Part II -- Havanna Vieja

Our evening journey continues …. It’s warm and breezy here in Havanna  Vieja.

 

We leave Sloppy Joes to head one block walking on the Paseo del Prado. This reminds me of Madrid’s Paseo del Prado. Which of course, foolish me, Cuba was a Spanish Colony … along with Florida and even up close to Williamsburg we have a 17C. Spanish site. And you did not expect a history lesson!

Hotel Mercure Sevilla. Owned by the French hotel chain Accor Hotels (Sofitel, Ibis, etc.). Yes that is correct … the same hotel that Dominique Strauss-Kahn frequents. And you thought the embargo was for whom? The (spoiler alert) is when Alec Guinness shoots and kills a German agent. The lobby is an impressive old hotel lobby. While the lobby is impressive colonial, but the bar – it’s like you are at a cocktail party under the sky. The roof of bar is the sky and goes straight up from the inside of the hotel. One presumes dwellers in the rooms enjoy the look down to the bar. But tonight we have to move on to the floor show at the Nacional. This evening it will be Cuba Libres, as we enjoy the shows and steel ourselves for the Salsa dance lesson on stage, which will follow! DELIGHTFUL.

 Cabaret Parisi'en. Opens at 9! How will you know? Even as far from the Central you will hear the boom from the Moro Castle cannon. And the tuxedoed maître d' hotel, will unlock the door. Its a lively show with live music, lots of scantily clad women and tight pants'ed men. Just what you'd expect for a Latin cabaret theater show. You will not be disappointed in the music, the choreograpy and the time will harken back to the 50's - just as the cars. The drinks and food ... well its a hotel you know.

Jazz Café. Time permitting and if we have the energy for one more stop, it would be this jazzclub a short ride away from the Meli’a Spanish Hotel chain’s “Meli’a Cohiba”. You will remember the Meli’a from the posting I made of my girl and my visit to the 22^nd Lounge in Frankfurt and the visit we had with Frau Martina Muller-Frasch. Funny thing even back then we joked with Martina about a trip to Cuba someday. She too is interested and mentioned the company’s hotel resorts in Cuba. One of two shows we will catch with traditional jazz as well as with a Latin flavor. Very nice. As you leave please give my regards to Edwardo the Jazz Cafe General Manager and very nice host.  I noted that Edwardo was dressed in his Guayabera shirt. Yes this would be an appropriate wear for this evening’s venture … long sleeve Saffron colored Guayabera. You won’t find that in Hialeah or Calle Ocho.

Parque Central. It’s been a long day and evening. So now would be the time for a Hoyo de Monterrey cigar, cafe Cubano  (as Marc would say) and a light post-midnight snack in the lobby lounge of the classy and large Iberostar Hotel chain, again from Spain! How is that embargo?  I can taste the salty Spanish Serrano and Manchego on my piquant Cuban sandwich. It’s a nice time in this air conditioned grand modern lobby. We could to  have chosen to have a bite at the Hotel Inglaterra.  Located diagonally across the square with a rooftop bar, but since we breakfast there each morning we opted for the change and elegance! Yes large white linen napkins, heavy weighted German silver wear and fine china. Tempting as it may be we forego the Iberostar’s Poinsetta Cocktail and save it for another visit. Perhaps when we come back to see the concierge to order tickets for another escapade. Or better yet, to make arrangements to see EH’s home outside of town, the Finca La Vigi’a.

So it’s another day and we call it an evening. Cool enough for a jacket, the perfume of Bougainvillea in the air still. Bidding fair well to Kostas, our guide, we won’t see him again as he leaves tomorrow from the Jose Marti’ airport for Portland. And we walk back to our host Mykael and Lourdes, “Casa de Lourdes y Mykael” quaint home with Wilton and my best friend Fay. We reminisce over the experiences, people, the witnessing of a baptism, and the videography taken by Wilton and Fay. We tell them we look forward to the video they are making. The title of which we understand will be A Beacon in Havana, 21/31 Production. So stay tuned. 

This charming little Church was the beginning of this journey! 

Here’s lookin’ at you kid.

An ode to Fay, Kostas and Wil

The Sloppy Joes Cocktail 5CUC

Brandy, Cointreau, Port and Pineapple juice

Music - Mari Wilson's "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps"

Appetizer - Spanish Ham and Spanish Cheese, with Pimento Olives

•