Habana Day 2 - Monday

Habana Day 2 - Monday
Breakfast meeting with Miguel Coyula, an architect discussing Old Havana, as well as the social repercussions of the Russian period and the changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union. They are struggling with the onset of financial and social discrepancies, and preventing the "Shanghai-ization" of the architecture. People own their apartments, but there is no building management. Emigration is a problem, as people are fleeing before the US changes its law allowing all Cubans to remain in the US. There is a a lot of renovation going on, but it is often next to a run down building, so the contrast is often startling.
Once out of class, we headed for old Havana itself. This was a walled city in the early years, and remnants of the wall are still evident. The harbor has a narrow mouth, and they had a large chain that stretched across the narrowest part to keep enemy ships out. As anyone who has read Game of Thrones knows, that can be a very effective defense. The English thwarted them however, by doing an end-around and coming over the hill to capture Cuba from the Spanish in 1759. The English were defeated by yellow fever and malaria and left 11 months later. The Spanish then returned until the beginning of the twentieth century when the Americans took over Cuba after the sinking of the USS Maine.

The old section is built around four squares, with cobblestones (from Massachusetts ) lining most of the streets. The exception is the street directly in front of the palace which have hard wood on the street. The story is either that the wife of an early governor didn't like the sound of the wheels clacking on cobblestones, or that the governor just wanted to show off how rich he was. There are all sorts of Cuban folks who have received licenses from the State in the squares in colorful dresses for the women or fine dress for the men asking for a dollar to have a picture with them. One guy is dressed as Che(or something similar) strutting around giving orders. Most of these people are actually licensed by the government to do this, but they can get aggressive here just as anywhere.
Lunch was delicious consisting of paella. Ann had Mahi-Mahi. Flan for desert was good, but those who know me know I am very particular. So it was just good, not spectacular!
After lunch was a presentation about the Afro-Cuban Yoruba religion. Children in colorful costumes dancing, interspersed with some talk. Right after lunch, this was not a good choice, as I slept through a good part of it.
After we walked back to the hotel, we took real naps. Then out to dinner at La Moneda Cubana, a family owned restaurant for 4 generations, except for a small period when there were no businesses or private restaurants. This supposedly was an award winning restaurant, but I thought it was only fair. Ann's opinion was better than mine, however.
After dinner, we went to a Cuban Jazz club, filled with tourists. The band was a bunch of old guys. Think a Cuban version of Preservation Hall. They were pretty good, but the noise was a little too much. A healthy walk back from the old city and we collapsed.


Stephen J. Rockower, MD
President, MedChi 2016-2017
The Maryland State Medical Society

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