We forgot to mention that we managed to hear the Buena Vista Social Club,
the well known Cuban jazz group. They were terrific. It was particularly
amazing to see 3 people that must have been over 80 who were performing with
them.
Yesterday, we were a bit revolutionary ourselves. We really didn't want
another day of people-to-people (the agenda included yet another dance group and
yet another organic farm). So, several of us rebelled and hired a car with
driver to take us to Havana. We wanted to see the Museum of the Revolution, but
it was closed.
Our second destination was the Fine Arts Museum, which happily not only was open, but was fantastic. There was fascinating modern sculpture on the ground floor, and several floors of very impressive work. I particularly liked the contemporary sculpture and paintings. It all was expressive and provocative. The museum itself was lovely - modern and air conditioned.
Our second destination was the Fine Arts Museum, which happily not only was open, but was fantastic. There was fascinating modern sculpture on the ground floor, and several floors of very impressive work. I particularly liked the contemporary sculpture and paintings. It all was expressive and provocative. The museum itself was lovely - modern and air conditioned.
We had lunch at Floridita, the famous bar where Ernest Hemingway hung out.
It definitely was a tourist place, but we enjoyed having the
daiquiris.
We walked around a little, then headed back to the hotel where we met up
with the group after their people-to-people exchange.
Lenny and I decided to go to Shabbat services at the local synagogue as I have been trying to say kaddish every week. It was a modern building and had loads of people, many of whom also were tourists just visiting. The service was mainly in Hebrew, which was good since we couldn't understand the Spanish part! Many of the melodies were familiar to us, although a few weren't. The leader (rabbi?) said the fastest kaddish I have ever heard.
Lenny and I decided to go to Shabbat services at the local synagogue as I have been trying to say kaddish every week. It was a modern building and had loads of people, many of whom also were tourists just visiting. The service was mainly in Hebrew, which was good since we couldn't understand the Spanish part! Many of the melodies were familiar to us, although a few weren't. The leader (rabbi?) said the fastest kaddish I have ever heard.
We then joined the group for dinner, which was in a small artist colony in Havana. We got to hear (yet another) music group, then viewed/purchased art, then had dinner, before going to the top of the renovated water tank for a dance party. The band was local kids, and actually was a lot of fun.
We awoke early this morning to get to the airport for our 10:30am flight,
which seemed to be rescheduled to 12:30pm. Now, very unfortunately, the sign board
just changed to show a 4pm departure. As we already are past immigration, we are in "no man's
land", and cannot leave. Sigh - travel to Cuba does have some remnants of third
world travel in it.
Donna
No comments:
Post a Comment