PediCabbing Havana
My morning starts with another walk through the streets of Old Havana. The commuting buses are packed with people and my short walk through Central Park Plaza gave me a good people watching opportunity.
Our first group activity was to meet with two brothers, Tomas and Jorge Rodriquez Rubio (no relation to Marco). Engineers by training, they provided our group with perspectives on Cuban history since the revolution. Plus they described the impact of the US Trade Embargo on the economy. Asked about Cuban property ownership they explained that in 2005 Cubans were permitted to sell or trade their homes. This was a big change and they predicted slow but more changes in the future.
The brother's touched on the Cuban currency system. Cuba has a two currency system. Their base currency is the Cuban peso (CUP) and in 1994 Cuba introduced the convertible peso called the CUC. The Cuban citizens are paid in the Cuban peso currency and use this currency for staples and non-luxury items. All of the basic items in the ration stores and other essentials are paid in Cuban pesos. With the advancement of tourism economy in the 1990’s, Cuba introduced the CUC. The CUC is used for tourism and luxury goods. It takes 24 Cuban pesos to buy 1 CUC. Only the hotels and Cuban government will exchange our US dollars for CUCs. For the conversion of US dollars to CUCs there is a 10% surcharge and a 3% exchange fee, resulting in 87 CUCs for every $1 exchanged. Smart travelers, for which I wasn’t, will convert US currency to EUROs before going to Cuba and then convert the EUROs to CUCs to avoid the 10% surcharge. This is a confusing currency system and based on the comments we received, it appears the Cuban government would like to transition to a one currency system over time. Getting there will be difficult.
From our discussion with the Rubio brothers, we head to the street where there is a convoy of pedicabs waiting for us. Mary and I selected Armondo as our driver. An experienced pedi cab driver, with pictures of his son to show us, he was full of life. Much like my grandson, who looks at most actions as a race, where following is not winning, Armondo said he was like Jeff Gordan and driving Nascar. We drafted and passed, in and out of busy traffic and safely got to a local produce and meat market as our destination.
Buying produce as a gift for our upcoming visit to a children’s daycare center, we were each assigned the type of produce we were to buy and given a few Cuban pesos to make the purchase. Our Pedi cab drivers were assigned to go with us and assist in language and currency. We shopped and we bought. It was amazingly economical.
We continued to tour the adjoining meat market. Not exactly up to the standards of a US supermarket. It was very crowded, all meat was unrefrigerated in the open air and every part of the carcass seemed to be displayed and for sale.
Our pedicab adventure ended with pictures and goodbyes to our enthusiastic drivers and a short walk to a children’s daycare center. The Catholic order of the Sisters of God and Love sponsor the center. The facility was a beehive of activity and noise with teachers and small children all in motion. We had the opportunity to play some games with the kids. I had a young fellow who was a determined lego block builder where height, not quality was the main objective. We attracted a lot of hands from his assistants.
The sisters gave us a presentation on their history in Cuba and the development of the day care center. Gifts and produce were provided and we were off for a little free time for a stroll through the streets and plazas and lunch on our own. It was a beautiful day and the streets were full of activity. Mary and I went into a Cuban grocery store to take a look at their inventory. Not your local Kroger store. The inventory was well displayed, there just wasn’t the variety and different types of food. Very basic.
With another Cuban sandwich in the belly, we reconvene to go to the Museo de Bella (Fine Arts Museum) which shows how Cuban artists have interpreted society throughout the nation’s history. Because I had to leave my backpack with camera in a check room without a receipt or security, I decided to guard my camera and let Mary do the touring. She gave high marks for the museum. That free time gave me the opportunity to walk across the street and mingle in a crowd attending a celebration or protest (not sure which) and tour a small park housing some old Soviet airplanes and other artifacts of their military presence in Cuba.
With a short rest and clean up at the hotel, we board the bus to go to Fursterlandia. On the way we see the city streets packed with students departing from Revolution Square where they were attending large celebration for some Cuban doctors killed in the 1960s. The streets were swarming with uniformed students, streets were blocked and detours caused a longer than expected bus ride.
Fursterlandia is the fantasyland home built by artist, Jose Furster. The home itself is like a Disneyland of art along with the surrounding homes decorated in Fursters unique art that mixes bright paint with ceramic. Unfortunately our bus delay caused us to arrive after dark. This would be worth coming back in the daylight. Everyplace you looked, there was towering sculptures made of concrete, ceramic and paint. Very interesting.
Mr. Furster was unable to join us because of a hip replacement the week before. His son, a physician gave a short talk about his dad’s work, showed us around the Furster compound and provided ample opportunity to buy some ceramic gifts. With dinner served on the grounds, along with local entertainers, this was a unique and enjoyable evening.
Back to the hotel to celebrate our last night at the Saratoga with a late night refreshment, enjoying the view of old Havana from the rooftop terrace with John and Kathy and our friend Lavena from Colorado Springs. Nice night.
PediCabbing in Old Havana
Friday, November 27, 2015
Havana, Cuba
Other Entries
-
1Prepping for Cuba
Nov 243 days priorMiami, United Statesphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 0 -
2Buenos Dias Havana
Nov 252 days priorHavana, Cubaphoto_camera18videocam 0comment 1 -
3Old Havana – A Veneer of Progress
Nov 261 day priorHavana, Cubaphoto_camera35videocam 0comment 0 -
4PediCabbing in Old Havana
Nov 27Havana, Cubaphoto_camera42videocam 0comment 0 -
5Bound for Cienfuegos
Nov 281 day laterCienfuegos, Cubaphoto_camera22videocam 0comment 0 -
6The Art of Cienfuegos
Nov 292 days laterCienfuegos, Cubaphoto_camera34videocam 0comment 0 -
7To Be or Not To Be - State or Private
Nov 303 days laterTrinidad, Cubaphoto_camera33videocam 0comment 0 -
8Family Living in Trinidad
Dec 014 days laterTrinidad, Cubaphoto_camera18videocam 0comment 0 -
9Black Holy Water for your Health
Dec 025 days laterTrinidad, Cubaphoto_camera19videocam 0comment 0 -
10Finding the Fish in Havana
Dec 036 days laterHavana, Cubaphoto_camera15videocam 0comment 0 -
11A New Friend in Havana
Dec 047 days laterHavana, Cubaphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 0 -
12It's a wrap
Dec 058 days laterHavana, Cubaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 3
2025-02-16