"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit...” Aristotle
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| (Havana, Cuba is well known for its Vintage American cars) |
Activity: Havana City Tour
Hotel: Home in La Havana, Cuba
Our lodging was in the old Quarters Havana. During the day, the park in front of the apartment was not as busy and as noisy as when it was at night. Although this area attracts a lot of visitors, there are still a lot of residential buildings. Many old buildings in the southern half of Havana Vieja have been transformed into apartments, and some of these apartments are available for visitors to rent.
Our apartment has two rooms. There is only one adjoining bathroom and had to be shared with the other two gentlemen. And there is a small bathroom behind the kitchen.
This morning we planned for a walking tour of Havana Vieja. Earlier, we already booked a local guide for the half day tour. The meeting point was a short walking distance away. It was still early so we detoured to a Vegan Cafe to have breakfast of scrambled eggs and Cuban bread with hot chocolate and latte. It was a government coffee shop. We paid in USD but the change was in peso. We were short changed with a very low rate.
We were at the meeting point early. At the Simon Bolivar Statue, we met a Muslim brother, Hamzah who informed us that the Havana Mosque is not far away. He gave his phone numbers in case we need his assistance when were here.
Mr. Rolli, our tour guide was a little late as his motorbike broke down on the way. The Havana Old City Tour started by visiting the 5 main squares in Havana Vieja. They are Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco, and Plaza del Cristo. At the various plazas we visited some of the city’s most noteworthy attractions.
At Plaza Vieja we headed to the Camera Obscura, an optical device mounted atop a 1909 building that projects a real-time 360° view of the colonial streets below. There was a small entrance fee and a guide explains landmarks, and there’s a rooftop terrace with a panoramic view.
Abdallah Mosque or Mezquita Abdallah is Havana’s first and only mosque. It is tucked into a charming colonial-era building in Old Havana. Opened in 2015 and repurposed from an antique car museum from charitable funding with support from Turkish and Saudi foundations, as well as other Muslim groups. The mosque is a one-story colonial-box style, with a modest minaret and rich Arabic calligraphy and carpets.
At the end of the tour, we went to a Seafood Terrace Restaurant but it was full and the queue was long as it was lunch time. Instead we went to a chick D'Lirios Restaurant located in front of the Capitol Building for a hearty seafood lunch with life entertainment.
We were back at our apartment for solat jamak before we went out again to explore the other parts of Havana.
We rented 2 trishaws to Jose Marti Mercado for souvenirs hunting. There was a misunderstanding at the end of the ride. Unsurprisingly, we ended up paying double than the agreed rental rate. We were earlier warned of scammers, conmen and pick-pockets in the old.Havana.
Mercado de Artesania is a huge warehouse, sitting on the docks of Havana bay. It is home to numerous vendors who sell goods, artifacts, curios and paintings. Once you go here, you probably will have seen it all in the old town of Havana. Vendors know some English, most will bargain, and some will force you to buy their products so one has to be careful and ask about the price. We bought some fridge magnets and duffel bags from here.
Havana is full of history, and there is plenty to see besides Spanish architectures and attractions in the old city. From Jose Marti Mercado, we hired a Classic Car taxi for the afternoon tour to see the other part of Havana city. We had to cross the bay to get to Casablanca on the other side of the harbour.
Our first stop was at the Plaza de La Revolucion which is the 60th largest city square in the world. The square is where many political rallies take place and Fidel Castro and other political figures address Cubans. The square is dominated by the José Martí Memorial. Opposite the memorial are the offices of the Ministries of the Interior and Communications, whose facades feature matching steel memorials of the two most important deceased heroes of the Cuban Revolution: Che Guevara, with the quotation "Hasta la Victoria Siempre" (Ever Onward to Victory) and Camilo Cienfuegos, with the quotation "Vas bien, Fidel" (You're doing fine, Fidel).
Casablanca is a part of the city of Havana, It is situated to the east of the entrance to Havana Harbor. Casablanca, a charming yet often overlooked district across the bay from Old Havana, offers a mix of panoramic views, colonial history, and local culture. A refreshing contrast from the tourist-filled streets of Old Havana. A frequent ferry links Casablanca with the dock at the foot of Santa Clara street in Old Havana. We didn't take the ferry, instead our taxi drove is to Casablanca via the underwater tunnel.
We took pictures at the big Cuba signage then drove uphill to Camilo Cienfuegos Lighthouse and the viewpoint. The iconic Faro del Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, perched atop the ramparts of El Morro Fortress, guarding Havana Bay’s entrance. It stands as the oldest operational lighthouse in Havana.
Not far was the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, one of the Americas' largest colonial forts, built in the 18th century. Cannon‑firing ceremony is held here at 9 pm daily and could be seen from the Old Havana.
We visited the Christ of Havana, a majestic 20 m marble statue of Christ overlooking Havana Bay, sculpted in 1958 from Italian Carrara marble. There is a panoramic terrace perfect for sunrise or sunset city views. Che Guevara"s house is located near the Christ statue.
Comandancia del Che is a Military History Museum. The Che Guevara’s wartime HQ is located beside the statue. The museum includes a downed US plane from the Missile Crisis. There are many outdoor exhibits rich in Cold War history.
Back at the Home In La Habana we went for souvenir hunting at the souvenir shops next to our apartment.
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