Author: admin (Page 19 of 35)

Havana 12-2-20

Yesterday evening we returned to Havana before our visit to the centre of the island but there is time to visit some local sights missed during our earlier stay in the City.  Plus the weather is slowly improving.  One of the expected sights in Havana of course are the cars which can be seen as we progress.

Cars Havana 12-2-20

We also partook with a trip around the town in one of these beauties – the pink one if I remember correctly.  Majestic and with the weather working with us for a change.

Barrio Chino Havana 12-2-20

In most major ports in the world there is evidence that Chinese sailors have been there – Chinatown in Central London, San Francisco has similar and even Havana has evidence with the Barrio China.  And finally clear blue sky,

Bell Tower and Statue Havana 12-2-20

The biggest mystery of all is that I have been had some difficulty identifying the above but have finally decided it must be the Statue of Virgin Mary at Nuestra Senora del Carmen Church although no other photographs show other buildings quite so close as mine does.  A trick of using a telephoto lens I guess.

Jackie and John Lennon Havana 12-2-20

Much easier to identify is John Lennon (and Jackie) in John Lennon Square.  Fidel Castro considered the musician to be a revolutionary anti-war hero rather than a symbol of western decadence unveiling the statue in 2000.  It is adjacent to the Yellow Submarine Café which we visited,

Yellow Submarine Cafe 12-2-20

Bringing the music up to date in the evening we visited the Buena Vista Social Club.

Buena Vista Social Club 12-2-20

Obviously the lyrics were incomprehensible but somehow it seemed certain that the female singers were decrying the male of the species whilst the latter were expressing the undying love for the former.  Unlike Fado it did not seem quite so easy to transcend the language barrier, however we have been and we have experienced it in their home surroundings.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.

Turkeys Cuba 11-2-20

The itinerary today is to take a first look at the tobacco industry – at source – with a  tobacco farm.  Around the edge of the tobacco fields there are a number of turkeys looking for sustenance and the owner has a collection of other animals in a small petting zoo.

Tobacco in the wild 11-2-20

Tobacco has long been a major industry and clearly remained important at the time of our visit despite the constant preaching against smoking in most places.   The plants grow quickly and reach maturity for harvesting in around three months – so more than one crop a year.  The tobacco is dried and fermented in bohio where the leaves typically are left for three months before being sprayed to impart some sweetness and then allowed to remain for a further three months to ensure the right flavour is achieved.  

Bohio tobacco drying 11-2-20

By this stage I think we have all been infused with the smell of tobacco.  They did demonstrate how to roll a cigar but I have to report that the photographs are poor due to the light levels.

Soroa Orchid Gardens 11-2-20

We move onto the Soroa Orchid Garden which we wander around before reaching the waterfall which enabled me to identify just where we were through a reverse search as all memory of the orchid garden had deserted me!

Soroa Waterfall 11-2-20

I am also convinced that first thing this morning we visited a tobacco factory in Vinales itself – but I do not seem to have any photographic record of this and it is possible that photography was not permitted within the factory itself.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.