My trip to the roots where all begun ,Cuba

Well this was a business trip with my company but took advantage to see the family still there and nostalgic moments in my life. It all began here for me many many years ago. My last trip there goes back to 1998 so this was a nice opportunity to go to La Habana, Cuba and others.

I took a long flight it seems endless from home in Brittany, went by car to Nantes airport; which you can change to English, at http://www.nantes.aeroport.fr/ANA/Page/  following the road N165 all the way to exit D201 Nantes Atlantique signs about 1h30 minutes. Then took a regional Air France flight to Amsterdam,Holland, change there to KLM for the flight to La Habana about 10 hours !!! lol!!! http://www.schiphol.com/  and finally arrive in Havana, http://www.cubajet.com/airports/jose_marti_international_airport.asp

I stayed at a Casa Particular of by now my friend Rogelio in Playa, absolutely the best coffee in Cuba!!! The men can do it any time as many times as you want. Stories about Cuba abound from all periods;great company while in the house at calle 76 E 15 y 17 playa, Miramar La Habana near the business center of Miramar and the hotels. If you need accommodation I can pass on the telephone to contact the son Pedro Luis who is a terrific guy and my driver while in La Habana.

We went to eat at EL Palenque, the resto of the Convention palace nearby, great Cuban food, why bother with all those international places if in Cuba eat like a Cuban. Calle 17 y 190, Playa.. Ciudad de La Habana tel  (53 7) 203-8222 . We had not much time so I took a ride on the Malecon, went over to the old church of San Francisco de Asisi, the Morro ,Fuerza ,and Cabanas castles, we had business lunch at Restaurant 1830 at Calle Calzada esq. a 20, Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana tel(53 7) 55-3090-92 . There was a special treat at a casa paladar on a fifth floor of a house but could not remember the name as it was at night and friends rode me there, we had lobsters supreme with a view of the city.

From i went to my native town of Punta Brava, just in the borders of the city of La Habana, visiting family aunt and cousins, I ate at a typical Cuban casa paladar in pesos nacionales, a dish of roast pork,moros black beans,yucca,tostones in garlic sauce, salad of tomatos and lettuce, plus coffee and four beers for two persons at 10 CUC or about 260 Cuban Pesos Nacionales. Just in Calzada before turning left to Guatao, the old Carretera Nacional.

I went further inland to visit another aunt and cousins at Cayo La Rosa, off Bauta, this was a huge textile plant of 5000 workers done by Americans now in ruins. The village have not change much, and took a ride with my cousin in an electric moto on the town ,crazy but a great and cheap means of transportation there now.  And proud of myself was able to take my local driver there as he did not know how,and I did with 14 years span of memory lol!

of course in each visit i ate with the family and reminicents of the old days, telling me what a nice guy I was …………………..::)

Finally, it was time to come back again, and took my flight from La Habana Jose Marti International airport, very easily, this time in route to Paris CDG, http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-GB/Passagers/Home/ on Air France. The plane was full and cheapy company me had economyclass but was bump up to Business Class ,and it shows the difference, very nice flight of 9 hours to Paris CDG. There change again on AF to Nantes, and took my car from the airport parking for the trip home after paying 54 euros of parking fees. Cheaper than renting a car lol!

I hope it wont the last trip like this, and will say that even if the system is the same, the faces of the buildings have improved from last trip, and I look forward to the future when all can have a pleasant place to visit with family and no life’s inconveniences. Some photos.

2011 in review, Thank you all my friends, best wishes for 2012!!!!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 57,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 21 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

My last post of 2011,thanks for the memories…………………..

I am sitting at home after a long day at work and thinking about the end of 2011. ON a sad day for me as Four years ago my Mom passed away at our home, and the ashes layed at Honfleur in the ocean she loves so much. I do not know if will be able to write another post in 2011, but wanted to say a few words.

For many years, I have and do participate in several travel forums around the globe in English, French, and Spanish. The experiences have been sublime, the sharing of ideas have been superb. What is the difference between a visitor and a resident? Well, not much ,but we all love to see new things to search for new things and to share new things.

In my opinion, the best advice comes from the person who has visit and then live in a place or vice versa. There have been many times that a visitor will said something about a place where I live that if not for the mention I would never pass by it lol! and they have been interesting places. You learn every day. Sharing is important.

I had friends who told me to write a book on travel to France, well that was too much flattering, and time consuming. Then ,there were others who suggested why not a blog….a blog??? what was that lol!!! I asked several friends who were into it,and one from Spain who I have great respect for what he is doing (see my links below front page), told me to come to wordpress because it was easy to set up and use. Well as the saying goes the rest is was history.

Paris 1972 was born in november 2010,and it has been a thrill of a lifetime. Why the title ,well because after watching The Last Tango in Paris with Maria Schneider and Marlon Brandon I wanted to visit Paris,and I did for the first time. Its a love story that continues to this day without sight of ending it…. because Paris is a movable feast. And then, there was France oh well he did not have time to see it all, I have ,for the most part and can say France is a movable feast. Then it was the places I have lived in my life Cuba, Spain, and the United States, all have a bit part in this blog ,and of course football/soccer and my love for the Real Madrid (played alevin/benjamin in the 70′s there) ,and still member of the club.

Everything I write in these posts is personal experiences, not from books written by others, or saying in other forums although is great to share information, I only write about places I have been personally. So its my personal touch, and my personal spot on the internet paris1972.wordpress.com

I look forward to write more about the country or countries I love in 2012. I am still selling my house in Versailles so the entire family can move with me in near Vannes/Auray area of the morbihan, in Brittany.  So far I have half the family with me and the other in Versailles::::I guess real estate sales in these times is not that good.

I look forward to reading your comments, and I am very happy to see the following my blog had, and the ideas, sharing of travel,sharing of our world, and especially sharing of France. Thank you all, and each of you. Have a wonderful 2012, may your wishes comes thru, and may you have a wonderful time travelling and reading my blog ::) Cheers

Notre Dame life saver boat in Etel , one like this one took my Mom out to sea

How to be a Parisien…..really!

This came out in my favorite newspaper and magazine Le Figaro, so I am translating here from the French. The 100 ways you can be or are sure to be a Parisien. That fits my bill alright ::)

1. Had dinner at Tokyo Eat (16éme) and not needing to open the door to the Palais de Tokyo

2. Taken a breakfast in the terrace of Café Marly (1 éme)

3. Be seated at a table in l’Abtrance (16 éme)

4.  Had organise a goodbye party to a colleague at the Train Bleu, gare de Lyon ( 12éme)

5.  Had dinner at Lipp (6 éme) at the first floor and street side with preference next to a famous head statue

6. Had eaten an onion soup at Halles (1 éme)

7. had bought a ice cream cone at Bertillon, the main house in the 4éme

8.  Had tasted a Paris-Brest by  Philippe Conticini in the Patisserie des Reves in rue du Bac (7éme)

9.  have the pleasure to fill your basket in the Grande Épicerie du Bon Marché (7éme)

10.  Have fallen for the caramel macaron with salted butter at Ladurée (8éme)

11.  had taken a mint tea at the Mosquée de Paris  (5 éme)

12.  had for lunch a tamoul at Pooja ( 10éme)

13.  Clean plate of a côte de bœuf for two at 6am in Chez Denise or La Tour de Montlhèly (I éme)

14.  Believe you were stuck in New York having a club sandwich at Harry’s Bar  (II éme)

15. Had ordered a cheese dish at Marie-Anne Cantin (VIIe)

16.  Ruined yourselves a Sunday morning at the bio market in boulevard Raspail (VIIe)

17.  had lunch un bento at Kunitoraya 2  (Ier)

18.  had drank and participated with the winegrowers while the feast of Fête des vendanges de Montmartre, early October

19.  had eaten un fallafel a Sunday at As du Fallafel , rue des Rosiers (IVe )

 20. had spent 80 euros for two of a roasted chicken with potatoes afire in Ami Louis (IIIe)

21.  had found the bag to go buy the flowers at Rungis  and eat oysters

22.  had purchase the favorite tea at  Mariage Frères

23. had a picnic on the pont des Arts

24.  had taken a bite of a libanese sandwich  at avenue George-V to think you are in Beirut

25. had a stop a pause at New Nioullaville (XIe) to enter into the Chinese new year

26. had taken a cafe at Flore

27.  be seated in front of a breakfast « plateau » at Coupole, sitting on the red benches but not in the terrace

28. to not swear if by the head of veal at Apicius  (VIIIe)

29. to be hug on the quai de la Tournelle

30. to have order a cocktail at the Bar Hemingway in the Ritz, at the eye color of the invited person, (do it before it closes for renovations)

31.  to have rented a room at the Hotel Chopin at  passage Jouffroy (IXe)

32.  to have mark your name and of your love one in the walls of the catacombes

33.  had played the card of double winner, champagne plus plaid on one the bridges of a Bateau-Mouche toenjoy the lights of the city of llights

34.  to have appointment at least once on the parvis de Notre-Dame, the fountain of Saint-Michel or the steps of the Opéra Garnier

35.  to have taken a glass facing the sun set at Bourbon, behind the Assemblée nationale

36.  to take a walk at cementary Père Lachaise  passing in front of the tombs of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde

37.  to have descended on the sewers of Paris to breath its odors !

38.  to have done a jogging in the jardin des Tuileries at sunrise

39.  to take a tour around the place des Vosges in trying to find the appartments of Jack Lang, Maître Binoche, and   DSK

40.  to have gone to Aubervilliers in the home camp of Bartabas

41.  to subscribe for a ride iin rollers blades in Paris

42.  to go walking in the city while celebrating a white night or Nuit blanche

43. to have purchase a subscription to a Vélib’

44.  to have taken the electric stairs at the Beaubourg

45.  to admire the windows of Christmas or  Noël in the big department stores

46.  to look for the Café des Deux Moulins, rue Lepic, thinking of Amélie Poulain

47.  to get lost in the basements of the  Châtelet-les Halles

48.  to walk along rue Saint-Honoré without spending nothing

49.  to be confused with  Shirley McLaine in  Irma la Douce (Billy Wilder) while walking  rue Casanova (Ier )

50.  to have missed a change in the change at Michel-Ange-Molitor and do a tour for nothing on the line 10 of the metro of paris

51.  to have assisted at march of the 14 Juillet  in the  Champs-Élysées

52.  to have put a small sailboat to ride in the lake of jardin du Luxembourg or des Tuileries

53.  to go see the old crocodiles at porte Dorée

54.  to finish reading a romance novel in a green chair (hard to find) at the jardin du Luxembourg

55.  to have purchase a ticket for a night of Pedro Almodovar or Lynch at the Cinema CHampollion (Ve) or for an episode of Star Wars at the Grand Rex  (IIe)

56. to have yell at and insulted the taxis that goes by all full

57.  to go dance at a  Bal des pompiers, an evening of the 14 Juillet

58.  to have waited for the tour Eiffel to flips it lights from the Théatre de Chaillot, at the entrance.

59.  to have taken an aperitif on the canal Saint-Martin, between two rounds of the game pétanque

60.  to have dance for a song of a DJ at Batofar

61.  to have dance on the salons of Maxim’s the friday evening for the parties of Belle Époque

62.  to have walk an evening of winter on the racecourse of trotters in Vincennes

63. to be seen been refuse entrance to chez Castel

64.  to have come in on foot a morning, because of no bus nor metro

65.  to have waited for the sunrise from the steps of Sacré-Cœur

66.  to go to the Collége de France and assist of its courses for free

67.  to be one evening on the presentation at the gallery Kamel Mennour (VIe) to see an artist such as Claude Levêque,or  Daniel Buren)

68.  to have seen an opera at the Bastille

69.  to have gone to the Louvre, simply to smile at the mona lisa and delayed your stay at the salle des Rubens

 70.  to have seen Podalydès play at the Comédie Française

71.  to have look and see at the aisles of La Hune (new address) or of the Écume des Pages (VIe)

72.  to have admired the work of  Nuit étoilée by Van Gogh at the museum of Orsay

73.  to have entered the Shop/atelier of Delacroix at  place de Furstenberg

74.  to have try to enter the Chateau des Brouillards in the butte Montmartre

75.  to have seen the work  Porte de l’enfer inside the park of the museum of Rodin

76.  to have understood what is Austerlitz at the Invalides

77.  to have entered the metro by the mouth of Guimard ,porte Dauphine or that of Othoniel at  place du Palais-Royal

78.  to have walk between the girafes and elephants in the Galerie de l’Evolution, jardin des Plantes

79.  to have seen a musical play at the Théatre du Chatelet

80.  have seen play the Philarmonica of Vienna or Berlin on the TCE

81.  Be entered in the drawers of the Bank of France while a heritage days event or Journées du patrimoine

82.  to have taken your companion to the oldest theater of Guignol of Paris , rond-point des Champs-Élysées

83.  to found yourselves seduce by shopping on Sunday in the rue des Francs-Bourgeois (IVe)

84. to have purchase old 45/78 vinyls music records at Crocodisc (Ve)

85.  to have pushed the doors at the Herboristerie du Palais-Royal (Ier) and ask plenty of questions

 86. to have obtain from your sample mold of a shirt at  Charvet (Ier), high temple of made to order

87.  to come out of Colette (Iéme) with many things of no use whatsoever

88.  to have desire to buy a pet dog right away at the animal stands along quai de la Mégisserie (Ier)

89.  tohave assisted to an Orthodox mass in rue Daru (VIIIe)

90.  to enrich yourself but not much in a sales room at Drouot

91.  to have taken time to take care of yourself in a spa on a palace hotel such as Plaza Athénée or Meurice hotels

92.  tohave spend 90 cents for an egg mayo at Voltaire  (VIIe)

93.  tohave try to walk the sidewalks of the palais de l’Élysée and be reprimend by the police force

94.  to have fallen for a ride with a nice taxi driver

95.  to have taken a glass at the first floor of Café Germain and see past the young bust of Sophie, the  sculpture of Xavier Veilhan

96.  to have attended a march of the ballet in the Opéra de Paris, and be ready for its reverence

97.  to have been mistaken for a statue in the columns of Buren

98.  to have done the experience of the high rise hair on the head of the electrostatique room of the Palais de la Découvertr

99.  had try the guitars n the stores of the rue de Douai (IXe)

100.  to have spent the month of August in Paris

Yes its sublime Paris isn’t it….Paris forever. The saying simply the best was created for it. Cheers ! Parisiens.

passing over bridge of Alexandre III PARIS

Coming back to Mexico DF, glorious and friends

Well after several years, I was back in Mexico DF, the city that is.

I was able to meet old friends, and make new ones, and walk and drive all over the main points of the city. The due diligence is eminent with common sense, but I walk and drove into industrial warehouses and Polanco and all with ease,nice. The weather was very nice, sunny fresh, nice very nice indeed

I was able to eat at my favorite resto Angus Butcher at Copenhangue 31 Zona Rosa; and lucky took the same table as the last time was there! plenty of pictures taken there too. I also went to Cambaleche, an Argentine jewel small but all kinds of cuts beef that is, at Insurgentes Sur 1384, Col. Del Valle,tel +52 55 5534-5858. I ,also,ate at Taqueria Senele at polanco great tacos alambre and taquitos al pastor,,,,at Leibnitz, Col Anzures, 11590 just at the corner coming out of hotel Camino Real Polanco back door. And to top off i had my Spanish at the Centro Castellano inside the Camino Real hotel, where I was staying. It has its own webpage at http://www.grupocastellano.com.mx/

the hotel Camino Real Polanco is unique, and a most for comfort, service, amenities,location and loaded with 7 restos/bars plus pool at 28°C and exercise room. just off gal M Escobendo and Liebnitz behind it, across from bosque de Chapultepec and all is wonderful museums. http://www.caminoreal.com/english/Micrositio/index.php?id=3

I walk to see again my favorites such as the Angel of Independance, fountain of goddess Diana, pass by monument to childrenheroes, and tour latinoamericana, past by museum Tamayo (no time to see it this time), the palace de beaux-arts,national auditourium, the lago at Reforma, did my shopping at the best Liverpool dept store, http://www.liverpool.com.mx/shopping/store/index.jsp , and just walk on Polanco Mazarik and Zona Rosa by old streets like niza,amberes,florencia,gerona, londres, etc, just bringing memories back when I use to go here almost every month for several years.

The traffics were legendary and part of the fun of travel there, you must have a good attitude or go nuts!!! the Airport is nice, and well service, plus I had my first ever seismic shake at the airport before leaving, on so many years never had experience it, and it was strange as everybody just stop and look around for a few seconds, then it went away and kept walking,,weird.

For more tourist info see the official webpage for the city of Mexico DF that is,, at http://www.mexicocity.gob.mx/  and to expand your search in Mexico see the country official webpage at http://www.visitmexico.com/ And now some photos for the memories, thanks to all.

Angus butcher resto Zona Rosa and beauties

outside Angus butcher resto Zona Rosa

another shot at beauties at Angus butcher resto Zona Rosa

friends at Angus Butcher Zona Rosa

bosque chapultepec and museum Tamayo

executive breakfast room at Camino Real Polanco hotel

Camino Real Polanco hotel inner garden

nostalgic coca cola truck great !!!

you can mail letters here,and so did many before you!

statue of El Angel de la Independancia at Reforma and Florencia

further view of El Angel at Reforma

Entrance to Lago at Reforma, and boats galores

fountain of Diane at Reforma

the traffic at gral Escobendo coming out of hotel in Polanco

the coupole at Lliverpool dept store at Polanco

the market at centro historico, old historic center of DF

passing market and monument to child heroes

just driving over peripheric road off polanco on way to work

palace of Beaux-Arts

looking at pool deck from breakfast room at Camino Real hotel

Tower Latinoamericana

over Atlantic ocean on way to Mexico DF on AF

my AF plane waiting the final leg to Nantes

Paris, Latino beat, its hot!!!!

Well definitively has a latino beat to it, I was part of it and now will give you an update on my previous post on dance, music and nightime in Paris.

 I will start with Tango, yes like the last tango in Paris and the reason of the name of my blog ,get it ::). It will be hot at Centquatre when it receives the singers Maria Grana and Raul Lavie, as well as the dancers Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau, stars of the revue Tango Argentino started by  Claudio Segovia in 1983 at Chatelet. Au Centquatre, see Noche de Tango from sept 17 with courses by Gloria and Eduardo on the  18 sept. Information at +33  (0) 1 53 35 50 00.

This goes on  with a show at  Châtelet  with the show Tanguera, a musical comedy by Daniel Barenboïm. Theatre Chatelet ,from october 15 to November 2nd . information at +33 (0) 1 40 28 28 40.

We switch now to Mariachis with the group Mariachi Vargas, stars of , Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, created at the opera of HOuston USA.  Also at Theatre Châtelet from Sept 23-27 same telephone as above for informationi.  And ,also, Calacas at Théâtre Zingaro, from November 2 ,information at  +33  0892 681 891 (not free call  from France).

 

 You go to  the Maison de l’Amerique Latine which will host artists from Ecuador,Brazil,Venezuela, and Mexico from Sept 23 to October 2nd at Maison de l’Amérique latine, 217, bd Saint-Germain (75007). Tél. +33 (0) 1 49 54 75 00.  Latino American fervor from colonial arts from the 16C to 19C with over 50 paintings and 30 pieces of silver at Musée Lambinet at Versailles,  from Sept 17 to December 24. right off blvd de la reine. The guitarits Yamanda Costa of Brazil will do choros of classical samba at the  Auditorium du Louvre from October 28th at 20h. The show Soy de Cuba  with music of cha cha cha  with dancers and  musicians at theatre  Cigale from  Nove 15-27th.  The show in FRench of Lagartijas tiradas al sol (lezards étendus au soleil) a theater show at the  Maison des arts, Créteil,  from Oct 4-8  and the theatre  L’Apostrophe, Cergy- Pontoise, Oct 11-12 ;information at Tél. +33 (0) 1 53 45 17 17. The group Son de Madera & Camperos de valles, Mexicans musicians with improvisitions at the musée  Quai Branly, October 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 October ;information at  Tél.+ 33 (0) 1 53 45 17 17. 

 

To dance Tango with beginners and up go to the Casa del Tango 11, allée Darius-Milhaud, 75019 with Frédérique Behar. And to fit  you up for it buy supplies and shoes at Lysandre  as well as flamenco. 46, rue de la Voûte (75012 ). Tél. +33 (0) 1 43 43 04 73.

Some addresses to see and be seen Latino in Paris go to  CUMBIA, grocery store, salon de thé and lots of info on Colombia ;113-115, rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Tel +33 (0) 1 40 49 02 82). The Peruvian gastronomy is tops at El Picador ,9, rue Lacépède, 75005. Tel +33  (0) 1 43 31 06 01), while the best beef Argentine is had at Anahi, 49, rue Volta,75003, Tel +33 (0) 1 48 87 88 24), The very branch trendy Unico at 15, rue Paul-Bert, 75011.Tel +33  (0) 1 43 67 68 08), with a rotisserie style try the La Pulperia  11, rue Richard-Lenoir, 75011, Tel +33  (0) 1 40 09 03 70). A very nice FRanco-Brazilian ambiance at the Aux Enfants de Paris, 116, rue Amelot, 75011 ;Tel +33 (0) 1 47 00 70 74. To taste ragout of shrimps with coconut milk there.. For  cocktails and tacos go to the Taqueria Candelaria ,52, rue de Saintonge,75003. Tel +33  (0)1 42 74 41 28. For a drink and dance in a hot place go to my favorite place at Barrio Latino 46, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, 75012.  The palace version of it is at Bar 228,  with Brazilian drinks and five cachaca style drinks to choose at Dali  228, rue de Rivoli,75001. Tel +33  (0) 1 44 58 10 44.

A selection from local latin music radio station LATINA 99.00 FM at www.latina.fr are

For Mojito and Caipirinha go to the Ritz, 15, place Vendôme (75001 ), and the bar of Hôtel Raphaël, 17, avenue Kleber (75016 ).

The nights of Latin Angel.  hot latin dance music at the Romeo Club , 71, boulevard Saint-Germain (75006), the first 3 fridays of each month.

For Rum and Cigars go to Cubana Cafe  47, rue Vavin (75006). near Montparnasse. 

 

There you have it enjoy a hot Latin night in Paris, why not Cheers.

Some news from France LII

Well I am back slowly getting to my blogging habits. I finally have internet at my new apartment, and just bought me a new samsung digital camera!!!

After all the paperwork and running around of getting settled in and all connections on, while getting to work normally ,this is my first full weekend free!

I took advantage of it right away. Camera in hand to take my first pictures of the area, went to a sleepy little village of Pluvigny not far from my place. Found out it has a nice cave de vins and cidres!!! just what the doctor ordered.

On my way along country roads like the D19 end up in Brech ,which is where i live ::) just to go over the mayor’s office and do my mails, and see the famous museum of St Degan, ecomusée. Continue along and found a jewel call St Anne d’Auray; here there is a huge basilica with many memorials including the one Pope John Paul II visited in 2008; my first pictures will be from here, it is gorgeous again. Impressive buildings; St Anne is the grandmother of Jesus,and the patron saint of the Bretons; it appear to a Breton farmer in around 1628AD and the shrine was built later in her honor. You must visit it.

Continue doing my shoppings along the way and end up in my area biggest town, Auray ,this is wonderful. Many buildings to visit and a great halle or market of fish ,seafood right in pl de la republique city center! Along the river you go down to St Goustan, and the place is sublime. Its a small town inside a town, along the river Loc’h with boats  and quais and the remnants of an old castle with wonderful views. All alongisde the quais there are bars,restos all facing the river and medieval streets with more of them. Plus another big church and monuments;all seems medieval lost in time. Definitively a place to come back and check every nook and cranny of it

I did had my Breton galetes at the Franklin jsut facing the plaza,and alongside Quai Franklin, name after Benjamin Franklin who at age 70 landed here in 1776 to try to convince king Louis XVI to acknowledge the existance of a new nation and allows credits so it can grow up well, this is of course the United States of America! Franklin was here ,and then I was too, just 15 mins from my apartment!!!!

You see I just tasted the waters today, and it looks I will very busy with extraordinary photos to come. Once I learn how to figure it out hehehehe!!

I am on to be by Chateau Thierry, on june 21 on business, time to stop by the house in Versailles on the way back, then on june 22nd will be in Paris all day on events relating to the Paris Air Show, my US university is involved in, and I am the director of alumni in France for it, ERAU, Eagles soar!!!

Until next time stay tune, you never know what you will see around here next ::)

San Francisco, golden and more

I feel that when I think of one of USA best travel destination it had to be San Francisco. I was lucky enough to be there in 2004, and it remains one of my goals to come back to this vibrant city by the bay and the golden gate bridge. I will need to find my pictures lol!!!

I just had friends from there coming over, and bringing goodies from there so its a good moment to talk about this wonderful city. San Francisco is a city and county of the same name in the State of California, USA.  The mission was founded by the Spanish in 1776 in honor of St Francis of Assis or San Francisco .

one of the most to see in the city is the Golden Gate Park, extending from the Pacific Ocean along Ocean Beach to Stanyan Street, webpage at  http://www.golden-gate-park.com/ Another nice park is the Lincoln Park by the end of Ocean Beach and the Bay with the Palace of the Legion of Honor, an art museum. aand over to the Presidio National Park that leads to the Golden Gate Bridge, webpages http://www.presidio.gov/ and http://www.goldengatebridge.org/  The highways I 280 and I 80 as well as US 101 criss cross the town , and the best way to get oriented here is using the route planner mapquest at http://www.mapquest.com/ . For buses ,cable car, tramway information the official site is http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php . The best way to see the city is by the famous SF cable cars ,and they even have a museum webpage here http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/ ,and of course walking even those hilly streets can be an adventure not to forget. Many folks like me entered first by the SFO or San Francisco International Airport, webpage here http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/index.jsp ;when I went we rented a minivan for road travel.

Some of the wonderful museums here is the Legion of Honor, done in honoring Californians who fought in the wars at France, and today an arts museum; webpage http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/ . Another interesting museum I like is the Exploratorium, where Science and Arts is fused, started by Frank Oppenheimer in 1969, and on a building from 1915:webpage http://www.exploratorium.edu/ , another is the Museum of Modern Arts of San Francisco, the pompidou of the city, there since 1935, webpage http://www.sfmoma.org/

Some of the things to see that I enjoyed were the seaquarium by the bay, near Embarcadero and Beach st, webpage is here http://www.aquariumofthebay.org/ . The Pier 39 with lots of stores and restos and my favorite Crab House at Pier 39,  as well as the Bay and Blue boat rides into Alcatraz, webpage for the boat ride is at  http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ and for the Pier 39 at  http://www.pier39.com/index.cfm. If you want to see the real thing and get on to Alcatraz ,this is the specialist althought I would choose Bay and Blue, second choice Alcatraz Cruises from Fisherman’s Wharfs webpage http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/

The Ripléy’s Believe or Not museum is great with many extraordinary displays , it seems I follow then wherever they are, webpage is at http://sanfrancisco.ripleys.com/ , and the very nice Wax Museum http://www.waxmuseum.com/ both at Fishermans Wharf.  Which you can know more here http://www.fishermanswharf.org/ with lots to shop and eat here my favorites are Ghiraldelli Chocolates ,and coffee shop at http://www.ghirardelli.com/ ,and dine especially in the evenings for a wonderful view of the bay at Bistro Boudin, http://www.bistroboudin.com/ . Another exciting place to be is The Cannery, the old Del Monte canning factory and since many years, the place to be for shops and restos in SF. webpage http://www.thecannery.com/ , and my favorite because its near the Financial district is Crocker Gallery with Leila mediterranean cuisine resto and  John Walker for those Californian wines, webpage http://www.johnwalker.com/ . The webpage for the Crocker Gallery is here http://www.thecrockergalleria.com/

My stay there was spent at the fabolous Hotel Nikko  at 222 Mason Street, Union Square very close to market str and the cable cars and up the Nob Hill to Fishermans Wharf and Pier 39 areas. webpage http://www.hotelnikkosf.com/

walking we did a lot especially around Japantown (Post st)  and Chinatown (Washington and Powell) ,and Russian Hill areas. you can get a city pass for 69 USDollars good for all transport in cable cars, Muni transport system, and some of the places I have mentioned above, plus other USA cities, the webpage for San Francisco is at  http://www.citypass.com/san-francisco

For a look back of where it all began ,see the Mission Dolores house, built upon city foundation in 1776, the oldest of course, and the only remaining of the 21 that Father Serra started then. It is at 3321 16th street and Dolores St, webpage at http://www.missiondolores.org/

If you want to have a nice meal, great steaks,and be in movie history as it was here that Humphrey Bogart’s The Maltese Falcon was filmed then head for John’s Grill webpage http://www.johnsgrill.com/ you wont go wrong here ::) , and if you want your munchies and great pints, beer that is then head for Johnny Foleys’ webpage http://www.johnnyfoleys.com/ , and since folks like me cant never be too far from a good French resto, then head for Cafe Bastille off Market and Kearny streets, webpage is at http://www.cafebastille.com/

Enjoy San Francisco ,and its not Frisco nor Cisco, just plain San Francisco ::)

Capitol, Havana, a symbol of a Nation

ceilings of the Salon de los Pasos Perdidos, Capitolio

La Republica or Giraldilla symbol of the Republic of Cuba

Salon de los Pasos Perdidos inside Capitolio

closeup of the Capitolio de La Habana

Diamond where all road distances are measure in Cuba

another angle late pm Capitolio de La Habana

plaza leading to the Capitolio of La Habana

Lets bring along a emblematic building that represent a linkage of the past and present, a symbol of what and where you are in Cuba and especially Havana.  In my youth I spent many afternoon going by and on tours to see the meaning that it was to the Cubans. Inside is a plethora of historical facts to better understand the country.

I am talking about the Capitol building in old Havana. El Capitolio as it is known in Spanish, built in 1929  to house the two chambers of the Cuban congress. Its was inspired by the Roman capitol and that which is in Washington DC USA. The building has a front neo classic style with a dome of 91,73 meters tall ( 302.7 ft).  It is located between the streets or  calle Pardo, Dragones, Industria, and San Jose. Inside it marks the kilomerter zero of all distances in Cuba with a diamond on the floor. AFter the Cuban revolution it house the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.

It is in the space where the old city of Havana walls were crossing built in colonial period by the Spanish.  The walls here were destroyed in 1863. Here there was a statue to queen Isabel II, and it was the start of the now Parque Central de La Habana or Central Park.  Part of the public work efforts by then President Gerardo Machado (later dictator too), the team of architect Raul Otero and the participation of the French team led by urban planner Jean-Claude-Nicolas Forestier, and Architect Eugenio Raynieri Piedra as director of developement,and arquitec Jose M Bens Arrate. The actual construction was given to the American firm of  Pudri & Henderson Company. However, it was the French Forestier who put together the urban plan of the Capitol and surrounding areas as in Paris.

The details of the work made the building  207,44 meters long in its facade  which included a large stair monumental of almost 36 meters wide( 118.8 ft) , 28 meters long (92.4 ft) , and 55 steps with three rest squares . At the two sides of the end of the stair you have two sculptures made in bronze by the Italian Angelo Zanelli, call ” La Virtud Tutelar del Pueblo ” (the virtue of the people) , and “ El Trabajo” (the work) ,both of 6,50 meters high (21.4 ft) .

To continue the description of this wonderful building, we come to the main central door with a lenght of 36 meters (118.8 ft)  and 16 meters high 52.8 ft)  all held by 12 ionic columns of granite.  It is here that the main doors of access to the building are place with 7,70 meters high (25.4 ft) and 2,35  meters wide (7.8 ft) as well as the sculpture in relief of marbre ,also done by the Italian Angelo Zanelli.  The dome with a high of 92 meters (303.6 ft)  was at the moment the fifth highest in the world with a diameter of 32 meters (105.6 ft).  It has 16 panels of which the most impressive are those covered with gold leaves of 22karats .  The dome has a lantern with 10 ionic columns of which interior were 5 light reflectors until 1959 when taken down by the revolutionary government.  In this space you see the symbolism architectural of the sculpture of the “ La República” or the lady marianne under the dome done also by Zanelli in bronze of  15 meters high  (49.5 ft) and 30 tons in weight that at the moment was the second biggest in the world under a roof.

You come to the great room call the ”Salón de los Pasos Perdidos” ( the hall of the lost steps) , the most monumental of the spaces with almost  50 meters long (165 ft) and 14,5 meters wide( 47.9 ft)  and almost 20 meters high66 ft)  that serve the interconnection to the two bodies of government the  Cámara de Representantes (located to the north) and the  Senado (located to the south). These two blocks are organised in a rectangular fashion around two gardens with dimentions of  45 by 15 meters each (148.5 x 49.5 ft). 

58 types of marbre, wood of the most exquisite in the country, decoration and ambiance done by the English firm of  Waring & Gilow Ltd. of  London.   The wrough iron in bronze by  The Yale & Towne Mfg. Co. of Stanford, CT USA, Societe Anonime Bague  and  Saunier Frisquet of Paris,France for the lamps, and the house of Fratelli Remuzzi from Italy and  Grasyma of Germany for the work in marbre, onyx, etc .  The diamond that mark the distances in Cuba is of brilliance of 25 karats the last owner was the tzar of Russia Nicolas II, and arrive in Cuba by Turkish jewerler that purchase it in Paris. Now you see a replica, the original is the the vaults of the Bank of Cuba.  Looking at the volume of its construction it is estimated that the Capitolio of La Habana is the third in importance for its monolithic construction in the world ,a nd the only one with its characteristics built in the 20C. Most of the detail information here came from wikipedia.

It is inmense ,the pride of Havana, and one of the most visited buildings in the city as of today. It was always like that, a must to see while in Havana. Just now looking at the pictures I am in awe of  its beauty and I have seem some beauties now living in France. Some photos of old.

Cathedral of Havana or La Habana

Cathedral of Havana and Plaza de la Cathedral

front of nave with cupola inside Cathedral of Havana

interior nave and cupola of Cathedral of Havana

This is a mythical building in the old section of Havana or La Habana. The Cathedral is link directly with the history of the city and Cuba. I have spent my days there, and my family took me there in several occasions,now its time to talk a bit about it.

The Catedral de la Virgen María de la Concepción Inmaculada de La Habana  is in the old casco historico or historic center of the city name to UNESCO world heritage sites as a whole. First it was a prayer by old huts and bird dropping use as a house of prayer since 1528AD ,then,  it was a prayer site for the disciples of  Saint Ignacio of the order of the Jesuistes in 1727, then construction began by 1748 and by 1767 the collegiale was built but the church not yet completed.  By 1767 the Jesuistes were expelled from the Americas Spanish . According to Cuban history, the nave was occupied since independance of the island in 1898 by a funeral monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colon) as his ashes were kept there for about 100 years, later they were transfered to Santo Domingo ,and eventually to Sevilla.  It was declared a Cathedral on June 22,  1790. The Cathedral was not finished until 1832.

The Cathedral  has two belltowers and its center floor form a temple of  34x36meters ( 112×119 ft) in a rectangular shape, with three naves and 8 chapels divided by huge columns. The floor is of  black and white marbre. The sculptures and detail work in the chapels was done by the Italian Bianchini in Rome in 1820. The paintings is done by the Italian Giusseppi Perovani and the French  Jean-Baptiste Vermay.  There is  a  fine sculpture of Saint Christopher, patron saint of Havana, dates from 1632 and was made by Martín Andújar in Sevilla.

The square in front of the Cathedral that has the name Plaza de la Catedral is surrounded by noble houses such as the  Palacio del Marqués de Arcos, Casa de los condes de Casa Bayona, or count of Bayona since 1720, and now houses the Museum of colonial arts or  Museo de Arte Colonial, the mansion of the marquis or Marqués de Aguas Claras ,and Palacio del Conde Lombillo or palace of conde de Lombillo.

The Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral in 1998 to try to bring peace and respect of human life to the island rule by a dictatorship for 52 years already.

Webpage of the archiodiocese of Havana in Spanish with all related info http://www.arquidiocesisdelahabana.org/ , and the webpage of the Church of Cuba in Spanish too, http://www.iglesiacubana.org/

Happy Easter!