Cuba
Proper walking tour of old Havana this morning, starting with the Afrocuban area of Callejon de Hamel, a brief explanation of the Afrocuban religion of Santeria, and then onto the four main plazas of Havana. The plazas and many surrounding buildings (including several cathedrals) might have been modest by old world standards, but they still carry considerable significance. There were some more modern sights in there as well, including a statue to women's rights, a bunch of stilt-walkers in the Plaza Vieja, and then a stop at a big market, Centro Cultural Antiguos Almacenes de Deposito San Jose. Have to say the market itself was a typical old warehouse on the old pier, converted to a market, but it seemed to be an obligatory tourist stop that both the guide and I understood we had to make on the schedule, so Noberto went upstairs for a coffee, and I found a bench to sit on and people watch instead of shopping.
Ernest Hemingway-related stops filled the middle of the day; the old pier he used to fish off of, another very typical (but still very good) meal nearby, then to the outskirts of Havana to see his farm and boat. Then back to central Havana to one of the bars he used to frequent, El Floridita. Was very touristy, but still enough character to be worth a stop.
Had what I now know to be the typical afternoon siesta before dinner, then off to Rum-Rum, supposedly the top-rated restaurant on Tripadvisor in Havana. We were a bit early, but they had live music, and they were filling up by the time we left. They also smashed the plantains which was a bit more artful than some others, and the bit of Havana street life outside of the restaurant was a nice touch. Fort of San Carlos was the final stop of the night, both for the scenic view of Havana as well as the cannon firing itself, which is clearly a point of national pride from how well-attended it is, and how precisely executed it is, down to the traditional uniforms.
Finally, with a storm (not a big one) coming down from the north, stopped outside the hotel for a bit to photograph the waves hammering the northern coastal road. Apparently mild enough to not close the road itself, was still a bit of a sight to see...