Santa Clara Theatre 17-2-20
Today we are making stops on our way to our final hotel of which more later. However Santa Clara also has a theatre so we have an initial stop here and whilst it is similar to the one in Cienfuegos it is attractively decorated and looks very well kept.
Cuban Steam loco 17-2-20
We leave Santa Clara on a longish journey this morning after visiting the theatre and we make a service station stop with this adorning the outside area. Former Cuban American Sugar (Central Constancia) steam locomotive No.562 457 is stuffed but far from preserved as another representation of the local historic sugar trade.
Statue of José Martí Mantanzas 17-2-20
We then make a further stop in Mantanzas where we walk around the statue of José Marti, a revolutionary leader and poet. He lived between 1853 and 1895 as he was a symbolic leader for the independence from Spain leading a revolt in 1895 which led to his demise. Independence was formally granted on 20 May 1902.
Triiolet Pharmacy Mantanzas 17-2-20
In some ways a more interesting sight in Mantanzas is this amazing survivor – a drugstore (sorry but we we are almost in America) opened on 1 January 1882 which was recognised as historic in 1964 and it became a National Monument in 2007. It is a preserved and no doubt slightly restored pharmacy with bottles of herbal and other remedies which were no doubt going out fashion in 1964 but reflect a much earlier history.
Triolet Pharmacy bottles 17-2-20
Some proprietary medication can be seen – Sloans – among others.
Cash Register 17-2-20
This did not ring as sales are not possible – but it was obviously a very different world during the active life of the pharmacy.
At the rear there is an equipped kitchen were no doubt some of the noxious brews were put together, along with a huge card index recording the medications for each individual and how they would be prescribed. A very different world.
Cuban train 17-2-20
On our way to the final hotel we crossed a railway line a couple of times and I managed one shot of a locomotive but what it is doing (it looks like it might be a freight train) and where it was going I have no idea.
This marked the end of the touring holiday and we have three nights now in a holiday complex on the north of the island. Our experience here will be covered in the remaining post about Cuba.
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.