Home Walking the Neighborhood - Santiago
East from Parque Cespedes


We head north a block from Parque Cespedes, to the pedestrian-only street Enramadas (on the map as Jose  Antonio Saco)
   



approaching Parque Serrano, we encounter a cluster of men

What's so intrigueing 
 
 



ah yes!
 
 



dominoes, which ranks right up there with baseball for Cuban pastimes 
 
walking on, we stop at the post office  


While Liv is buying stamps a local man(name withheld) struck up a conversation with me

With no urging on my part, he declared that he has two sessions of sex every evening

When his wife joined us, I asked her for confirmation, and she added, Yes, and once more in the morning! 

What a guy!
 
 


It was the day before Valentines Day (yes, even in Cuba)

 
 


Nearby, we stopped for lunch at Plaza de Dolores

which never suffers from a lack of serenading musicians 
 
 


Heading east, past Plaza de Marte, we pass two well-presented produce stands  
 



This was not a poor neighborhood 
 
   



And on to the Moncada Barracks, site of an ill-fated attack by the revolutionaries in 1953

See those holes in the wall? (the result of shelling)

They were once filled in, but later re-emptied, for authenticity
 
   



We hired a guide, Odalis... 
 
 



...who posed beside a collage of fallen revolutionaries 
 
 



the building now also houses a school 
 
 



Toward evening, we visit Plaza de Marte, a popular gathering place--not least because it's a wifi hotspot 

We spent a delightful hour chatting with local youths--here Reynoldo, Andris, and Andrey

We have since corresponded with them by email
 
Lee's home page

Cuba Index

Previous    Walking the Neighborhood - Santiago, Tivoli

Next    Santiago de Cuba, Music & Dance