A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

Finally reach Plaza Dolores-

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The Plaza seems a good spot for nightlife-

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Now back on the bus-

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[drron]

Our next stop was at the San juan Hill battlefield where Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders took part.Good views of Santiago de Cuba's only 5 star hotel,the Spanish run Melia-

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Random shots from the bus-

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[drron]

Certainly there are better parts of Santiago De Cuba though maintenance would be suspect-

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Then past revolutionary square.

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[drron]

Lots of posters around-

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Though not that far from the square it appears not every one has benefitted from the Revolution-

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Various busses-

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Next past the barracks Fidel and friends attacked in 1952-

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[drron]

Now notice the bullet holes.Unfortunately the Army had repaired the barracks so these were created after the revolution.

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Now off to a bar so drron can taste some Ron.It is opposite the main railway station-

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The old Bacardi distillery and then the bar-

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But this time I had more important things to do than make music-

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[drron]

The old business and the new-

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Now we are on the way to the cemetary which has the remains of Senor Marti,hero of the resistance to the Spaniards in the 1800s.

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[drron]

Obviously not the resting place of ordinary Cubans-

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By now I along with many others were getting a little tired of the 5CUC charge to take photos virtually every where we were taken.The beauties of zoom!

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[drron]

After the tour it was back to the ship and a cold shower and lunch.I had intended to go walking in the afternoon but we were both exhausted and so slept for the afternoon.
As the sun was setting we were entertained on the rear deck by a local group-

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And served by my new favourite dining room staff member,Melody-

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As the sun sets-

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More of the sunset-

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[drron]

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That night we were tired so we only had 2 courses for dinner.Probably a good idea for other reasons as well.Back in the suite I tried to access the internet.Couldn't.The last time I did there was a Windows update so I blamed that and did a restore.Still nothing.Asked Reception who said no internet due to interference from the shore.
So the whole time we were in Santiago De Cuba the authorities jammed out internet access.Yes they are definitely ready for an increase in tourism.Not.

So some random food pics-

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Excuse fingers!

 

[drron]

Monday and we were meant to be off to Gran Piedra high in the mountains.However it rained very heavily overnight so the road was impassable for busses.I think the alternative turned out to be more enjoyable.A visit to a church deicated to the Saint of miners.So some pics along the way-

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[drron]

And the first view of the church-

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And an unusual fence.It has started growing-

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Many stalls selling flowers and icons-

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We arrive at the church with views to the old copper mine.Pope Francis held mass here a couple of weeks before so the church was in magnificent condition-

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[drron]

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And a gift from the pope-

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The church dominates the town-

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[drron]

A large hospital.It was used for TB patients until the revolution.However within a year of the revolution we were told TB had disappeared from Cuba.The only ways I can think of that could get rid of TB within 12 months are usually not legal.

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Now there is a new mine in town-gold.It displays some RooFlyer scenic enhancement!

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The cemetery is down in the valley.Easy to tell where the poor rest.

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[drron]

So back to the city with people getting their bread rations and a well repaired road-

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So a few rural scenes as we drive back to the city.

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Our guide on the bus of 18 started giving us some interesting facts.It seemed she had not quite got the government line.She described the new education policy introduced just after the revolution as an indoctrination program.Also that only 40% of cattle are owned privately but the government controls the price you get for milk or meat.So if a farmer kills a beast he owns and sells the meat on the black market he is liable for a 20 year jail sentence.

 

[drron]

Now some more city scenes-

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And this leads us to our next stop-an orchid garden.It really was just a house with a larger than average garden filled with tropical plants a few of which were orchids.But an interesting diversion.

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[drron]

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The chocolate orchid.And yes it did have a chocolate fragrance-

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[drron]

Back on the road to our last stop-the original home of Diego Velazquez de Cuellar the conqueror and first Spanish Governor of Cuba.But first some more forms of transport along the way-

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So the Velazquez house in the main square.Initially built 1519-22 and extensively restored in 1960.The pics-

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And these are said to be those used by Velazquez.Though I doubt the cannon was initially here-

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[drron]

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And what every house needs-it's own gold smelter.

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