I wake up around 6:30 after a good night. Yesterday, when I was lying on the beach, my thighs sent me a message with nasty cramps. Maybe I pushed my body too fast over great distances. My body has to get used to it slowly. I walk through the streets of Guanamo and I see a great special on pork. I decide to take a souvenir photo. Always interesting to see that... It shows the importance of cooking meat well before eating it.
After this nice little walk I return to my room to prepare my luggage and have breakfast.
I'm back on the road to Havana. It's nice to drive with music filling my ears. Everything's fine, the road is beautiful. I discover a stadium that seems deserted.
The stadium is in a terrible state, but athletes are training.
After this visit I head towards the fortress and I see the city in the distance. I take a small path on the edge of the sea. It's great.
The view of the city is magnificent. In the bay there is a tunnel that allows vehicles to get to the city center quickly. Unfortunately, the tunnel is not accessible to bicycles and pedestrians. So I have to make a big detour, but I don't mind because I will discover new places. I visit an open-air museum of remains from the missile crisis in October 1962 that involved the former USSR installing missiles on the island of Cuba that could reach major cities in the United States.
The crisis lasted 13 days. The conflict ended with the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba in exchange for missiles located in Turkey aimed at Soviet cities by the Americans.
A crisis that nearly triggered World War III.
I then visit a giant statue of Jesus.
Then a short break with an excellent ham and cheese sandwich for 20 Cup (1$ Cad) and a small refreshment at 3 Cup (0.15$ Cad)
I drive and drive to reach Havana and I take the opportunity to eat a good ice cream at 3 Cup (0.15$ Cad). It's hot...
I also let myself be tempted by a corn on the cob with butter, salt and hot sauce for 10 Cup (CAD$0.50)
I then decide to change some money. I exchange $600 Canadian.
- That is 454 CUC (convertible pesos)
- Or 10,896 Cup (Cuban pesos)
The exchange rate is much more advantageous than my first exchange at the airport. A little reminder 1$ Usd = 1 Cuc = 24 Cup
On the street, the two systems coexist. To eat on the street, prices are indicated in Cup.
Hamburgers for 8 cups (CAD$0.40) are easily found on the streets of Havana. I was telling the German I met yesterday that I often eat pizzas for 20 cups or sometimes even 5 cups.
He answered me that he had paid 22 CUC, so he paid 26 times more for his pizza than mine. You have to choose the right restaurant according to your budget. I often see gigantic housing, I wonder how many thousands of people live in these buildings.
I finally arrive in Old Havana. The streets are narrow, life is omnipresent, children play in the streets. The colonial buildings are magnificent and sometimes in decay.
There is construction everywhere.
This scaffolding reminds me of François Landry.
I visit the birthplace of José Marti.
Some buildings are impressive.
This is the Capitolio.
The Malecon is the road along the seaside.
I see the fortress again from this morning, but this time on the other side of the bay.
Here is the beginning of the sunset.
I am very happy to walk around this beautiful city. I have a great modern room for 25 Cuc.
Here is my bike summary of the day only 49 km of cycling, but lots of walking in the city.
It was the most beautiful day of this winter adventure.
David Beauchesne