TR: raquelle261 & colleagues do Cuba

[raquelle261]

I have never seen a bed like it. It looks from the photo like its some kind of camera trick, but on my life it isn't. Its ridiculous!

[raquelle261]

Day 2 (Fri 20 May) Pt2 (am) – Partigas Cigar Factory
Our tour of Havana starts off at the Partigas Cigar Factory, where we are shown the whole production process.






Health & Safety have clearly never EVER visited here. With the rickety staircases and uneven stone floors, you have to keep your wits about you or else you will be a gonner. The place is fascinating though and reminds me of the subjects of many of Phil-of-Ottowa’s photographic subjects. The paintwork is crumbling, but the walls are decorated in colourful murals. Locals so studiously and diligently toiling away at their work, completely engrossed in the task at hand. Some of them flash a huge beaming smile back at us. Lovely people.

Whilst they work, there is a guy sat at the front of the main room, sat at a desk with a microphone and a multitude of books (Hemingway, “the Classics”, Mark Twain, that sort of thing) in front of him, reading to the workforce to keep them entertained while they work. As with most workshops or factories, there are different areas and groups which perform different stages of the production.

Sadly, no photos are permitted to be taken inside the factory, so you’ll just have to keep that mythical image of them being rolled on the nekkid thigh of a Cuban virgin in your heads…… Let me just tell you though, that its no wonder the thighs are nekkid – the heat and humidity in this factory is something else!


Here are a few pics however of our crowd in the factory shop at the end of the tour (where pics are allowed):

[adella]

Beautiful pictures Raquelle

[raquelle261]

Day 2 (Fri 20 May) Pt2 (am) cont. – Museum of the Revolution
Alexis then takes us on a guided tour round the Museum of the Revolution, which was formerly the Presidential Palace and charts the history of Cuba.






Inside, this is a fascinating building – has a real aura about it. Absolutely beautiful architecture, artwork and artefacts from the pre-revolution Presidential era, right there alongside bullet holes in the walls and vintage military and domestic vehicles that were used in the initial military coup on display in the grounds outside. (That red delivery truck, which is riddled with bullet holes, was a key one and used as a some sort of trojan horse or getaway vehicle or something apparently – but I was feeling hung over and had lost interest so wasn’t really listening at this point.) But from a purely historical stance, there is a certain awe you feel when inside the buildings of this place – it is so peaceful and serene and has seen so much.


Here’s a few pics of our gang and the sights we saw inside and out (I could have shown you loads more but, lets be honest, how so-not-interesting are pictures of tanks?):

[Rissask]

COOL!!!

Thanks so much Raquelle...this TR gave me lots of great tips and some excitement about our trip in February! Although we aren't going to Havana (Unless we do the overnight trip there), we are going to Guardalavaca in the southeast part of the island, Holguin province.

You sure had a long painful travel day to get there....that is terrible! And NO BOOZE on the plane- WTF?!

I have heard Cuban Customs is quite the experience.

(That red delivery truck, which is riddled with bullet holes, was a key one and used as a some sort of trojan horse or getaway vehicle or something apparently – but I was feeling hung over and had lost interest so wasn’t really listening at this point.)

Maybe it was the truck that Fidel and Che and their band of rebels used to escape to hide in the hills after the first failed coup to overthrow Batista?

Or something?

Can you tell I have been reading up on my Cuban history?

Socialismo o muerte!!!

[raquelle261]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Maybe it was the truck that Fidel and Che and their band of rebels used to escape to hide in the hills after the first failed coup to overthrow Batista?

That will be it!!!!! I was sooooooo so tired and hung over though I had begun to glaze over and not pay proper attention by that point. I am impressed - well done!

Oh... and don't worry.... this report is by no means finished. Boy - we've got MUCH more to come yet. Next installments is when the fun bits start!

[Rissask]

I will be waiting anxiously!

I am so happy I can see your pics, I usually can't because the hosting sites most people use are blocked here at work for me.


edit- weird...I checked...and they are on Photobucket, correct...I usually can't see pics on there. Oh well!

[raquelle261]

Okaaaaaay, here's a bit more for ya.......


Day 2 (Fri 20 May) Pt2 (am) cont. – Revolution Square
Once we are finished at the museum, we hop on our coach and get the “hairs of the dog” handed round. A quick ice cold beer (it would be rude not to), then back to the bottled water from our on-board chiller and we move on to Revolution Square. This huge modern square (in which there is no mercy from the heat of the midday sun I can tell you – phew, what a scorcher!), has statues of Che Guevara and national hero Jose Marti (whom the airport in Havana is named after), and is home to the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party where Fidel Castro has his office (this is that obelisk-type building). There is not really that much else to see at Revolution Square – it’s a big open space they use for parades and rallies and such like and that’s about it.








We mooch around in the square for a bit then get told we are going to be walking to the restaurant for lunch, which we are told is a 30 min walk if we walk “briskly”. You can imagine how well that goes down in this searing heat!!!! But hang on….. nooooooooo…… it is a little trick and only a joke…..!! And we round the corner to find a fleet of these little babies waiting to whisk us all on our way:




Time for a few photo opportunities…

[raquelle261]

And then we’re off!!!!!


















OMG – the ride in these things was fantastic!! Picture: a double plastic bucket seat (like the kind you get in McDonalds), fastened to the back of a moped, with a curved roof over your head, but with no sides or belts or anything to hold onto to stop you slipping off the side of the seat and onto the road, or anything to prevent you hurtling like a human cannonball over the driver’s shoulder when he slams the breaks on. Picture again: 13 or so of these things hurtling through the streets of Havana, weaving manically in and out of the normal busy city traffic, racing each other like something out of “Dick Dastardly & Mutley” in “Wacky Races”…. And you’ll just about have the feeling!


I have several short video clips from this trip although they haven’t translated on to photobucket that well and have gone a bit grainy in the transfer for some reason. Anyhow though…. here’s something to really give you the flavour of the coco taxis episode:

[roni]

At the risk of seeming shallow

Where are the babes in bikinis with the Caribbean in the background

[redhairgirl1]

Great report so far Raquelle So, who are you in all your fantastic pic's

[raquelle261]

Originally Posted by redhairgirl1

Great report so far Raquelle So, who are you in all your fantastic pic's

Thanks Red. I've been behind the camera so far. I'll tell you when I'm in one (there are some later).

I've just fixed the video clip link btw.

[raquelle261]

Originally Posted by roni

At the risk of seeming shallow

Where are the babes in bikinis with the Caribbean in the background

Sorry Ron, we are in the city for a little while yet and the majority of our group were sales guys remember! I will see what I can do for you later.

[roni]

Originally Posted by raquelle261

Thanks Red. I've been behind the camera so far. I'll tell you when I'm in one (there are some later).

I've just fixed the video clip link btw.

Love the coco taxi video

[Opatije]

Yep cocotaxis are pretty cool . Great report...