Day 5: Cycling Vedado Area of Havana

Mornings begin for me about 7 but breakfast isn't until 8:30 here at the Casa so I have some quiet time to write my blog, read a book (Pat Conroy's Beach Music), read about Cuba, or play games on my phone. Checking Facebook isn't an option and I must say I rather like the forced disconnection. I don't know what's happening in the States...and I don't really care. I've spent a fair amount of time thinking about my route when I leave Havana tomorrow. The most beautiful areas are to the west the guidebooks say...Guess it pays to do your research BEFORE you book your flights. My departure city is east of here and I can't make any sense going west. It just doesn't flow. And I'm not fond of buses or trains so I think I'll stick to my plan of cycling east. But I have decided to stay on the north shore to Mantanzas and then drop directly south to Playa Larga.

Today I wanted to try and get some Internet connection. I bought my card for $7.50 for 5 hours. Now I just need to find a place that has the signal. Sandra, the daughter here (a microbiologist professor) suggested outside the Hotel Habana Libra, the hotel Castro took up residence in when he took over the country.



I managed to get there then in looking for some shade to sit for a bit I went into a park. I was immediately approached by the police and signaled to move. I had read bikes aren't allowed on sidewalks or in parks. And since this area has no streetside parking there's no place to stop and sit on my bike. I did find a driveway with shade and the man in the chair didn't shoo me away. Ahhh. So I did manage to make a quick Facebook post and text with a friend. That's enough.

Then I cycled up to the Malecon, the breakfast all along the north of the city that keeps out the sea. Waves break high along there.









Hard to capture the classic convertibles flying by.






There are monuments to just about everything here. This one as the sign says is to the USS Maine that sunk here in 1898.
Then I just wandered through the neighborhoods. I like doing that best.



A plate of sautéed veggies I managed to explain to the chef I wanted, since I couldn't understand anything on the menu but pizza. Blaze is parked out in front. I was so worried about someone stealing her.












Horses pulling carts, lots of old crumbling buildings, and statues abound! Lady selling veggies.






A lovely Park with children playing outside!



A pastry handed to me in paper not a napkin.



Sitting in the foyer of my Casa enjoying the breezes through the doorway.

Another delightful day in Habana.


Live YOUR dream,

BagLady

Biking Around Havana

Today was the big day...the first big day. I took Blaze out on the town. And what a scene she created. People stopped us to take photos. People beeped at us. People yelled at us. Cars and buses honked at us. I felt right at home:). But oh, the exhaust fumes! I could only last a couple of hours out there. Too many tourists. Too much smog. Cough cough. And hot if not in the shade. And I only captured a few shots because my camera is my map and there was so much traffic in all directions. I ran a few red lights...went down one way streets the wrong way...pictures were the last thing I needed to try to do...too.









This double currency is ripping me off and I know the difference in the currency just not the displayed prices. And they will give you the wrong change any chance they get. Today I paid $5 for a sandwich that cost $0.20. Hope it was a charity. From now on I'm giving pesos (the smaller, the National currency) unless they complain.

I did figure out my route to get the ferry on Monday. And I found the Monument to the Revolution
And before I left today, Georgina my host took a spin on Blaze. Yup, she liked her.



A friend who came here on a tour in January told me it was the poorest country she'd seen. I don't see that. Nepal, especially Kathmandu, was so much poorer. Here is like a 2nd world country...not 3rd. No, there aren't many choices on the shelves, but everyone gets food. There's obviously different classes levels of income...especially now that they can be entrepreneurs. That's all recent under Raul. Some neighborhoods are quite lovely while others are more crumbling. I'm curious as to how I'll find the rural areas.

Oh and I did see this Fort but couldn't go inside because there was no place to secure Blaze.




And I love that the stoplights have countdowns. How handy is that?!?




It certainly is different being in a country where you just can't go down to the store and get what you need. I can't replace the bungee cord. Right now the humid conditions gave chuffed my underarms quite badly and I sure could use some powder. Don't know as I'll find any of that around here. My neighborhood doesn't really have any stores as far as I can tell. There's produce stands and that's about it.


Live your dream,

BagLady