Tag: chevrolet

Cuba Cruising, Chevy Style

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There was one thing I wanted to do in Cuba.

Ride in one of the beautifully restored classic automobiles.

Since my Airbnb hosts had sent a classic car to retrieve me from the airport, that request was already fulfilled.

Okay…kind of.

Though I had seen a bit of the city from this old Ford on my way to the Airbnb, it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. I pictured myself perched in a convertible, taking in the sunshine and the major sites of the city.

Having heard of Strawberry Tours, I decided to book their Vintage Car Tour. Reading up on the nature of their tour, I learned that I could book one seat in the car for $29 or the entire car for $99. Well, since I’m not a fan of sharing space with others (those who may or may not get in the way of my photo opportunities), I decided that the entire car was worth the splurge!

My second day in Havana started with a hearty breakfast at my Airbnb. Though it was not included in the nightly rate, I decided that it would be a great way to experience some local culture and cuisine and requested that it be ready for me before I ventured out. It was a delicious spread consisting of eggs, toast and lots of fresh fruit, preparing me for a long day of sightseeing!

The meeting point was only three blocks away and I paced back and forth, hoping that I had indeed gotten the location right.

A few minutes later, a beautiful, red convertible Chevrolet pulled up. My guide and driver both introduced themselves and invited me to walk around, inspect and take as many pictures of this classic beauty as I could manage. It was quite evident that they were pleased with my admiration of the car and that I was to be their only client (something that probably made their job a lot easier) for the tour.

Jumping into the back seat, we set off, driving the narrow streets as Eduardo, my tour guide, began to give me his introductory remarks and Luis, navigated.

Our first stop was the Fabrica de Tabaco Partagas, so that I could see one of the trademarks of Cuba…cigars. Though I think that this location was once an actual Factory, it is more of a store and an opportunity to purchase some souvenir cheroots. Not much of a smoker, I admired the sights and of course, smells, before we set off for different parts of the city.

Heading away from Old Havana, we drove through Chinatown, feeling the wind in my hair and thinking how fortunate I was to be able to experience this old city in this manner. Not really sure of the landmarks we were going to visit, I was surprised when we pulled into the parking lot at the Plaza de la Revolución.

The Plaza de la Revolución is huge…72,000 square meters and the thirty-first largest city square in the world. At first, I thought we had just pulled into a parking lot because there were so many cars, however, in fact it becomes a parking lot for the many tours that frequent the area and our beautiful Ford captured the attention of many other visitors. What caught my attention, however, was the tall tower and statue which pay tribute to Jose Marti and on the other side of the square, the buildings of the Ministry of Interior and Communications. These buildings are the real highlights of the plaza with the giant matching steel facades which display the most important heroes of the Cuban Revolution, Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos.

Originally called the Plaza Cívica (Civic Square) after its construction in 1959, it was later renamed after the revolution, as this was the location where many political rallies took place with political figures, including Fidel Castro, addressed the crowds. Years later, two of the most important religious figures of the world, sermonized the predominately Cuban Catholic population from this same location…Pope John Paul II in 1998 and Pope Francis in 2015.

Other important buildings are located here, including the National Library and the Palace of the Revolution, the seat of the Cuban government and Communist Party. Since our time was limited, we were unable to check out these landmarks at closer range, however, I do suggest taking the time to visit and inspect the monument in this important location.

Moving on, we drove through neighborhoods boasting cemeteries, restaurants and homes, finally making our way into a remarkable green space…the Parque Almendares, also known as the Havana Forest. After pulling into a parking lot adjacent to a small snack bar, the first thing that caught my eye was a beautiful, red Model T Ford parked in the rear. An elderly man sat in the front seat and a small sign posted on the front window advised that photos were not free. I gladly gave him a few dollars so that I could photograph this lovingly-preserved antique. As I told him that I was photographing the car for my father-in-law, a collector (who was also in possession of one), he became very excited and wanted to show me every well-tuned detail, including the engine, the spare tires, axles and rumbleseat! He even insisted that I sit in the car so that I could have a photograph for my father-in-law.

Saying our goodbyes, I walked around this area of the park, near the river. Eduardo informed me that on some days, you can witness those who participate in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria making animal sacrifices on the banks of the Rio Almendares. Thankfully, this was not one of those days!

As we returned to the parking lot, I learned what to expect at every parking lot we would come to. The owners of the dazzling cars that had brought other visitors, had their hoods open so that they, and anyone else who wanted to take a look, could! Of course I made my way around my favorites!

Heading out of the park, we drove toward the coast and along the famed Malecón, the broad esplanade and seawall that stretches for five miles along the azure waters of the Caribbean. It is a spectacular and popular destination in Havana and a spot to see fishermen casting their lines and families and friends taking leisurely strolls.

As I enjoyed the sunshine, blue skies and spirited Spanish music being played on the radio, I relished the scenery. There are a number of important monuments along the way, including those of General Maximo Gomez, Antonio Maceo, General Calixto Garcia and the Monuments to the Victims of the USS Maine as well as many buildings of interest, such as the United States Embassy and the spectacular Cuban National Hotel, set high on a cliff.

Cuban National Hotel
Monument to General Maximo Gomez
United States Embassy

Transiting the Tunel de La Habana, we drove to the Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro, one of the symbols of Havana. It is a landmark that is most visited by both tourists and locals and has appeared in many movies over the years. As we stood near the entrance, Eduardo gave me a brief history of this stunning fortress, but again, time was limited and there was no chance to check out its interiors.

Hopping back into our candy-apple hued Chevy, we made our way past another fortress, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana, where historic cannons are fired nightly and the Museo Historico Militar Exhibition. We drove slowly past the assortment of military equipment on display from the Cuban Missile Crisis and I made a mental note that this might be a place that I would like to return.

Museo Historico Militar Exhibition

Pulling into a small parking lot and spotting something towering at the end of a pathway, I realized that we were going to visit Havana’s version of the Christ statue, El Cristo de La Habana. Having visited many other Christ statues in the world, I was excited to see the scale of this one up close.

During the turbulent 1950’s, president Fulgencio Batista commissioned a colossal statue of Christ, hoping to gain support of the predominately Christian population. Sculpted by Jilma Madera, a well-known Cuban artist, it was a simple piece, made in Italy, carved from Carrara marble and blessed by Pope Pius XII. Even though the monument was designed with the best intentions, bad luck followed its inauguration. Fidel Castro conquered Havana and took control of the country, religion was made illegal and the military zone near the statue was placed under strict control, leaving the grand statue to be forgotten for more than thirty years.

In the 1990’s, the government reopened the site, so that the Christ statue might look down onto the port of Havana and the citizens and tourists could enjoy its beauty. In addition to admiring the statue, it is the perfect spot to take in the incredible views of the city and the port. Though not as large as the one in Rio, I thought that this Christ had a more delicate and graceful appearance.

We returned to our car, checking out a few others in the parking lot, as this was now a thing! It was time, however, to return to the point where we had departed from a few hours earlier, in what I had now started to think of as my Chevy. Yes indeed, I was becoming attached!

As we drove down Teniente Rey street, I sadly realized my time cruising around Havana in the Chevy was now over. My time in that Chevy, however, showed me what a fabulous city it was and even though there was so much I had seen of the city so far, there was so much still to go. Saying goodbye to Eduardo and Luis and the Chevy, I made my way to a local sanwicheria, hoping to grab a bite to eat and plan my next move!

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Strawberry Tours

Fabrica de Tabaco Partagas

  • Address: Calle Industria, Havana, Cuba
  • Hours: 0900-1330
  • Admission: 10 CUC ($10 US)

Plaza de la Revolución

  • Address: Avenida Paseo, La Habana, Cuba, Havana Plaza De La Revolucion
  • Hours: 24 hours, daily
  • Admission: Free

Parque de Almendares

  • Address: Below the bridge on Calle 23, Havana Cuba
  • Hours: 24 hours, daily
  • Admission: Free

Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro

Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana

  • Address: Parque Histórico Militar Morro-Cabaña
  • Hours: 0800-2300, daily
  • Admission: 6 CUC, daytime hours, 8 CUC, nightime hours ($6.00 and $8.00 US)

Museo Historic Militar

  • Address: 4MW3+Q2, Havana, Cuba
  • Hours: Unknown
  • Admission: Free

El Cristo de La Habana

  • Address: Casa Blanca, Havana Cuba
  • Hours: 24 hours
  • Admission: Free
  • Getting There: Taxi (about 10 CUC) or Ferry from Terminal de Ferris, Lancha Habana-Casa Blanca. Ferry fare about .45 CUC (.45 US).