
Spanish
In case you want to read what the map said.
This used to be the main government building.
In colonial times, the square was the site of military parades, musical concerts and formal evening promenades, and it maintained its political and administrative role until the mid-20th century. It is surrounded by buildings spanning four centuries. The carriage and the men in costume are part of the recreations they do here in the afternoons.
The building to the right is part of the university. The pink hotel down the street is where Ernest Hemmingway used to stay.
Moving again to our next stop!
They said that the relics of Christopher Columbus were supposedly housed in the cathedral from 1796 to 1898.
catedral de san cristobal cathedral cuba excursion habana vieja havana plaza square tour
This are had a ton of restaurants and bars. It was nice!
cuba excursion habana vieja havana plaza restaurant square tour
Also known as the Cathedral of The Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception, the cathedral was completed in 1777 by the Franciscans. It wasn't open. I'm not sure if that was because of the day of the week or the time, it was getting late.
catedral de san cristobal cathedral cuba excursion habana vieja havana plaza square tour
Founded in 1942, this was a famous haunt of Ernest Hemmingway.
crowd cuba habana vieja havana hemmingway la bodeguita del medio sign tour
Walking towards the Plaza de la Catedral.
I just like this picture with the building and the car parked on the corner.
Our tour guide also pointed out some of the problems in Cuba. This building is very overcrowded. If you look at the top left two windows, the thick bar across the windows is the floor of the upper apartment. In other words, they took the top floor and added another floor halfway up the window to allow for more people. They're VERY short apartments.
On our way out for real now. The tree was so pretty!
cuba fort saint charles fortaleza de san carlos de la cabaña gun havana tour tree
They had all kinds of cigars in the shop. Some of them cost hundreds of dollars!
cigar cohiba cuba cuban fort saint charles fortaleza de san carlos de la cabaña havana jose castelar cairo smoke
They gave us a certain time to meet at the bus. We didn't want to be late!
cuba drawbridge fort saint charles fortaleza de san carlos de la cabaña havana leave
We had to start heading toward the bus.
banyan bench cuba fort saint charles fortaleza de san carlos de la cabaña garden havana meditation tree wall
I think they're banyan trees. So cool!
banyan cuba fort saint charles fortaleza de san carlos de la cabaña garden havana meditation tree wall