More than often I have read that the quality and variation of food is of a lower standard than most deserving travellers are accustomed too but here on the Avenues del Puerta a number of small free standing cafes on the cornice have set up just where the tourist buses disgorge their occupants…

Wherever in Havana – you are never far from the music. Well that is in the Vieja, the old original part now with Unesco heritage status. Early in the morning the mood is lighter and faster and by four in the afternoon, post siesta it is warming up. People, music, the tastes in the air take off from 4pm. The guide books recommend sauntering through the streets when it is close to dusk. I concur.

The first impression of the hotel is of a huge twenty storey concrete block imposing itself high above the district. This concrete edifice to the fifties warms with the large two storey mural across the imposing entrance looking like it was completed by the local college on a community help scheme.

I had assumed it was still a myth that the old Chevvies, Pontiacs and Buicks of the 50’s would be around still but I was pleasantly surprised to see them in evidence albeit most were taxis and some in better condition than others. Now my recognition of car types from the 50’s is relatively limited purely as I wasn’t around, not to appreciate them at my age anyway, Dad never owned one of them and lastly I am not really interested in cars of this era.