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<\/a><\/p>\nBe boarded the bus after breakfast for our tour of the city.<\/p>\n
As we pulled away from the hotel Eliseo pointed out, across the square from our hotel, a famous government administrative building . . .<\/p>\n . . .where, from the balcony, Fidel Castro gave his first public speech after his successful revolution.<\/p>\n We arrived at the famous Santiago cemetery where the most famous hero and patriarch of Cuba, Jose Marti is buried.<\/p>\n Here is the Cuban version of the tomb of the unknown soldier. Each crypt holds the ramains of an unidentified soldier from the final war between Cuba and Spain for their independence.<\/p>\n Along the way Eliseo pointed out the black and red flag by many graves. These are freedom fighters who fought during the revolution led by Fidel Castro.<\/p>\n The tomb of\u00a0 Jose Marti, the Cuban national her. There is a changing of the guard every half hour and we were present to witness one.<\/p>\n Must be hot in the morning sun. We ourselves were sweating like dogs and it was only 9:30am!<\/p>\n Here come the two replacements. Their \u2018goosestep stride\u2019 brought their legs up to a 90 degree angle. Very Russian looking!<\/p>\n Marti\u2019s body lies in the bottom of the monument . . .<\/p>\n A famous author, he lived from 1853 to 1895 when he died in military action during the Battle of Dos Rios. Through his writings and political activity, he became a symbol for Cuba’s bid for independence against Spain.<\/p>\n His request before his death was that his tomb be supplied with fresh flowers each day. His crypt is covered with a Cuban flag that faces east to the rising sun.<\/p>\n We make a \u2018pit stop\u2019 at a local five star hotel that is a joint venture between Cuba and Sol Melia, a Spanish hotel group that owns 350 hotels in 40 countries. Interesting that the first stall I went to in the bathroom had no toilet paper. We were warned by Jon to bring our own rolls of\u00a0 Charmin to Cuba because in most public bathrooms there was none. This proved top be true to the point that even the bathrooms in our hotel lobbies also did not usually have any!!! Most toilets in the public sector did not have toilet seats or they were broken. We started doing a survey and those that had toilet seats usually the right hand bolt was loose or broke off. Once the left one broke I guess they just never replaced them!!!<\/p>\n These beauties were parked outside the hotel . . .<\/p>\n Many of the old cars are now taxis like this one. Holy shnikees, Batman!!!<\/p>\n Time for a nice lunch in a government owned hotel. Almost on que, the moment we were seated our lunch entertainment arrived. Great voice and great guitar player.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n