Cuba - "New" Havana

It seems that I am reluctant to let go of Havana, at least until the weather warms up in Toronto!  So here is "new" Havana - for us, mainly a trip out to Revolution Square and environs, which included the not so new University of Havana, Vedado and then back in Old Havana, the contemporary art in the Palace of Fine Arts.

The iconic image of Che and his "Hasta la victoria siempre"  in Revolution Square

Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti - National Library of Cuba on the south side of the square

Mosaic in the ceiling - lobby of the National Library

  

Jose Marti Memorial with its tower from where you get a panoramic view of Havana

To the west, the offices of Castro and Miramar beyond

To the north, the University of Havana, Vedado and the Caribbean

From Revolution Square, which is in the middle of nowhere, we did what tourists do when they are on vacation - throw caution to the wind - hopped on a "Bubble Cab" (what?! no seat belts?!)  to get us back into town.  The University of Havana had some gorgeous buildings, here is just one of the many beautiful portals on campus.

A little unexpected - Don Quixote in Vedado

The beautiful Museum of Decorative Arts in Vedado, the place with the lovely staircase you may have seen in my earlier post Havana Stairs

A no less lovely skylight in the former mansion

The art deco Hotel Nacional at the waterfront

The lobby of the impressive Palace of Fine Arts (no broken windows in this place for sure)

You see Che everywhere in Cuba, this painting in the Palace of Fine Arts is quite special

I love this painting!  Wish I hadn't lost the name of the artist!

Cuba - Old Havana

Old Havana, with its many gracious historical buildings spanning the centuries, was for me, the star of Cuba.  I've only included a few of the highlights below to provide a flavour of this destination, which I will gladly visit again.  

Courtyard, complete with peacock, of the Palacios de los Capitanes Generales - former official residence of the governors of Havana, now a museum 

The Cathedral of Havana

Inside the Cathedral

The booksellers at the Plaza de Armas reminded me of Paris

Paseo del Prado - the wide leafy pedestrian boulevard that cuts through Old Havana

The art deco Bacardi building and its lobby

             

The famous Calle Obispo - lots of street life with no traffic

 Farmacia Taquechel Museum, an old house turned into a famous pharmacy in the 19th century

Gorgeous restored building in the Plaza Vieja by day 


and by night

Typical street in old Havana

Not to miss Chocolate Musuem, not so much for the artifacts but for the smoothest cocoa ever!

Building under restoration

Iglesia de San Francisco by the waterfront

Looks like this might be a coming out event in the church square

Russian Orthodox Cathedral Our Lady of Kazan


Havana at night

Inside the Rum Museum

The famous Buena Vista Social Club playing in the Rum Museum

Click here to hear them https://youtu.be/nqcXl5etEHU

Cuba - Havana Stairs

Staircases have always been a fascinating fixation for me when I travel.   They were often the first thing I saw upon entering a building and immediately gave me a sense of what the rest of the building would be like.  In some instances, I couldn't get into a building and a glimpse of the stairs was a teasing enticement to imagine the possibilities.  Here are some from Havana, some spectacularly stunning, others more understated, but all reflect the building in which they were situated.

In a house under renovation in touristy old Havana - think of the potential!

In the Palacios de los Capitanes Generales - former official residence of the governors of Havana,  a beautiful colonial building from the late 18th century

This is a nice surprise - not what I had expected to find in the 16th century old fortress Castillo de la Real Fuerza near the Plaza de Armas

Building in old Havana

Another under renovation

Imagine the possibilities!

The Rum Museum restaurant (possibly the stairs to the washroom)

Stairs to the University of Havana Library

One of the faculties at the University

Student Centre University of Havana

The exquisite National Museum of Decorative Arts

Stunning!  in a nameless building that's being used as some sort of community centre that I just happened to wander into

Museum of the Revolution

A random tenement house in Havana