Changing of the Guard at the Mausoleum of Cuba's legendary hero, Jose Marti.
Poet, visionary, patriot and intellectual, Marti is revered as the hero of the second war of independence.
Opportunities for listening to music abounds - on street corners, in parks and inside storefronts and homes. This couple was surrounded by photos of musicians, past and present.
The House of Velasques, oldest private home in the Americas.
Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion - Cathedral of the Assumption
One of Santiago's younger citizens.
El Morro Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1977. Designed in 1587 and constructed over 60 years, it overlooks Santiago Harbor. Note the moat (below).
Photograph of the USS Maine after the explosion in 1898 that killed over 200 sailors and drew America into the Spanish American War (which Cubans point out should rightfully be called the Spanish CUBAN American War since Cuba had basically won the war when the Americans stepped in.) "Remember the Maine!"
Our first Mojito, a cooling blend of mint, lemon juice, sugar, water and rum. Yum.
Lunch on Granma Island where we ate the first of many cucumber-cabbage-tomato salads.
San Juan Hill, the site where Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders stormed their way to the top and helped wrestle Cuba from the Spanish. They had been in control since 1492 when Christopher Columbus "discovered" the new world, landing near Holguin (where our plane had landed just 24 hours earlier.)
A sampling of the local music scene at Casa de las Tradiciones. In Cuba, where there's music, there's dancing. Always. No excuses. Cubans are incredible dancers and leave the rest of us yearning to keep up with them.
May 3 - Bayamo and Santa Lucia
This is what seems to be a major transportation vehicle in this part of the country - a combination bus and truck always packed with passengers. Do we call it a bruck? Truss?
A tobacco field with tobacco leaves drying on racks under the trees.
Bayamo (pronounced Vai ya mo) Is a quiet, hassle-free town that belies it's history as the "city that kick-started Cuban independence." In 1869, rather than surrender their town to the Spanish, the people burned it to the ground. The city predates both Santiago and Havana. Cuba's national hero, Carlos Manuel de Cespuedes, was a great chess player, and the tradition continues in his hometown.
Walking from the square of La Bodega towards the Iglesia Parroquial Mayor de San Salvador.
The painting above the sanctuary depicts the blessing of the first Cuban flag.
La Virgen de Caridad (the Virgin of Charity). Pope Benedict was in Cuba just five weeks ago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Our Lady of Charity, the patroness of Cuba. A few words from his farewell speech:
"As I bid you a heartfelt adios, I ask our Lady of Charity of El Cobre to protect all Cubans under her mantle, to sustain them in the midst of their trials and to obtain from Almighty God the grace that they most desire. Hasta siempre, Cuba, a land made beautiful by the maternal presence of Mary. May God bless your future."
The logo of the Federation of Cuban Women. Not sure how to feel about it, especially as it contrasts with the sentiments above: Virgin, mothers, charity --- mothers, guns, revolution. Hmmm.
The home of the Federation of Cuban Women with an image of Raul Castro's wife over the door. Señora Castro, who died of cancer three years ago, was leader of this organization which has supported and strengthened the role of women in Cuba.
The town square memorializes its hero as well as the composer of the national anthem, the first line of which begins (in Spanish, of course): "Run to battle, people of Bayamo!". The children below, elementary students at a school for the visually impaired, sang the anthem for us while their nurse and teacher stood by.
Another stop for music, dancing and mojitos before continuing our journey to the north coast.
Santa Lucia on the Caribbean. The water was so warm that I actually went into the ocean - all by myself - not knowing that fifteen minutes earlier one of our fellow travelers had stepped on a lion fish hiding in the sand and had to be rushed to a nearby clinic where he received three shots in his foot to relieve the excruciating pain. No wonder there was no one else on the beach when I got there! (Moral: always wear water shoes in unfamiliar seas. And don't swim alone.)
Two of these flamingos are real and two are not. If you guessed the two smaller birds in the center, you're right!
2 comments:
Mojitos are tasty. Perhaps you can whip some up when you get home. Those Cuban women are tough! Don't mess with 'em!
I love mojitos too! I see a party theme happening (save it for August)...mohitos, cuban music, some new dance moves....
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