Havana, Face to Face Tour: Day-2

After a day full of exploring Havana yesterday and a restful night's sleep, we awake to another beautiful day in Cuba. The view from our hotel looking north to the waterfront.

The view from our hotel room. The building in the center is the Hotel Barcelo Habana Ciudad and on the far right is Iglesia de Jesús de Miramar, the second largest church in Cuba.

We board our motor coach and pass by Monumento a Calixto García as we proceed along the Malecón. We view Morro Castle, on the far side of the entrance to Havana Harbor, as we pass by San Salvador de la Punta Fortress.

By popular demand, our Cuban tour guide takes us to a store where we can by Cuban cigars, rum and coffee.

Selecting Cuban cigars.

On average, two cruise ships per week dock at Terminal Sierra Maestra, the cruise ship terminal near Plaza de Armas in Old Havana.

An iconic view of Havana near the intersection of Cuba Street and San Pedro in the Old Havana district.

A short distance from the cruise ship dock at Terminal Sierra Maestra are three steam locomotives in front of the San Jose Craft Market (Antiguos Almacenes San José) that houses a collection of stalls selling Cuban art and handicrafts.

Shopping for bargains inside the San Jose Craft Market.

How about a nice humidor for the Cuban cigars you bought? Maybe a poster to go with the Cuban cigars (click on image to enlarge)

Maybe a new hairdo.

Mary looking for a new Cuban hat and some artwork to go with it.

Back on the motor coach and we pass Our Lady of Kazan Orthodox Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox Church located in historic Old Havana, near Terminal Sierra Maestra, the cruise ship terminal.

A plaza across the street from Terminal Sierra Maestra and next to the Lonja del Comercio (Chamber of Commerce) building in Old Havana. The Lonja del Comercio served as the stock exchange until the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

On the north end of Aguiar Street in the Santo Angel neighborhood we visit a community of barbers, art galleries and a community cafeteria for the elderly.

One of the rooms in the elderly center on the ground floor.

In the upper floors of the building is Arte Corte, a hairdressing salon that is also an “interactive museum” where the customer, while comfortably seated in a hundred year-old chair awaiting their turn, may view antique scissors, razors, mirrors, vials, shaving brushes, combs, brushes and advertisements, along with original paintings and drawings by Cuban artists, all focusing on the topic of hairdressing.

Mary waits her turn for a new hairdo ...

A collection of old barber supplies

Testing a barber chair and the phone.

A collection of barber chairs.

Across the street is another barber school that is working with the school for the deaf to teach deaf students a skill.

An old jukebox and cash register from a past era.

Time for lunch and our restaurant, El Figaro, is located next to the barber schools. Another great meal that started with a bowl of pumpkin soup and the Cuban dark beer, Bucanero. I liked the Bucanero better than the Cuban Cristal beer. Both beers are made by Labatts in a joint venture with the Cuban Government.

Our entertainment.

I used this model of a Trojan horse made from a Heineken beer keg as a hat rack. I noticed the wires next to the horse and followed them to this electrical connection which wouldn't pass a code inspection in the U.S.

The graffiti wall in the restaurant (and its Mojito certification).

Some of the scenes from Aguiar Street and the Santo Angel neighborhood. The barber and artist influence are everywhere.

Community life in the Santo Angel neighborhood. A basket is lowered from a forth floor room to the street for a delivery

Our short visit to the Santo Angel neighborhood is over and we pass images from the revolution as we return to our motor coach and head for our next stop, “Fusterlandia” ...

“Fusterlandia” is the creation of Cuban artist José Fuster, described as the “Picasso of the Caribbean.” The painter and sculptor has transformed his home and the neighborhood in the village of Jaimanitas into a mixture of the designs of Gaudi, Picasso and Disneyland. Click on images to enlarge the view, but photos don't do this place justice.

José Fuster's home and the surrounding neighborhood are an eclectic mix of colorful ceramic mosaics.

A photo of us standing behind a large heart and the a souvenir tile we bought.

José Fuster transformed his neighborhood into a magical kingdom of mosaic creations. Some of Fuster's neighborhood creations, including the rooftop message "VIVA CUBA".

After visiting José Fuster's “Fusterlandia” we board the motor coach and travel across town to visit and visit another artist and hear his perspectives on Cuba's past, present, and future.

Another full day of exploring Havana and we head to the Magic Flute Restaurant with its spectacular 10th floor view of Havana. The Magic Flute Restaurant is located next to the U.S. Embassy, which is in front of the Malecon. The following is a photo of the U.S. Embassy taken from the Magic Flute Restaurant and if you look carefully on the right side the U.S. flag is now flying. In January 4th, 1961 the U.S. flag was taken down and wasn't flown at the Embassy until August 14th, 2015.