Cigars, Rum and Che

Havana
see all photos »

So after a horrendous day with 3 connecting flights none of which went according to plan (note to self, do not fly Copa Airlines again) I finally touched down in Havana and by some amazing stroke of luck my luggage actually arrived too.

My first Havana experience was arranging a taxi from the airport through the official information desk but the taxi turned out to be a clapped out old banger of a car and did not seem official in any way.  Like the panicker that I am I checked every road sign to make sure we were going in the right direction and told the driver that my friend was waiting for me.  It all turned out fine in the end.

Havana
see all photos »

Met up with Andrew at our Casa and then we spent our first day visiting the Museum de la Revolution where they have two guards posted presumably only to stop you from stealing an exceptionally large boat which was used in the revolution, Parque Centrale when everyone gathers to argue about baseball and tried out a Hemingway-esque bar complete with local band.  In the evening we went to a baseball game between the Havana Industrials and Santiago de Cuba.  It was a big game, one of the last play-offs for the season´s title and the atmosphere was great, - drums, singing, banners, painted faces and some good hearted arguing.  There was a kid in front of us who was almost as interesting to watch as the baseball with his dancing and singing.  Unfortunately the Havana team lost (although I admit we sneaked off before the end - two and a half hours was more than enough!)

Havana
see all photos »

The next day´s sightseeing was breakfast at the famous Hotel Sevilla, a tour around the Havana Club museum and our first mojitos.  We checked out the local music club Casa de la Musica in the evening to see a live band but it felt like a cheesy holiday resort when they started a dancing competition with a load of tourists!