Soggy Moose Travels

Havana Day the first full day December 8, 2016.

Some have asked about the difference between Lindblad/Nat Geo as compared to other experiences. One thing for me is the personal interaction with the Expedition Staff, so I have decided to copy and paste the Curriculum Vitae (CV) for some of our staff. One of the first members we met and chatted with was Fabio while waiting for our luggage in Havana.

Fabio Amador

National Geographic Staff

Fabio (Fe) Amador is a Senior Program Officer for the National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program, which is dedicated to funding exploratory research around the world. He has traveled and worked extensively throughout Latin America and is presently collaborating with research projects in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Peru, El Salvador, and Madagascar. He has also traveled regularly to Cuba over the past five years on educational and scientific missions for National Geographic. As a trained archaeologist, his interest in Taino Indian culture (which spanned the Greater Antilles, including Cuba) is focused on the sacred landscape and the use of caves for ritual activity. In his role at National Geographic, Fabio uses imaging and visualization technologies to provide new ways of capturing data and to document the experience of conducting research and exploration. His initiative in supporting worldwide research has resulted in a workshop titled The Art of Communicating Science. This capacity building initiative is aimed at students, scholars, explorers, government agencies, and stewards of the cultural and natural patrimony, so that they can be trained in how to develop, design and use imaging technology to document, protect, and communicate the importance of their heritage through exploration, discovery, and storytelling. Fe's continued effort in communicating science has allowed him to use photography, cinematography, and other multimedia tools to reach large audiences through his public lectures at universities, presentations at international scientific and professional symposia, publications in scholarly journals and on National Geographicâs Explorers Journal and NatGeo News Watch online blogs.

WALKING TOUR of HAVANA

This walking tour was only about 1.25 miles and we visited the various plazas as listed below.

Plaza de La Catedral isla symbol of Habana Vieja. Here we find the first Spanish aqueduct in the New World. The water was transported from the Almendares River about 7 miles away.

Plaza de Vieja was laid out in 1559 and in the 1990’s it was restored to it’s original grander. This plaza was at one time the main public square. Here one can see the many examples of 17th Century architecture. Today there are many artist studios, shops, and restaurants in the arcades of this plaza.

Plaza de San Francisco is where one finds the Fuente de los Liones. Here is located the old Customs House. Also located here is the Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asis. This area was the home of the Franciscan Community.

Plaza de Armas was our final plaza to visit this morning. One of the most interesting features of this Plaza is the wood paved street in front of the Paliacio de los Capiyanes Generales. The Generals wife did not like the sounds of the horses hoofs on the cobblestones. So to soften the noise the street was paved with wood.

During this walking tour we stopped at a local bar where they made Guarapo. Guarapo is fresh squeezed sugarcane juice, lime and rum if you choose. This was a tasty refreshing drink for a hot day.

After the walking tour we had lunch at the private restaurant Casa Abel. Restaurants are either privately owned or Government owned. A private restaurant is allowed as they are taxed by the Government. The food here was excellent, there was a choice of chicken, fish, or shrimp. I chose the shrimp and Lynn had the chicken. The chicken was a half of a roasted chicken and the shrimp was prepared in a cream rice. EXCELLENT is all that needs to be said. There were also several appetizers presented, fried cheese, a shrimp salad, and a plate of plantain chips and fried casaba. I was too full for dessert of either flan or a lemon pie. Lynn had the flan ash it also was excellent. We were the given an aperitif of a 7 year aged rum and a cigar. I passed on the cigar.

Finca La Vigia - Hemmingway’s Residence

We then boarded our bus and headed to Finca La Vigia, ten miles east of Havana is Hemingway's Cuba house - Finca Vigia, meaning "lookout house”.

This was a highlight of the day for me as this was Hemingway’s residence when he was in Cuba. The rooms are closed off by a rope, yet photos can be taken. It is interesting that the restoration is basically maintaining the residence as Hemingway left it when he returned to the US in 1960. Many locals believe he planned on returning. So for me to see this residence as it was when he lived there made it very special. This location is where he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. Here one can see his pet cemetery and, of course, the Pilar. The Pilar was his fishing boat, and its current state is very well maintained. Just to see the fighting chair on this boat was very meaningful to me. During WWII Hemingway used the Pilar to patrol the waters off of northern Cuba searching for German U-Boats. The whole property is about 15 acres and there is a guest house and garage which is not open to the public. There is also a tower there where he would go to write and look out over the countryside at Havana. The guard of the tower thought I looked like Hemingway and was kind enough to allow some special pictures to be taken. The whole residence is owned and operated by the Government.

From the residence. we made our way to Cojimar, the fishing village purported to be the inspiration for The Old Man and The Sea. We did visit Hemingway’s favorite local bar for a beverage. This is the La Terrraza de Cojimar, where Hemingway’s favorite table is set and awaiting his return.

We then made our way back to the Hotel and had some free time before dinner. We used this time to catchup on logs and photos.

Before dinner we had a guest speaker who was an older gentleman and an architect. He spoke to us about the architecture of Havana and most interesting to me were several points he presented. First Cuba and Havana is a melting pot, many different cultures roots can be found here and yes they have influenced the architecture and further the culture of Cuba. While change is happening in Cuba he feels it will take many years as peoples minds and lifestyles will not be changed over night. The people of Cuba are used to the government providing everything they need, food. clothes, medical, housing. There are no homeless people in Cuba. We observed many many buildings in a states of disrepair and abandonment. The condition of the property is due to the lack of resources to repair and maintain these building. I see many properties which could be very very nice with a lot of TLC,

Dinner this evening was at one of the hotel restaurants which is located in the gardens. Here the meal is served family style and the seating is on long tables, each seating about 14 persons. The menu was Shredded beef in a tomato sauce, roast pork, baked squash, rice and beans, All items were great and for dessert there was flan and coffee.

FYI: The coffee is nice and strong and do not even think about asking for decaf, and Sugar is King and if you want sugar substitute you better bring it because Sugar is KING and they are proud of their sugar.

Yes, one of these days more photos will be posted at http://soggymoosephoto.smugmug.com

Guarapo is fresh squeezed sugarcane juice, lime and rum if you choose. This was a tasty refreshing drink for a hot day.

Wooden paved street.

Ration store, the board show the prices. These are in Cuban Pesos with a value of 25 CUP to one USD.

Finca La Vigia - Hemmingway’s Residence

The lady guarding this room saw me alone and called me Hemingway and let my camera capture these pictures from behind the rope. Special moment for sure.