We are all wanderers on this earth. Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams. ~Gypsy Proverb
Havana's inhabitants are colourful~ her buildings worn and beautiful {a thousand shades of white}.
She is; Rich in character. Robust with music. Startlingly impoverished. Blessed with history.
When I said "Hola," to Havana, I thought of how nice it would be if our meeting were longer than just one day. The reason for this is quite simple: Havana has much to say. I've always characterized cities as having their own distinct personalities. Havana is your resourceful, graceful & resplendent seaside friend. Her facades are fading in the bright Caribbean sun but that matters not; because she still carries herself and her thousand shades of white with a toss of her hair and loud echoing laughter.
We had some interesting and eye-opening moments in Havana.
We ate delicious black bean soup for lunch at La Imprenta in Old Havana, and washed it down with cold Cristal beer.
We drank in the sights of a market and the local handiwork of artisans that display their goods there for sale. We had some common household items to give away to local children; toothpaste and brushes, candies, coloured markers, and paper. My eldest daughter was visibly shaken when she approached a young boy of about 4 to give him two gifts she had brought with her; an older boy of about ten descended upon her outstretched hand and took the gifts quicker than you could blink. Off he danced waving the spoils of his plunder in the air and chiding his little friend in Spanish. My daughter was mortified...it was her first exposure to injustice and she was fit to be tied. All day we discussed it. She was most upset as she had nothing left to give the little boy who she had intended it for. She was saddened by it all day. {Always a lesson to learn...}
Havana like the rest of Cuba has transportation issues; so you see vintage American cars everywhere, buses loaded up like sardine cans, hitchhikers everywhere and of course, horse & buggy's galore. But people manage to get around....
...mainly on foot. Regardless of the size of their burden.
xo
{More next post.}
xo!!
Posted by: Izabella | February 16, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Great post. It must be nice to travel as you do. Have a great rest of the week.
Posted by: glorv1 | February 16, 2011 at 10:12 PM
It's a beautiful complex place isn't it?
The vintage cars really struck me when we were there...like stepping back in time.
Posted by: Tanya | February 16, 2011 at 11:52 PM
One of my favorite places on the planet!!!
Posted by: Swirly | February 17, 2011 at 11:02 AM
You leave me nostalgic...missing a Cuba I never really knew. I'm envious. Wish I could've been there eating black bean soup and drinking the Cristal with you! Perhaps one day...in Miami we'll feast on Cuban food and Mojitos and not miss Cuba one li'l bit! ;)
Posted by: Lulú | February 17, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Gillian,
Cuba is somewhere we have long wished to visit. It's harder for us sadly...
thank you for this beautiful glimpse...will be back for more.
x..x
Posted by: stephanie | February 17, 2011 at 06:51 PM
so cool!! would love to see all of your pictures!
Posted by: jen | February 18, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Very pretty! I'd love to visit Cuba and drink some Tu Cola and a Cuba libre :)
Have a fabulous weekend!!
xo
Posted by: Nisrine, Dinners & Dreams | February 18, 2011 at 07:05 PM
I enjoyed seeing a small peak at your visit to Havana. What a difficult lesson to learn for your daughter. How thoughtful she was to have wanted to give to the young boy.
Posted by: Marilyn | February 18, 2011 at 11:07 PM
izabella
xo!
right back at you darlin :)
Posted by: gillian | February 19, 2011 at 11:47 PM
have a great week Gloria xoxo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:48 PM
i love stepping back in time there...so true. simple times were the best times. xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:49 PM
oh yes! you went there, lucky American girl. how did you fandangle that one? Swirl-power! xoxo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:50 PM
Ok, enough of this nonsense. I'm coming to Miami this year. Strictly to see YOU so I hope you have a comfy couch. xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:50 PM
Can you get an artists visa? Do they make those? If not they should. If you go on a working visa you can go.
I had good mangoes there Steph...xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Jen when I was in Havana it was gloomy. Really not the best day photographically speaking. I had a small window to work with and so didn't get as many shots as I'd like. But I'll happily share my favourites. xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:52 PM
Mmmmm, TuKola and Rum. When I was there last week, the waiter was teaching us some Spanish.
Now all we want to do is learn that beautiful language! Did you know that Malibu Rum and TuKola is called a CocoTaxi?
;)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:55 PM
My daughter has been bubble wrapped too long. She really benefitted from learning that. Now she has the yen to travel. She asked me to take her to NYC.
Thank you for seeing her gentle nature Marilyn, she is really a sweet girl. Super empathetic.
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | February 19, 2011 at 11:57 PM
This is the city I was born. I have old photographs of how it used to look like. The images are conflicting for me. I hope one day it will be possible for me to visit.
Posted by: Yoli | February 20, 2011 at 09:32 PM