Sunset over La Habana yesterday morning. We are constantly on the go. Breakfast at 7am and rarely back to the hotel before 5. Then we have free time to go out and explore - or stay in - in the evenings.

Everywhere you go there are people waiting for transport. In the rural areas, they stand by the side of the road holding money up to show they will pay for the ride. There are a lot of imaginative "busses". I saw a horse trailer with benches to hold people, for instance. Did a double take when we were in the mountains and I saw what appeared to be a dinghy on wheels being pulled by a horse with four or five people in it. There are these centers in the city full of Soviet "truck taxis". When the truck fills up, it goes. Everywhere, people waiting to ride. In the heat. No AC on any of these. 

So, our first stop was to Santa Barbara, a catholic church in the poorest of the poor neighborhoods to visit a daycare center. The kids get 2 meals a day for five days each week. They normally have a parent in jail or just gone or parents on drugs, etc. Just like us in the U.S. Only much much much more "humble", as our guide likes to say.

The teacher talked to us about the services they provide for the children. Here is the altar at Santa Barbara.

We went around to the back of the church and the kids were waiting for us. So cute.

This little girl recited a poem about Cuba for us. They sang songs and we sang them Itsy Bitsy Spider, tears flowing.

Here is one last shot on our way out the door. We brought them gifts of school supplies and toys and I was happy to see they did not make them open them in front of us. Their neighborhood around the church was so sad. People sitting around with vacant faces. The dogs in the street just bones and sores. It is hard to even write about what I saw today.

Our next stop was Hemingway's House and what a contrast, to say the least. A beautiful home perched on the hillside, the public is not allowed inside but instead you circle the house and look in the windows.

This was his office. A real Picasso hangs on the wall. Apparently his wife wanted it back after his death and Castro refused. Lots of animal heads, of course.

The swimming pool is HUGE and deep. Must have had some great parties here. They don't keep water in it, but keep it clean. Here is a lady mopping. Must take her all day and then I imagine it starts over.

Down the hill from the house, a little bar with fresh squeezed sugar cane juice. The guide told a story about Michelle Obama coming here a few weeks ago and the Secret Service demanding the sugar cane that was to be used for her drink be tested.

Whatever, it was so delicious! Especially when the ever present Havana Club rum was added!

Here is the real Pilar, Hemingway's boat. I've been in the reproduction in the Fabulous Florida Keys many times so it was cool to see the real one.

A shot of the parking lot. It never ceases to amaze, these old American cars. There is a law in this country that these cars cannot ever leave Cuba. I think this is wise. I can imagine Americans coming over and buying up every last one of them and shipping them home.

And a note about the Obamas and Hemingway. The Cuban people LOVE Obama, think of Hemingway as a native son. They ask everywhere, where are you from? America? Obama! Obama! Friends!

typical farmer's house

We toured a small family run organic farm, once a swamp and now more than beautiful, then had lunch there. The father is Italian, the mother Cuban, beautiful kids. They put on a spread of fish or lasagne, both great. And of course, rice and beans.

some of my tour partners

Next up the Museum of the Revolution. OMG so much to say about this place but I want to go to bed, so more later.

Beautiful building, first presidential palace and
now museum. Gunshot holes in the walls inside.

ceiling- the whole place is being restored

Kind of amazing, all of the furniture and pictures and lighting, everything, is the original. Where Fidel and Che and Camilo sat and met and planned. Right there to reach out and touch.

wall of cretins: Batiste, Regan, Bush I and II

hahahahahaha!

bust of Fidel's cap

We stopped at a government run cigar shop - where you get the best of the best. Bought a Cohiba. Woohoo! Happy Birthday to me.

And to round out our day, we stopped at the Cuban Institute of Music for a performance from these lovely people. It was really wonderful. They have performed all over the world. When they sang Shenandoah in English, not a dry eye, including yours truly.

Off to bed and now I'm a day late telling you what I've been up to. I just realized I don't even know what day it is... I do know we're off to Varadero tomorrow, a new part of the country for us and a new hotel. It's going to be another long and wonderful day.