Although our stay in Cuba is not a lengthy one, I believe I could literally write a book of just our daily observations and interactions. Perhaps the best way to recount them is by topic, rather than a daily itinerary. So, here goes!

The Buildings - A Study in Contrasts
Much of the fascinating colonial architecture is still here, though in various states of disrepair. Some restoration has been accomplished, much with UNESCO investment, with continuing efforts underway. This is taking place primarily in public buildings, though we also saw scattered evidence of reconstruction in residential areas. Many of the construction methods can be generously labeled outdated. For example, we witnessed scenes of cement blocks being pulled by hand (sometimes without any sort of pulley) one at a time by a rope to the second story of a building under repair or construction. Everywhere you look, there are crumbling walls and piles of ruble. I think most Americans would find living conditions, but after just a few days here, I've come to appreciate the adaptability of the people to their circumstances. Homes are set so close to the sidewalk that you often feel as if you are intruding into people's living space when passing by, though the Cubans seemed unfazed by this.

The Streets - Oh, the Streets!
While some of the streets and highways are more than adequate, many areas are "challenging." In Havana, the challenge can frequently take the form of streets being dug up to make sewer repairs, (easily detected with your nose!), while farther out from the city, roads may have numerous potholes, and in the more rural areas, roads are not paved at all. We even braved the traffic and rode our bicycles on the streets quite a lot!

Transportation - la Maquina! Our Favorite Way to Get Around Havana!
These are the cars everyone associates with Cuba, the ones made in the USA in the fifties. Some are privately owned, but many are owned by individuals who lease them to drivers who are responsible for their maintenance and operation. One day on a trip into the city, our driver pulled into a side street rather suddenly and hopped out of the car. When he opened the hood, it was evident that the radiator had overheated. Johnny never was quite sure how the driver first detected this problem because none of the gauges in the dash were operational. Johnny got out of the taxi when Raul was trying to make the repair and got a good look under the hood. The engine had been replaced with a diesel (not at all uncommon), and the water hose was actually a series of hoses held together with a multitude of clamps. Raul simply tightened a clamp, and we were again on our way. But cars broken down on the side of the road are an all too common occurrence. Though the vintage cars are easily recognizable by anyone with memories of that era, most have ""interesting" modifications, and the interior upholstery is quite eclectic, with the preference seeming to be floral tapestry. I never tired of looking at the varied modes of transportation. We saw modern buses and not so modern buses; imported automobiles and trucks; motor scooters of every variety, including many with sidecars; very old tractors pulling trailers loaded with both goods and people; bicycles and tricycles with very inventive adaptations for passengers and goods; horse drawn conveyances of every description, all of which were constructed of salvaged materials; carts drawn by oxen; and out in the country side, many men on horseback. There appear to be few if any safety regulations, but we did not see a single traffic accident of any kind during our travels.

Food - Always a Favorite Experience!
When we're cruising, we provision well so that we always have the option of preparing our meals aboard, but we also enjoy eating out and trying new things. Cuba has been no exception. We've tried to eat mostly local rather than in tourist spots, but eating local means that we've had all of the chicken legs and beans & rice we desire for at least one lifetime 😊 One of our favorite experiences here has been shopping in the fresh food markets. Lots of fresh vegetables and meat. The conditions are definitely not Kroger, but if you are willing to put that aside, prices are reasonable, and the chance to try new to us fruits and vegetables has been intriguing.

Sights and Sounds
Though we spent most of out time street-walking, people-watching, and Mojito consuming in Havana, we did take time for some museums and other sights. We spent the better part of a day in the Museum of the Revolution. Quite eye-opening, to say the least. I confess to being far too ignorant of Cuban history and the role of the United States in that history. So, I now intend to go home and try to become more enlightened. What I can say is that the Cubans whom we met had nothing but positive attitudes toward us as Americans, and many spoke of a desire to go to the US.

Because I don't speak or read Spanish, Johnny has been spared my usual forays into bookstores during our time in Cuba. However, I have not been spared his compulsion to visit any nearby forts. I have to admit that the aquatic archeological displays and models of the older ships in the one we visited were interesting, and the views from the top were worth the time.
Other points of interest for us in foreign countries are churches and cathedrals. In Havana we visited the church and convent of St. Francis of Assisi. The building has been maintained as a cultural artifact, but religious services are no longer held there. Standing where the altar formerly stood and seeing that it had been replaced with a stage for musical performances grieved my heart. In other areas of the city we did see a few churches where services are still held, but we also saw many that are literally only the shell of the original building.

On an expedition about which I'll write later, we walked to the statue known as Christ of Havana, which overlooks Havana harbor and city. It's most impressive from any vantage point and is described with pride as an artistic treasure in tourist information.

I think I'll stop for this time and write about the people in a separate entry. I'm saving the best for last!