Day 2: Plaza Vieja ~ Taller Experimental de Grafica ~ Cathedral Square ~ Cigar Factory ~ Autos

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Plaza Vieja

Our second day began with a visit to an elementary school in Old Havana on the 18th-century Plaza Vieja.

Bennett

A garden in the courtyard of the school that the children help to maintain.

Bennett

The classrooms on the second floor overlook the atrium garden.

Joel Katzowitz

A peek into two classrooms.

Joel Katzowitz

Bennett

The school's principal, with translation by Osmin, described the school's program. About 450 students grades K-6 are equally divided between boys and girls. Class size is roughly 18-25. In a relatively new program, children with special needs are mainstreamed. The young lad below was brought in to sing for us to illustrate the positive results of the mainstreaming, but he got interested in some toys brought by group members instead. Personally, I didn't think trotting out an autistic child to illustrate the program was a good idea.

Bennett

This is the view as you exit the school and look to the right.

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The plaza has been restored as part of a joint project by UNESCO and Habaguanex, a state company responsible for the restoration and revival of various city buildings. It is surrounded by historic architecture and filled with modern sculpture.

The Habaguanex Tourist Company takes its name from the chieftain who ruled the area before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. It is part of a project of sustainable development, with the income generated by its hotels and other entities being used to restore the historic center of the city and improve the living conditions of the local population.

The school building anchors one side of the square.

Jim DiNapoli

This building, just off the square, is undergoing restoration.

Bennett

Viaje Fantastico (Fantastic Voyage), a bronze figure of a naked woman riding a giant one-legged rooster while holding a dinner fork was added to the square in 2013, a donation by artist Roberto Fabelo, the 2004 Cuban National Arts Award Winner. According to On Cuba magazine, city historian Eusebio Leal said that shortly after placement, passersby, especially children, began interacting with the statue. Some people told him he would have to put a fence around it, but he said, "No, I would rather meet with all the children in the Plaza and tell them about the rooster and its magic."

Bennett

I haven't been able to find out anything about these shiny constructions.

Bennett

Another statue in the square represents a huge flower and is called Natura.

Bennett

Taller Experimental de Grafica

Taller Experimental de Grafica was founded in 1962 by muralist Orlando Suarez with the support of Che Guervara, who was the minister of industry at the time. Cuba's premier print making studio is in an historic, open-air facility, where the artists and students work with various old printing making techniques using turn-of-the-century presses.

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A small gallery upstairs offers prints for sale.

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This one caught my eye:

[insert image of print]

Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square)

The Catedral de la Habana, completed around 1777 by the Jesuits, is considered as the apogee of the Cuban baroque style. In 1795, a casket containing what was thought to be the ashes of Christopher Columbus was brought here. The ashes, returned to Spain in 1899, are more likely those of Columbus's son Diego.

Bennett

Jim DiNapoli

A statue of Antonio Gades (1936-2004), a Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer by sculptor José Villa Soberon stands on the east side of the plaza. Shortly before his death Gades was decorated with the Order of José Marti, one of the highest honors of Cuba. His ashes are interred at a cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.

According to one internet source, the Greek tragic mask on the wall is Cuba's oldest mailbox.

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Hotel --Name?

On the way to the cigar factory, we popped into the lobby of a hotel with some lovely art nouveau leaded glass and a marvelous open-cage elevator.

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A few minutes in the air-conditioning was a well appreciated break.

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Cigar Factory

I had to sit out the cigar factory because of my allergies, but the rest of the group watched the cigars being made and then had a lesson on how to smoke them.

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Autos

What you have heard about the old American autos in Cuba is true. There are many of them still running. Parts are not obtainable so must be machined. Many of the autos serve as taxis, both official and unofficial. Jim DiNapoli took these photos.