*** Fitting for a last Cuba blog, we have a video resume of our week trip to the island: Cuba – Anne & Ju

Our Viñales guide told us there are three eras of cars in Havana: the classic 50s American cars, the Soviet cars from the 80s, and the newest, Chinese cars. Here are Soviet and American examples.

A car posing as a Ferrari with a Ferrari sticker and painted Ferrari red but clearly not a Ferrari

Sunday art fair on the Paseo del Prado

Two days left in La Habana with three main objectives: dine at La Guarida restaurant, visit the Museum of the Revolution, and track down the old American Embassy. We realized objective number three without even realizing it, very much enjoyed objective number two despite extreme heat and little ventilation, and loved objective number one, as seen below:

The Guarida was next door to where we were staying and is famous not only for being the most elegant paladar (privately owned restaurant) in Havana, but also for being located on the set of the only Cuban film to be awarded an Oscar, the scandalous Fresa y chocolate. Climbing up to the third floor restaurant was a pleasant journey in time through a disheveled tenement before arriving to the classy eatery at the top.

Karl Marx religified was the company to my right

Fellow diners

The rabbit I ordered was delicious, though I question the presentation that included a bone sticking straight up in the air. Julien got three “wheels of beef” topped with blue cheese, chocolate, and a type of barbecue sauce.

We ordered the Chocolate con fresa fondant for dessert, and though the cake was definitely chocolate, the strawberry touch was as well (in the form of Nesquick powder) because, no strawberries. These things can happen in Cuba. Here Julien was demonstrating his vast knowledge of different chocolate powders, rating them by taste, chocolate content, and mixability.

Our last day in Havana we went looking for the old American Embassy, and everybody we asked pointed to this as what we must be looking for, the American Interests building. Once we returned to the Americas, an internet search and, a few weeks later, the news and photos of the U.S. Flag being raised amongst all those flag poles confirmed this is indeed where US/Cuba relations were being handled.

On the Malecón, headed back to the capitol

We had to change some last cash for our last day at the CADECA, the Casa de Cambio. Since ATMs in Cuba don’t accept MasterCard and only Visa from non-US banks, we had to bring all the cash we needed with us. And then hop in line.

The view from the Museum of the Revolution, housed in what was the Presidential Palace up until the US-backed authoritarian president Batista was ousted.

Comandantes Fidel Castro, Camilo Cienfuegos y Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

The caption reads “The Revolutionary Government ended the exclusive privileges of the bourgeoisie and beaches started to be enjoyed by all the people.” Julien found the image quite comical and probably wished he could join the bathers to escape the heat.

Radio transmitter used by Che during the campaign in Las Villas province.

Delivery truck used in the attack of the Presidential Palace March 13, 1957; and a homemade tank.

Julien with a reconnaissance “Seafury” aircraft made in England. Used by the Revolutionary Air Force in several fighting missions during the Playa Girón battle.

The Granma, the boat Castro and his closest supporters took from Mexico to Cuba to launch a revolution (1956)

The Bacardi Building always incites my singing the 30 Rock theme music

Colonial building held up by wooden supports

A unique WiFi zone in a park means everybody has bowed heads, buried in their phones.

The 5 liter bottle of water looked like a mirage, additionally amusing as water had been such a challenge for us to find throughout our visit.

A last beer at our lovely Casa Particular. Adios La Habana!