worldaltem: 12/19/2017 Cienfuegos, Cuba Tuesday

I seem to have no control over the order the pictures are posted.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Finally, successfully transferred some photos from my old camera and struggled to complete this post as the Wifi is so spotty.

Today, we rode a bus around Cienfuegos, Cuba. Cienfuegos has not deteriorated as much as Havana and is cleaner. Cienfuegos, on the southern-central Cuban coast, is called the "Pearl of the South".

We went to a cigar factory and watched a woman grading the tobacco leaves. In another room, women were rolling cigars and putting them into presses. A woman is expected to roll 120 cigars per day. At the end of the process, each cigar is placed in a machine which measures its draw. The draw of the cigar must be determined to be between forty and sixty in order to be sold. Cigar rollers make good money, relatively speaking.

Downtown Old Cienfuegos has a nice collection of Neoclassical structures. There were many buildings with lovely facades. We went into the Tomas Terry Theater (1889) and it is mostly as it was when constructed. Our guide discussed the different buildings surrounding the Jose Marti Square and the blue building in the picture is Ferrer Palace. Like most towns, there was a market selling all kinds of tourist trinkets

There are 60,000 classic cars in Cuba. Fifty percent from the 1950's and twenty-five percent each from the 1940's and 1930's. In the past, parts and cars could not be imported from foreign countries. The mechanics in Cuba are excellent, often improvising to create needed parts, which explains how these old cars continue to run. A family car is passed down from generation to generation. Now imports are allowed. It will be interesting to see what happens. At this time, only the very wealthy can afford a car. China is investing heavily in Cuba and many of these old cars are being refurbished with Chinese engines, etc. As an example of infrastructure problems, the street repair men had a horse-drawn cart and were filling potholes.

Some interesting notes about Cuba. Principles of education are "hard work, self-discipline and love of country". Literacy rate was said to be 99%, the highest in the world. Prior to 2010, the teacher/student ratio was 1 to 12, economic struggles have changed that. Education through trade school and college is at no cost. Attendance is compulsory from ages 6 to 15 or 16. Students wear uniforms, the color denotes what grade they are in. Students are tested in three areas including history, math and Spanish. Students' scores on these tests determine their futures. For example, a student must score 97 or above to be a doctor. The government provides a doctor for each 125 families.

Medical professions have thrived in Cuba. Cuba provides medical services to other countries in exchange for something Cuba needs. For example, Cuba will provide doctors' services for three years in exchange for oil from Venezuela. Cuba is also leading the way with some medical research. I believe they have found a medicine to regenerate skin for those with wounds that won’t heal or diabetic ulcers.

The Youth Labor Army in Cuba was established in 1973. This is three-year compulsory service for all male citizens. There are deferrals available for technical or advanced training but those deferred are still obligated to three years in a government agency. The government determines where services are needed. Different groups have different jobs. Some labor in the sugar industry, on the railroads and in construction. I saw a lot of young police officers on the street. Their most important mission is productive activities pertaining to the economic-social development of the country. Men receive military training and refreshers throughout the three years. A wage is paid and barracks are provided. You can read all about Youth Labor Army at globalsecurity.org.

Security is confusing in that the guides say Cuba is very safe. Yet almost all the homes have grills over the windows and doors for security. When you pass a rural house at night, you can see the interior is quite spartan. Usually there is a table and a few chairs for eating and then several more hard chairs for sitting. I did not see any decor on the walls beyond crucifixes and/or religious pictures.

Saw more classic cars in Cienfuegos, Cuba where our ship is docked

Ferrer Palace on Jose Marti Square. Wished I had paid 1 CUC to have a great panoramic view of the city from the rooftop.

Catedral de la Purísima Concepción next to Parque Jose Marti. Neo-Colonial style. 1833-1869. Two bell towers of differing heights. French stained glass windows.

Cienfuegos City Hall/Antigua Ayuntamiento on Jose Marti Park Square. Modeled after the Capitol in Havana.

A building on the square in Cienfuegos and one of the many old cars you see around Cuba. China is investing heavily in Cuba and many of these old cars are being refurbished with Chinese engines, etc. The mechanics in Cuba are excellent, which explains how these old cars continue to run. A family car is passed down from generation to generation.

Hibiscus Tree was chosen as the marker for laying out the city's first twenty-five blocks.

Cuban National Hero Jose Marti's Statue with Arch del Triumph in the background. Jose Marti was a writer, poet and revolutionary philosopher. The arch is the only triumphal arch in Cuba. It was commissioned in 1902 by the local worker's corporation and commemorates the creation of the Republic of Cuba.

Collegio de San Lorenzo - Neoclassical. An academic, Nicolas Jacinto Acea, funded this building as he believed education should be accessible for all.

Street in Cienfuegos. This cart has material in it that men were using to patch the potholes.

This compass rose is called the "Zero Kilometer" and marks the center of Cienfuegos.

Marble lions on pedestals at the entrance to Jose Marti Park.

Palacio de Valle, Cienfuegos, Cuba. Neo-Gothic Style. Built 1913-1917.

Former private residence that is now a restaurant. We stopped to check out the building, the view and have a rum and coke. Wish I could have had a mojito at the Rooftop Bar.