Havana, Day 2

How great to sleep the whole night in a warm climate, even one which is at times too hot for comfort. And wake to a sunny sky and a happy day. We woke at seven.

Breakfast was at the hotel, and was bland but filling. There were folks from Britain, Germany, and the U.S., judging only by accents. I decided that I could lose nothing by asking for a change of room, and they told us it might be possible, so we should pack our things and be ready for a move. In Cuba, you do as you are told.

I wanted to show Richard the part of town that I had shared with Darlene, so after a stop at the Cadeca for some money, we set off along Obispo, relishing in the colours and sounds of the street (including a middle-aged heavy woman dressed in colourful garb and asking if we wanted her picture. We should have said yes, but passed her by on our way to the Parque Central. Here we stopped to admire the statue of Jose Marti, were accosted by a Cuban vet for a story and to give us a cigar (for a price).

We walked over to the Hotel Sevilla (which today had wi-fi, but no cards), then down the Prado to the Malecón, where we stopped to admire the waves splashing over the wall, as we walked west.

A compulsory tour of the Museo de la Revolucion, and the Granma exhibit, then back along side streets to Obispo and some lunch at the Cafe Europa. (The waiter was awful, the food mediocre, but the music and the dancing was spectacular.)

A stop at the hotel to move our things to our new room, overlooking Obispo, and then a nap for Bob, before heading back out to Habana Vieja for a self-guided tour along Calle de los Mercaderes to the Plaza Vieja and another side trip up the tower of the Camera Oscura, itself quite amazing. This led to the need for some hydration, and it happened there was a place handy for beer, so we took it. We were tired, and opted for some dinner nearby, rather than finish the tour. A meal was had at la Giraldilla, and it was good.

 Our waiter, George, told us we didn't have to pay if we didn't like it, but we paid with a smile, it was so good. Like others we have been at, it is up two flights of stairs, through some more dingy spaces, which open up onto a large room for eating. We ate in a ledge in open air, with the colling wind in our faces. A pleasant night.

Richard's foot was hurting, so we headed straight home and he saoked the foot in the provided bidet (so that's what they're for!). And so, to bed.


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Location:Hotel Florida