Foto: The Cathedral at Plaza de la Catedral (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Cuba - Through the cozy streets of the city, we arrive at the Plaza de Armas, also known as the Arms Square. In the past, this square was the seat of the Spanish rulers. They replaced the stone pavement with wooden blocks so they would be less bothered by the noise of horse-drawn carriages. Today, the square is filled with second-hand book stalls. At the Plaza de San Francisco, we take a moment to have a drink or simply admire the square. I choose the latter. A little further on, at a restaurant, we witness a demonstration of sugarcane pressing, and cocktails are prepared for us from this fresh juice. After this break, we continue to the Plaza de la Catedral. Daily life in the streets of Havana is lively and charming. We pass a group of stilt walkers who are promoting their performance, hear music playing here and there, and encounter young girls dressed as brides. This tradition is related to their 15th birthday celebration, known as a quinceañera. On the terrace at the Plaza de la Catedral, we enjoy the music. One musician places his CDs on the table for sale but forgets to take them back. We only realize this when a new band arrives to collect their tip. So, we ended up taking those CDs with us.
Cementerio de Colón in Cuba
Cuba - With approximately 800,000 graves, the Cementerio de Colón in Havana is one of the largest cemeteries in Latin America. The cemetery features extensive family tombs that are well worth a visit. Colón is a Catholic cemetery and includes elaborate monuments, ...
Characteristic Trinidad
Cuba - Trinidad is a characteristic old town from the colonial era. The center of Trinidad looks as if time has stood still. It is no coincidence that Trinidad is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. From the heights, the view over the red-colored roofs is ...
Relaxing on the beach of Varadero
Cuba - Slept in nicely first. Because of that, we are late for breakfast. Luckily, after some talking, we are still allowed to quickly go in and eat something. After breakfast, we walk into Varadero with Abel. We visit a small cigar shop. Outside, a man demonstrates ...
The coffee plantations of Vinales
Cuba - We drive along the wide highway toward Pinar del Río. There are hardly any cars on the highway. However, many hitchhikers stand along the roadside, and cyclists, horse-drawn carts, and ox carts use the highway. The wide highway is not completely free ...
The Spanish atmosphere in Cienfuegos
Cuba - We continue our route toward the Bay of Pigs (Bahia de Cochinos). In this bay, Cuban exiles, supported by the Americans, attempted an invasion of Cuba in 1961. Under Castro's leadership, this attack was successfully repelled within 48 hours, and over ...