Leaving Havana, Santos drives us along the coast. As you can see, there is not much traffic.
Leaving Havana
We are going to Santa Clara. In Santa Clara, founded in 1689, we will visit the Mausoleum and monument of Che Guevara. We will enjoy a buffet lunch and then attend a performance by the children.
The remains of Ernesto “Che” Guevara and some of his fellow combatants were brought to Cuba, from Bolivia, and are in the mausoleum.
Mausoleum of Che Guevara
Also in this complex is a tribute to Che with his possessions and a photographic chronicle of his life.
The mausoleum complex contains a 22 foot bronze statue of Che
Che 22 feet above ground
and various political billboards.
Fidel says “We want to be like Che”
Chavez of Venezuela is our best friend
Che was killed in Bolivia in 1967, but October 17, 1997 his remains were brought to Cuba and he was buried here with full military honors. This ceremony was witnesses by hundreds of thousands of Cubans, who enjoyed the singing of school children, a speech by Fidel Castro that was followed by a cannon salute.
Che’s mausoleum is in Santa Clara as a remembrance of Che’s troops taking Santa Clara December 31, 1958, hours before Fulgencio Batista left Cuba.
Taxis in street of Santa Clara
We, humans and Duck, enjoyed a buffet lunch in Santa Clara at Los Caneyes Hotel.
Good meat dish
The music was nice,
the food was tasty
Fruit and vegetables
Chocolate dessert!
and the waiters were friendly.
A new friend
I like new friends
That is a wonderful combination!
After lunch we were entertained by the children of Compania Teatral Infantel, the Children’s Theater Company.
Almost ready
Many talented children
Leaving the theater, I liked seeing the kids in this cart.
Outside the theater, kids in cart by plaza. Cobblestone street
The cobblestone street and the plaza are very nice. We like Santa Clara.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 