February 22, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Hotel Nacional de Cuba–Military Museum

This hotel, Hotel Nacional de Cuba, is in the Vedado district of Havana. The hotel is on the north coast of Cuba, overlooking the Malecon and the Caribbean Sea. Havana is 90 miles south of Key West, Florida. I, Zeb the Duck, am reminding you of these facts, to partially explain the small museum here and the historical importance. In October 1962 the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States reached what is often considered the worst moment.

: Missile crisis??

In the United States we call it the Cuban Missile Crisis and in Cuba it is referred to as the Missile Crisis.

This is part of what I saw in the lawn of my hotel.

: Entrance to underground bunker

The Cueva Taganana is the underground bunker on the grounds of the Hotel National de Cuba.

: Cueva Taganana

Our last morning at the hotel, the cave was open while sweeping out excess rain. The gentleman said we could go inside.

: Inside Cueva Taganana. Map and posters

: The Soviet position

: Fidel Castro’s position

This is serious stuff. Even ducks know this. This Cueva Taganana is now a museum and here is another reminder of past trouble between Cuba and the United States.

: Bay of Pigs

: Near the underground bunker

This cave has been an important symbol to Cuba since the 16^th century when it served as a refuge for an Indian named Taganana. The cave has been changed to tunnels for the defense of Havana. In 1885 15 cannons were placed on the grounds as part of a Spanish artillery regiment. This is a big cannon!

: Wow! This is big especially for a small duck

: Still tension between the United States and Cuba

Our hotel is near the Hotel Havana Libre.

: Hotel Habana Libre, former Hilton Hotel

This was a new Hilton hotel but in 1959 it was taken over by Fidel Castro, nine months after opening. Fidel Castro renamed the hotel and ruled Cuba from the 24th floor for a few months.

There has been many problems between the United States and Cuba and several still exist. Ducks don’t best involved in politics, but the people I met in Cuba were very nice to me and I was very nice to them. The people and ducks can get along; maybe the governments will one day.

Let’s all sit down and talk about peaceful relations

The hotel offers tours of the hotel and grounds daily. We were on other tours during the scheduled time, but I would recommend taking the tour of Hotel Nacional de Cuba if you have the time. This is a fascinating place and the amount of history is astonishing.

February 21, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Havana Cuba

I, Zeb the Duck and my group of humans are staying at the historic Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana.

This hotel opened in 1930 when Cuba was a prime tourist destination from the United States. The location and the manicured lawns of the hotel are stunning.

Many famous people have stayed here and many pictures adorn the walls in the bar and other areas of the hotel. This jukebox is part of a tribute to Nat King Cole (according to Wikipedia).

In our hotel bar area

Here is a statue honoring a musician,

Musician and Zeb in Hotel Nacional de Cuba

and maybe me, Zeb the Duck?

Here I am with another friend, Bif.

Zeb and Bif overlooking the Caribbean Sea

We are in the bar area overlooking the Caribbean Sea. One day in the bar area, mom and her friend put me on the bar with these colorful drinks. The bartender saw me, smiled and said “Ducks are welcome here.”

Ducks welcome here!

I feel so happy at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

The Hotel Nacional de Cuba has the Parisien nightclub.

This club and show are in our hotel. Let’s go!

One evening we saw the cabaret show. These photos just don’t do justice to the show,

The show

but view these and use your imagination.

We liked this show

The show was very nice and we enjoyed it completely.

The manicured lawn and location of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba make it a popular location for weddings. This is a happy couple.

Wedding at Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Here I am on a table overlooking the water.

Zeb waiting for refreshments

As we walked around the grounds, I met this peacock.

This peacock is my new friend.

He has beautiful colors and is friendly. Next time I want to show the military museum at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

February 15, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Hemingway Remembered in Cuba

Zeb the Duck here again. Today we visited Finca Vigia,

Finca la Vigia

Ernest Hemingway’s Cuba retreat. Then to lunch and a walk around in Cojimar, the fishing village portrayed in his book The Old Man and the Sea.

Ernest Hemingway rented Finca la Vigia in 1939 and purchased it a year later. He lived there until 1960 when he moved back to the United States. Hemingway’s home is as it was when he left.

View from house

To preserve and protect the contents, tourists are not allowed inside. We walked on the porch, peeking in windows and doors.

The estate has a swimming pool and used to have a tennis court.

Path from house to pool and tennis court

Between the pool and tennis court are 4 tombstones for Hemingway’s dogs.

Memorial to dogs with boat, Pilar, on former tennis court site.

People that care about animals are good people, in this duck’s opinion. The tennis court was covered and now is a resting place for Hemingway’s boat, Pilar. We were told that Hemingway was considered a good employer and a good neighbor. I like to hear about nice humans.

The property has a small market and gift shop. The humans did some shopping while sipping sugar cane juice. This gentleman freshly squeezed the sugar cane for the juice.

Made fresh sugar cane juice

Our next stop to honor Hemingway was in Cojimar. In Cojimar we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Bodega Las Brisas. This small fishing village does not appear to look different than it would have when Hemingway visited.

In Cojimar

As I previously told you, Hemingway found the inspiration to write The Old Man and the Sea while relaxing in Cojimar.

Walking around town, taking photos,

Sea in Cojimar

we reached this statue of Hemingway.

Zeb the Duck on Hemingway’s shoulder

We were told it was one of the first statues to honor the author. I think I, Zeb the Duck, look good on Hemingway’s shoulder.

We did not see fishing boats and learned that many fishermen cannot afford boats and if they had boats, they could not afford gas for the motors. Our guide told us the fishing industry was depressed.

I hope you have read some of Hemingway’s books and get an opportunity to visit his home and favorite fishing village. You would like to visit these places.

February 12, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Cristobal Colon Cemetery in Havana, Cuba

We are going to the cemetery today. This cemetery is named for Christopher Columbus. The 140-acre cemetery has more than 500 major mausoleums, chapels and family vaults. It is one of the greatest historical cemeteries of the world and the second most important in Latin America, second only to La Recoleta in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I stayed on the bus.

Zeb the Duck’s view from the bus

Mom didn’t think I should be posing on these monuments. Here is some of what we saw.

Monument

Another monument

One of the most famous tombs is for Senora Amelia Goyri or popularly called La Milagrosa.

La Milagrosa

When approaching, one must knock 4 times with the iron ring and when leaving, walk backwards.

This tradition was started by her husband and is continued today. The senora and baby died during childbirth and were buried. When the bodies were later exhumed, the baby was in the mother’s arms. The baby had been buried at the mother’s feet.

This is main chapel for the cemetery.

Main chapel

Near the chapel this lady was restoring some other monuments. Very slow, tedious work, but very important.

Restoration in progress

Many of these sites have been neglected as many of the families now live outside of Cuba.

In this cemetery there is a 75 foot memorial to firefighters. Also two monuments to baseball players. There is one bartender buried here. He was Hemingway’s bartender. Here are more photos.

Monument

Space in this cemetery is a a premium, so after three years remains are removed from their tombs, boxed and placed in a storage building.

A family vault

And here is the bat.

The bat

This was not the cemeteries I see in Colorado. I hope you see this soon. It is beautiful.

February 10, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Cigars made in Cuba

Today Alejandro told us we could be real Cubans. We went to Casa de Habano.

Entering Casa de Habano

I, Zeb will be a real Cuban duck??

First we watched this lady roll a cigar.

She is ready to roll

She has been rolling cigars for many years and is very good. She put different varieties of tobacco leaves in her hand and arranged them just so.

Blend of tobacco leaves to form bundle

These leaves, or bundle, are then rolled in the binder. The original hand full of leaves makes the blend. The binder is to hold them together. Her hands are very busy and she knows exactly what to do. The binder is held in place with a very small amount of vegetable paste. The cigar is placed in a mold.

Cigar remains in mold for hours

This is a wooden form of two parts, which is then placed in a press. The mold properly shapes the cigar and helps allow proper airflow while smoking.

After several hours in the mold, the cigar is rolled again. One of the best leaves will be the wrapper.

Cigar rolled into final wrapper.

The wrapper has a good flavor, complementing the blend of tobacco inside the cigar, and the wrapper gives the cigar a good appearance.

After the cigar rolling demonstration, we look around the store. Several famous people have purchased and smoked cigars here.

Famous former patrons

Casa de Habana sells many kinds of cigars, cigar accessories and Cuban rum.

Cedar cigar holders

We leave the main store and enter a shopping mall courtyard. These girl musicians entertain us.

We enjoy listening to these musicians

Alejandro tells us that this is time for us to be real Cubans. We sample Cuban rum. Very good but we don’t drink much. Soon we receive small cups of strong Cuba coffee. This is also good. Mom doesn’t usually drink coffee but she liked it. Did not have a bitter taste to her.

Our third step to being real Cubans is smoking a cigar. A gentleman shows us how to light a cigar.

Light cigar with a burning strip of cedar

Use thin strips of cedar to light the cigar. Cedar has no resin, so the flavor of the cigar will not be compromised. Cigar lighting is not easy. But tourists are persistent and the cigars are lit and being smoked. These four cigar-smoking ladies are friends of Zeb the Duck.

My friends are cigar-smoking ladies. Wow! Deborah, MaryAnn, Susan and Alex

They look good with these cigars. So Cuban!

After smoking and drinking, we explore a little of this mall.

Ready to climb stairs and visit stores

There are three levels of stores.

Looking don to smoking and drinking area

Looking down to smoking and drinking area

Looking down the smoking and drinking area is pretty. We spent some time and money in this paper mache store.

Lots of paper mache. Zeb on top shelf

I like this store.

First paper mache shoe for Zeb the Duck

Soon it is time to return to the bus and head for our hotel. This was a great stop. We had fun here.

February 8, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Back in Havana with Zeb the Duck

My humans and I returned to Havana. We are staying at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

Our hotel

I have so much to tell you about this hotel, but it must wait until another day. Today we visit a senior center with a childcare facility. The seniors come here for day activities. And they are an active group! Then we will walk to an elementary school.

Santos drove us to an older section of Havana. Walking to the senior center, this is some of what I observed.

Havana street

Older area of Havana

It rained last night, so we still have some water in the streets.

Arriving at the senior center, we entered this room. The people were dancing and talking.

A Havana senior center

There was music. It was like a party. Some of the humans in my group joined the dancing and

Senior center

some visited with the senior Cubans.

After awhile, we climbed the stairs and talked to other people and saw the children from the daycare.

Day care at senior center

From the second floor we enjoyed the view

This is a beautiful building

of the interior of the building.

Leaving the senior center,

Leaving senior center

we walked to the elementary school. On the narrow streets, we saw cars, bicycles and horses. You can see that Havana, like many old cities, has some restored buildings and some that are crumbling and falling apart.

Old buildings are difficult to maintain.

I liked this man and the cart with fresh vegetables.

Fresh vegetables available here.

We were able to visit Escuela Primaria Carlos Manuel de Cespedes or Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Elementary School. We saw these students playing in the courtyard.

Kids playing

Photographs of national heroes were on the wall inside the school.

Cuban national heroes

We saw these students being tutored.

Tutoring

These girls loved posing for photos.

Children posing

They loved to see the pictures of themselves.

After lunch, we walked toward the Palacio del Teatro Lirico Nacional. Along the way, we saw the former Bacardi headquarters.

Former Bacardi headquarters with bat on top

Bacardi rum was started in Cuba in the 1800s. They moved the headquarters to Hamilton, Bermuda after the Castro regime took some assets. On top of the building is the Bacardi bat. The bat became the logo because the bat is good for sugar cane growers. Also one of the first buildings had bats in the rafters.

Our private concert at the Palacio del Teatro Lirico Nacional was on the second floor. Mom and I loved these stained glass windows near the stairs.

Beautiful windows

They are beautiful. This group sang for us. We all enjoyed the music.

We enjoyed the concert

These talented singers perform in many countries around the world. We are happy they were in Havana when we were.

Most of the humans brought gifts for the senior center and for the elementary school. They were happy to receive our gifts and we were happy to help them. I like the people of Cuba. Check back to see more of my Cuban experience.

February 7, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

More Cienfuegos, Cuba with Zeb the Duck

Arriving at La Sociedad Grafica de Cienfuegos

School of graphic design

I, Zeb the Duck, spotted this motorcycle. Like any guy, I asked my friend Channel, to go for a ride.

Zeb and Channel ready to ride

Here we are on the motorcycle. But we do not have the keys.

Inside this school, we see some finished work

Inside the school. The Working Class Herd

and listen to the plans and accomplishments of the school and the students. The Sociedad Grafica de Cienfuegos is similar to a City College. The print shop’s mission is to provide activities and support for children with Down’s syndrome. The finished pieces were created here, with this equipment.

Work area for students

The students and faculty are very talented and dedicated.

We cross the patio to enter the gallery or sales room. Many paintings are available for purchase. There are masterpieces available in the patio also. Here my friend, Connie, admires some pieces of art.

Connie admiring art

Leaving the school we admire the murals on the buildings.

Murals by school in Cienfuegos

I think the Cubans like to paint

Street art

and I believe they are very good artists.

On building near school in Cienfuegos, Cuba

Santos drives through Cienfuegos to Punta Gorda and the Palacio del Valle.

Palacio del Valle at Punta Gorda

We will eat lunch in the restaurant here.

I am getting hungry

This building was constructed between 1913 and 1917. Near the entrance, I spot a resting place for me. Short duck legs require many resting spots and this one is perfect for me.

Zeb the Duck at rest

We enjoyed a delicious fish lunch and then wandered through the Palacio del Valle.

Palacio del Valle has a gorgeous upper patio. If there were more time, later I would ask for a drink and snacks here.

Beautiful area and ready for a snack

But we return to Havana tonight, so no snacks here today. From this patio the views of the Caribbean Sea are wonderful.

Bay of Cienfuegos, part of the Caribbean Sea

This building has restaurants, patio with bar and food, a museum and rooms for rent. Palacio del Valle is beautiful. I hope you visit here soon.

Next time I will share more adventures in Havana, Cuba. Cuba is a new experience for this duck and my human. To visit and experience Cuba, check out http://www.FriendlyPlanet.com You will enjoy your time in Cuba.

February 5, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Cienfuegos, Cuba with Zeb the Duck

While Santos drove us from Trinidad to Cienfuegos, Alejandro answered our questions about life in Cuba. He also told us about Benny More, a famous Cuban musician from Cienfuegos. Benny More is often considered the greatest Cuban popular singer of all time. He possessed a fluid tenor voice, which he colored and phrased with great expressivity. Benny More formed and led the leading Cuban big band of the 1950s until his death in 1963.

Here I am with Benny in Cienfuegos.

Benny More and Zeb the Duck in Cienfuegos, Cuba

I am sitting on the end of Benny More’s signature cane. That is not a cigar under my feathers.

Walking through Cienfuegos, I liked this mural.

Mural in Cienfuegos, Cuba

This is some of what I saw on the street. Notice the telephone booths.

A main street in Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos, Cuba. People, truck, bicycle and horse u

So many friendly people.

We stopped in the Hotel la Union. Such a pretty hotel. This restaurant was inviting,

Lovely restaurant in Hotel la Union. Cienfuegos, Cuba

but mom said we were having lunch later. She purchased a couple bookmarks. One is still marking pages in our Cuban guidebook from Lonely Planet.

Jose Marti Park is very nice. I especially liked this tree with the bumps on the trunk.

By Jose Marti Park in Cienfuegos

Here I am with Jose Marti, a revolutionary and philosopher.

Jose Marti and Zeb the Duck in Cienfuegos, Cuba

Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 by Don Louis D’Clouet, a Frenchman from Louisiana. Others followed but the settlement was destroyed by a hurricane in 1821. The city was rebuilt and named Cienfuegos after the then governor of Cuba. In 1957 officers at the local naval base staged a revolt against Batista sealing the place of the city in revolutionary history.

In 2005 UNESCO named the center of Cienfuegos the best example of 19th entry early Spanish Enlightenment in urban planning.

This is one of several old colonial buildings in Cienfuegos.

Cienfuegos

February 3, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Our Last Day in Trinidad Cuba

Our last afternoon in Trinidad mom and Connie went to the beach. They rode in an old classic car for a taxi. But you will never guess what happened. Mom forgot the camera and me. She was hurrying, and I did not get to go. But Connie did have a camera, so this is what they saw. I was excited to see it also.

Sandcastle on Playa Ancon

They went to Playa Ancon, which our guidebook said is the best beach on the southern coast.

Ancon Beach

End of the day at the beach

Looks great!

When they retuned, mom took me to the lobby of our hotel. Are these presents for me??

Wrapped gifts in our hotel lobby. For Zeb?

We stayed at Iberostar Trinidad. This is a nice hotel on a town square. The lobby looks very pretty.

Lobby of Iberostar Trinidad hotel

From our central location, we walked on our tour of the city. We really like this hotel.

One evening we returned to the Plaza Mayor area and listened to music on the stairs I showed you a few days ago. We heard a group of musicians play and people started dancing.

Music and dancing

It was very nice and a lot of fun. Then another group of musicians played and professional dancers performed for us.

More music and dancing

We liked it all.

Before we left Trinidad in the morning, mom and I walked more streets to further experience this city. These are public telephones.

Public telephones

I never saw public or pay phones before. Telephone booths were everywhere before cell phones were widely used. Across the plaza from our hotel we saw children waiting to enter the school.

Time for school

This church across the park from our hotel seems serene.

Church in Trinidad Cuba

The old car parked on the street

Classic car

and the horse cart,

Ready for the day

moving down the street, are morning activities in Trinidad. I am on a bench by our hotel.

Relaxing on a park bench by Iberostar Trinidad hotel

I will miss Trinidad, but am looking forward to visiting Cienfuegos, Cuba.

January 31, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Trinidad Cuba Valley de los Ingenios

On the bus and ready for lunch. I, Zeb the duck, on my way to Hacienda de Manaca Iznaga for lunch.

Lunch will be here. What is a trapiche???

Riding through the country and watching the lush vegetation, I learn that this was once a center of sugar cane production. In the early 19^th century hundreds of French refugees fled Haiti and set up about 50 small sugar mills in this Valley de los Ingenios. Soon this region produced a third of Cuba’s sugar.

Here we are, ready for lunch. We sat outside near the gardens.

I love eating outside

A very beautiful and peaceful setting. While we waited for our food, these musicians entertained us.

Cuban music for us while dining. Wow!

It was very nice.

After our delicious lunch we inspected this trapiche.

Trapiche used here here ago

The trapiche was used to extract juice from sugar cane. The force or power for this tapiche was often provided by animals, but not by ducks.

We ate outside, enjoying the fresh air, but as we walked through the restaurant, I loved these table decorations.

I am on the table with these ladies

So much a part of a vacation experience.

Some vacation memories

I am a very happy duck today.

This tower was used during the sugar cane plantation days. At the top is my friend Barbara.

Barbara is way up there

She climbed all the way to the top. Wow Barbara! These friendly people were selling craft items

Crafts available here

and linens.

Beautiful linens

They were beautiful. I like to see all the items for sale.

Time to get back on the bus now. We are going to visit Casa del Alfarero, a pottery house. The Santander Family founded this pottery house and they have produced pottery here for generations. We love family businesses.

Here the gentleman shows how to make pottery.

Casa del Alfarero pottery house

He makes it look so easy. Now he asks if anyone else has ever made pottery. Here is my friend Susan.

My friend Susan is very talented.

She is making pottery. She is very good.

There are many beautiful pieces of pottery to see and purchase. Mom bought this mask and ashtray with a cigar.

Pottery mask and ashtray with a cigar. So Cuban

Pottery must be packed in checked luggage to go home, so we bought small items. More about cigars later, when we visit the cigar factory and store.

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