Author: Rosie

The Operator put our suitcases in the boot and watched Haroldo tie the boot shut with some baling twine…there was no catch.  There was no air conditioning, Rosies window did not wind down, but luckily the front windows were down all the way and driving speed made for a nice air and bug flow….pity about Rosie’s poor little pink lungs having to ingest all the carbon monoxide coming in the window.  Never mind, its Cuba, this is exciting, we are underway!

The exhibits inside mainly chronicle the period of the Revolutionary War of the 1950s, totally one sided, totally biased and very muchly skewed to the Cuban perspective if you were to take any notice of the mumbling Americans trotting around. No Photos!  Revolutionaries do not say please.

The streets in the Viejo are narrow, the roads still hazardous and full of potholes, open grates and the loose cobblestones need as much negotiating and clear wits as well as avoiding the dog shit grenades which seem to be strategically placed in spots where you are naturally looking up at interesting buildings.  The Operator was watching Rosie’s foot placement and was on the ball after a few near calls.

Grand old buildings line the road on either side of the Prado and one lane of belching classic roar up one side and down the other.  It is a fab place to people watch and stroll, there are places to sit in the shade and enjoy ice creams from roving vendors, art stands to peruse and impromptu dance classes where people just seemed to join in.  Kids bought their balls and strap on roller skates here and played while their Mums gossiped in the shade.

We rented a car for a one hour trip around the city…some of the tourist sites are quite a distance away and our bike taxi would not cut the mustard.  Enrique was our man, in his cowboy hat….off we went in his pink Cadillac.  He cranked up the radio after a battle with the gears to get rolling and off we went cruising the Prado.  The cool breeze was in Rosies hair and Cuban sounds were pumping as Enrique pointed out all the sites….and we couldn’t understand a word he said….