Woke early this morning — with a red swollen face and neck. Not hives, but what? Am I allergic to Havana, I sure hope not. Out of my first-aid kit, I reach for the hydrocortisone cream and slather liberally before heading off to breakfast. Breakfast may well become my favorite meal in Cuba, but time (and the over usage of salt) will tell. |
With time to spare before our group heads off on today's adventure, Liv and I walk around the hotel's neighborhood in the Vedado section of Havana.
Today's itinerary calls for a visit to the Martin Luther King Center, which we learn is at the forefront of promoting Christian social responsibility and progressive change throughout the region. The drive there takes us past remnants of the gorgeous architecture that once graced Havana and juxtaposed with more modern Russian-influenced utilitarian box-shaped designed buildings — unfortunately much is in various states of decay. It is trippy to see 50's cars alongside pedal carts and lots of bicycles. And, it is refreshing to see public art as we drive through various neighborhoods.
The MLK Center is involved with distributing medicines, presenting HIV prevention programs, and housing projects. It also runs training workshops to empower social involvement. The Center is founded on three organizing principles (or pillars): the Cuban Ecumenical Movement, Popular Education, and International Solidarity.
The MLK Center is involved with distributing medicines, presenting HIV prevention programs, and housing projects. It also runs training workshops to empower social involvement. The Center is founded on three organizing principles (or pillars): the Cuban Ecumenical Movement, Popular Education, and International Solidarity.
Next we headed to the Plaza de Armas to get a better feel of Old Havana as well as lunch at La Mina, which is located across from the Plaza. Our drive is along the Malecón, which is a broad roadway that hugs the Caribbean Sea from the Vedado neighborhood that includes our hotel to the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana where we are heading. It is lined along the north side by a seawall that is continually bombarded by waves that often break onto the roadway. Very dramatic!
We pass the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, a 1930s hotel designed in an odd mixture of architectural styles including Sevillian, Roman, Moorish and Art Deco. Originally it was operated by the American managers of the Plaza Hotel. Over the hotel's history it has had many political and celebrity guests from the U.S., Canada, Europe and the USSR. I even have photographs of my in-laws holidaying here in the 1950s and sipping rum drinks on the terrace!
After walking around Old Havana photographing and peering into shops, Liv and I head to La Mina for lunch. The restaurant is housed in what was a former bishops residence in the 16th and 17th centuries. It's menu is Creole-influenced and caters to tourists.
We pass the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, a 1930s hotel designed in an odd mixture of architectural styles including Sevillian, Roman, Moorish and Art Deco. Originally it was operated by the American managers of the Plaza Hotel. Over the hotel's history it has had many political and celebrity guests from the U.S., Canada, Europe and the USSR. I even have photographs of my in-laws holidaying here in the 1950s and sipping rum drinks on the terrace!
After walking around Old Havana photographing and peering into shops, Liv and I head to La Mina for lunch. The restaurant is housed in what was a former bishops residence in the 16th and 17th centuries. It's menu is Creole-influenced and caters to tourists.
After lunch, across the street we watch a troupe of musicians, magicians and mime stilt walkers performing. The arts flourish here — dance, theater, visual arts, literature. It is so refreshing to see arts and culture celebrated!
Next up . . . walked to a local primary school of meet with some teachers and students. Because we were asked not to photograph the children, there are no pictures of the darling students, many who were sound asleep on floor mats during their siesta time.
For our last people-to-people commitment today, we drove the Central Havana neighborhood of Los Sites, and more specifically the street Calle Maloja, to the Cabildo Quisicuaba Community Project. This project employs the arts as interventions for social change in the communities plagued by poverty, social and health problems like domestic violence and AIDS. As a result of the Quisicuaba's partnership with the community, the street has transformed itself from one of ill-repute to a one that is known as the major artistic and supportive nerve center for the surrounding community. Calle Maloja boasts a museum, artist galleries and dance studios, and hosts monthly community talent shows.
One of the experiences I hoped to have was to visit a house where the Santeria, an Afro-Cuban spiritual religion, is celebrated, I had no idea that this stop would bring me that much closer. While Quisicuaba is both nonprofit and non-prosyletizing, it is forthcoming about the fact that it is highly attuned to its community's spiritual needs, in addition to its cultural and materials needs. In fact, the structure and function of the organization is based on respect for personal identity and its moral code is derived from Santeria. With roots in Yoruba believes transplanted by Africans who were brought to Cuba, mostly as slaves, the code has 16 commandments including: "don't say what you don't know; be humble and to egocentric; don't deceive your fellow human beings; always respect the weak and teat them with much respect."
One of the experiences I hoped to have was to visit a house where the Santeria, an Afro-Cuban spiritual religion, is celebrated, I had no idea that this stop would bring me that much closer. While Quisicuaba is both nonprofit and non-prosyletizing, it is forthcoming about the fact that it is highly attuned to its community's spiritual needs, in addition to its cultural and materials needs. In fact, the structure and function of the organization is based on respect for personal identity and its moral code is derived from Santeria. With roots in Yoruba believes transplanted by Africans who were brought to Cuba, mostly as slaves, the code has 16 commandments including: "don't say what you don't know; be humble and to egocentric; don't deceive your fellow human beings; always respect the weak and teat them with much respect."
One woman, in particular, catches my eye and we "bond" over a knowing smile, touching of our hearts, and the blowing of a kiss. As the beautiful woman I connected with earlier and I say our good-byes, she says something to our guide Héctor, who tells me we are invited next door to her house and that she is a Santerios. There certainly are no coincidences in this divine Universe! |
Santeros are practitioners who with varying job descriptions such as priests, healers, and diviners. Her entire home is a shrine to the many Orishas (deities) of Santeria, who mediate between humans and the supreme god, Olorún. Many orishas are avatars of Catholic saints, and similar to the Andean apus (mountain spirits) have specific job descriptions and abilities that they share with those whom they call to be in relationship with them.
A long day, we head back to our hotel via the Malecon to rest and freshen up before heading to dinner at El Templete. After dinner Liv, I and a few others opt out of the canon blast ceremony at the Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Instead, we arrange a taxi to take us to the Hotel Nacional for a nightcap. Cheers to a very full and interesting day!