana cuba
I’m glad I photographed identifying info or i’d never figure out what all these places are!
Everyone was signing their names on the walls of this bar
I asked our hostess and she doesn’t know why, just a tradition
entrance to someone’s courtyard
Museum of the Revolution
more displays behind the Museum of the Revolution
Museo de Bellas Artes
heading back home
Whew!! That was a crazy lot of photos!
About Kris Cunningham
We live in David, Chiriqui Provence, Republic of Panama! This blog is about some of our experiences in our new country.
The Panama Adventure 
Wonderful, thanks.
I know what you mean about wondering who has trodden on the cobblestones. I remember visiting the Grimaldi Castle in Antibes, France, now the Picasso Museum. In 1608 it became a stronghold of the Grimaldi family and has borne their name ever since. As I wandered through it I was constantly aware that it had once been somebody’s HOME and as I went up and down the stone stair cases I wondered how many young children had fallen down, RIGHT THERE, skinned their knees and ran off to be comforted by momma?
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The Roman Forum, now THERE is someplace I thought about who also walked on those stones. And yes, your Grimaldi Castle, and who knows how many other places where people lived their lives in those same places where we can now visit.
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What a Treat! It was like traveling from my arm chair. Thanks!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Great photos, Kris. I love the pink Cadillac! I am amazed at how many tourists there are. Where did you stay? Was it near the malacon? How were the prices for food? Did you use the internet in the park? Was it free? So many questions.
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we stayed at an AirBnb just outside Old Havana. It was only a couple blocks from the Malacon, Consulado between Colon and Trocadero if you want to try and find it, just west of Paseo de Marti and Museo de la Revolucion. We ate out a few times, less than $20 for both of us with beer. The most expensive place we saw was less than $20/plate, very fancy looking hotel restaurant. Our hostess made us such great breakfasts though that we had leftovers for dinner and only bought lunch out. They also had internet and invited us to use it when the family logged on. They said it’s $1.50/hr but of course tourists get charged $3/hr. Internet can also be found in some parks and most hotels, but you have to buy time anywhere you go.
The most useful tips I got from others – change your money to euros before you leave for Cuba. Ask a taxi if they will take euros to avoid standing in the huge money changing line at the airport, or try the money changing place on the upper level. That didn’t work for us but it did for others. Take a map and any info you need for walking around. Don’t expect to look up anything on line. Bring comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen.
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Excellent, Kris. We got an AirBnB for Havana. The nice thing is that we could pay online, reducing the amount of Euros we have to take with us. That’s the thing that I don’t like, taking a lot of cash, but it is unavoidable. We tried to book the tourist bus online for our trips to Viñales and Cienfuegos, but they were full. And we couldn’t book Airbnb’s so we are staying in Casa Paticulares. I have a map printed and I downloaded a bunch of stuff so I don’t have to use the internet to get it. This is the most unusual trip we have ever planned for and I really appreciate all your tips.
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I know, it’s different traveling to a place where you can’t access your money. We were told to take a lot more than we thought we would need. But you are experienced travelers and I’m sure you’ll be fine.
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You know how much I have been wanting to go to Cuba….you have just revved it up a few notches!
By the way, if you love doors, entrances and beautiful old architecture, I highly suggest Buenos Aires.
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Buenos Aires is on my (long) list of places i’d love to see!
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I think a photographer could go crazy there taking pictures. I bet there are shots everywhere you look. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
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I did go a bit crazy! 😀 You could spend a long time there and never run out of interesting things to shoot
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Ha, I know what you mean about figuring out which pictures to post. It really is a photographer’s dream! You really captured Havana Vieja and it looks like you covered a lot of the same ground we did. Love this post!
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There really isn’t that much area in the main part of the city, so I’m sure our feet walked on the same cobblestones 🙂
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These are awesome photos, Kris! Thank you, for these Cuba posts, I really enjoyed them 🙂
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Thanks, so glad you are enjoying these posts 🙂
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Great photos!! Cuba is on my bucket list (this year is Berlin)….I am surprised at the number of tourists in your pictures (although I shouldn’t be!). And the cars!!! Love the old Chevy’s… Thank you for posting!
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Oh yes, go to Cuba is you can. I was surprised at all the tourists too, but I can see why it’s a popular destination especially in the winter. You won’t believe how many beautiful old cars there are too!
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Loved all the photos, you were real busy downloading them all. Thanks for sharing them, loved all the different areas you visited. Makes me want to go to Cuba.
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If you get a chance to go, you should! I sorted and edited photos every evening so when I got back I only needed to upload them, thank goodness
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I think you’ve captured the spirit of Havana as it lives and breathes today. History is present in both the buildings and the people. Glad to see so much tourism, which probably did not stop but more recently has expanded to include Americans.
I am taking your “tour” backwards” so this next post should be my last (your first) and I have much appreciated and enjoyed seeing Havana through your eyes. Blessings, alia
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I don’t think the tour has to be taken in any particular order. It’s all different parts of Havana. I didn’t think about it being such a huge tourist destination because it hasn’t been for us, but apparently is has been for Europeans and others for quite some time. It has to be bringing in much needed money to the economy. Some of those really nice hotels are very expensive, $200-300 a night! And, there’s food, tours, and everything else tourists buy when they visit.
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Yes, we Americans tend to think something or someplace doesn’t exist if we can experience it. Cuba was a non-place for Americans for over 50 years. Like China before Nixon.
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Yeah, so true! But at least I had a number of Cuban friends when I lived in Florida so I got to hear about their country and their struggles.
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Some of us are fortunate in that way. I have my family in Morocco that I hold dear in my heart.
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Beautiful photos! Really enjoyed them! I am going to have to book my trip to cuba!
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Yes indeed, definitely book tickets.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the photos 🙂
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