The Bay of Pigs I Commit a Crime My Spanish lessons are over and I’m leaving Havana and joining an organised tour around Cuba. Things get off to a bad start. I move out of Mi Casa and check in at the Hotel Plaza in Havana expecting to meet the rest of the group and get to know some of the people at a meal in the evening. I arrive at the meeting point to find I am the only person there – no one else is there and there are no messages for me. I end up at a “group meal” of just one person but am re-assured that the trip hasn’t been cancelled when I return to my room and meet a naked man coming out of the shower. It’s Dave, my room-mate for ... read more

Habana Vieja Habana Vieja is the criss-cross network of narrow streets and squares which formed the original town. One of the guidebooks suggests there are more than 900 buildings of historical significance in this small area and I find that easy to believe. Like in other areas of Havana, every building seems to be an architectural treasure and I have no idea how many museums there are here – almost every building seems to hold some sort of collection. I’m told by my Cuban friends that the whole area was seriously dilapidated a few years ago. A lot of work has been done alongside UNESCO in restoring four of the main squares and some of the surrounding streets. Eusebio Leal Spengler, the city historian who has initiated a lot of the work and attracted much of ... read more

Thanks For The Miracle Still in Vedado Our now slightly more purposeful strolls around Vedado bring us to the Plaza De La Revolucion. This is the large square {suitable for political rallies} with the pictures of Camilo and Che. Here there is yet another statue of Jose Marti and the large towering memorial built in his honour. This is the tallest building in Havana and the lift up to the top gives views over the whole city. When we go there are workmen hanging from the top of the tower. When we get to the top we see lots of turkey vultures flying around the tower – I guess that they must be clearing the nest away. Necropolis Cristobal Colon The Necropolis Cristobal Colon is well worth a visit. I go there one afternoon with Fernando. ... read more

Days Out In Havana ….And Trips To The Beach Exploring Havana After several days of following my instincts and wandering about soaking up Havana I decide it’s time to explore a bit more purposefully. By now I have teamed up with Iselin, we find that we both want to see the same things, and we tend to spend the afternoons after classes exploring Havana together and with other students from the school or people who are staying at our houses. Exploring the city together seems to reduce the hassle we would both get walking round the city on our own. I had an early experience when I stopped to get some lunch, got talking to a couple of Cubans and before long found that we’d be joined by two young Cuban girls who gave me their ... read more

Old Dog, New Tricks Cuba At Last! I’ve been wanting to go to Cuba for quite some time, but somehow it’s never worked out. It’s become more of an urgent need recently because I’m sure that the isolation of Cuba won’t last much longer. And when its isolation ends, Cuba will lose a lot of what makes it unique and it will become like a lot of other Central American and Caribbean countries. I guess it’s quite hypocritical of me wanting to see Cuba in its current state. Whilst a lot of tourists might enjoy the sight of the 1950s cars still on the road, I’m sure many Cubans would like to buy a new car! Bk 2 Skwl I shall be staying here for seven weeks all together. I ... read more