First Impressions of Havana 'As I emerged from a sound sleep, the warm Atlantic breeze was still drifting into my bedroom, reminding me that I was far from Zurich. The distant sound of waves slapping a wall drew me from my bed to peer out through the dark green slats.' A view of Havana, the Hotel Nacional (double towers at left) and Magdalena's apartment house (white building with brown vertical stripe). |
Paseo del Prado
'The state of the apartment buildings now changed noticeably: gorgeously renovated buildings were much more common, many of them pale coral, powder blue or lime, with their arched galleries and ornate balconies restored to the elegant Spanish and Moorish styles of the early twentieth century. One building looked almost like a pink and white mosque, with curving stucco columns and exotically shaped arches.' |
Obispo
'Julian and I then entered the pedestrian zone of Habana Vieja and headed down Calle del Obispo or Bishop Street. .... We passed half-empty government-owned bookshops, old-fashioned clothing shops, and salsa-blaring cafés.' |
El Capitolio This building is a replica of the U.S. Capitol building and was where the first day of the Cuban English teachers' conference took place. Note the bicitaxi in the foreground and the lack of traffic, even though the Capitolio is situated on a main thoroughfare. |