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Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, I returned to the inn at almost noon, woke up my son, washed my clothes, studied the map, and decided to go to the University of Havana, five streets to the west.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

The staircase of our homestay is estimated to be more than half a meter wide, and the door facing the staircase is a long-term rental by a Montreal-based Canadian, who is said to have been pouring cigars on both sides. Our door is on the left.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

A dog stood by the collapsed door of the balcony railing

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

Passers-by of all stripes

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

The classic cars that drive on the street from time to time always pop up when I am caught off guard, so that I can't photograph them beautifully. My husband went straight to the car parked on the street to shoot all kinds of pictures, and told us what car it was and what year it was.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

On the way to the university, the clear blue sky in the morning has slowly faded, the clouds in the sky are getting thicker and thicker, and the rain is about to fall! Without the blue sky as a background, the mottled buildings have become dull and lifeless.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

The background is the University of Havana

Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba and one of the earliest universities in North America. Originally a religious school, it now has 16 faculties and 14 research centers. Because it was a Saturday afternoon, the university was not going to school and would not be allowed to enter, so we played in the streets around the wall.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

Turning to the back door of the university, I saw the Hotel Habana Libre two streets away, and my husband excitedly said, "Let's go, take you to see the hotel where I stayed for three months!"

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

The Liberty Hotel is located at the highest point in the La Rampa district, just uphill from the sea in the Vedado district. Its predecessor was the Hilton Hotel, built in 1958, and when it first opened, it claimed to be the tallest and largest hotel in Latin America and was once a paradise for American tourists. Later, castro introduced socialism in Cuba, nationalizing the hotel and renaming it "Havana Liberty Hotel" in 1960. "The hotel looks a bit out of shape because of the U.S. trade embargo, but it's still considered Cuba's top hotel."

We walked around the lobby, and the dull light and simple décor reminded me of the Jinjiang Hotel in Chengdu in the late 1980s. Although it still bears the aura of Cuba's top hotel, like the old man in the twilight, he is not energetic enough, so he does not feel that there is anything to photograph. To the hotel business center, from the careless clerk to buy the Internet card, the outside ordinary store only sells 1-2CUC here but asked for 4CUC a piece, the same is can be an hour of network.

When the rain poured down, we walked into the restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, El Barracon, ready to take a sharp break. The dishes that came up were also unsatisfactory, compared to the 5-8CUC dishes outside, it was all 10CUC, but it was also the only time we ate broccoli in Cuba.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

As he ate, he listened to his husband talk about his time here, and decades passed, and he said that he could still remember the names of the staff of the ICAP (Cuban Institute for Friendship Among People) who received them, and he tried to call the agency before going out at noon to try to contact them, but the old-fashioned telephone in the room kept stringing wires, and finally gave up. He also lamented that the hotel's hardware is getting worse and worse under the economic blockade.

Just after eating, the rain also stopped, and Coppelia on the street corner diagonally outside the hotel was my collection of punch cards, and many raiders mentioned this famous ice cream shop. We walked around the place a few times, and it seemed that no one was selling, so we left in frustration. After walking around the area for a while, the rain rose sporadically.

Back outside the hotel to shelter from the rain, see Cafeteria La Rampa outside the gate, the decoration is a bit like our fast food restaurant in North America, the son said that the restaurant stuff is not full and wants to try here. Unexpectedly, it was cheap and good, and the waiters could speak some English.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty
Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

Following the dim light, we walked through the small streets to the homestay. Passing by a street park, which is an Internet hotspot, seeing someone sitting on a bench on the side of the street, a bar next to it with loud music, and children in the neighborhood chasing and playing games, I still feel like I can't walk through the time of the 70s in China.

Cuba Free Trip (II) in December 2018 – University of Havana and Hotel Liberty

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