Photo Gallery of Fred Thomas, III

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CUBATrekk 2023

These are some photos from my recently completed CubaTrekk 2023. This was my last visit to complete research for upcoming book and the journey included two provinces – La Habana and Matanzas.

MY COMMENTARY – CLICK HERE

LA HABANA

People

Mayi & Nande
Gisela & Fred
Lad with Los Angeles cap
Jaime holding down conversation using Google translate
Miguel and Fred
Thiago

Casa Particulares

Casa Particulares are accommodations in private residences. Most are those properties where the owner has converted apartment type units within their property. For me, there is no way I would stay in a hotel. I am not a high=maintenance traveler so my needs are a clean room, a refrigerator, air conditioner or a fan and a bath room. Most host will give you a separate set of keys. These accommodations allow you to engage Cubans directly and the result is a better opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture. Prices vary but a good range is $25-$35 per night. Of course food might be extra ($3-$5) but my host are exceptional and it is part of my rate which has consistently been $25 per night

entrance to Mayi & Jaime’s
My breakfast at May’s Casa Particulares
Lunch prepared by Mayi at Casa Particulares – Lobster, Beans & Rice, Yams and salad
Mayi prepared my going home breakfast with a cute Cuban flag
After a hard day of trekking Mayi prepared a special cocktail
Jaime prepared one of his special cocktails for me
Mayi & Jaime provided this nice gift at time of arrival
Bathroom with how shower

Fixer

54,200 pesos for 200 USD or 1:270
Another gift from my fixer for my amigos back home. His contact is a roller and over the months gets cases and sells them for a fraction of what the Tabac stores charge – and YES, they are legit

Foodie

ChaChaCha’s famous Lobster salad – $7USD
Quick lunch – Pina Colada and Pan with hamon and queso
ropa vieja
Gisela ordered for us
An ice milk treat
The making of guarapo (fresh squeezed sugar cane juice)
30 pesos

Sights & Scenes

Sports arena adjacent National Bus depot
Upmann Tabac factoria
University of Havana
Havana Libre
The famous Tropicana Club
The site of the original Buena Vista Social Club on Avenida 31
Nice mural representing
Juana Bacallao

Caberet – a great show performed at the Nacional Hotel of Cuba

Estadio LatinoAmericano & Estadio Pedro Marreno (formerly Tropicana Field)

This game was part of the Ligu Elite Biesbol Cuba / Series Nacional Elite Baseball – Artemisa v Industriales

Casa Particulares

Foodie

Palmar de Junco

Cubans took up baseball as a protest to Spanish rule. In 1874 Palmarde junco was built and was the countries first official biesbol estadio. Incredibly, the venue still stands today and used by various youth leagues. It is soaked with so much history as Cuban greats, including those from the Negro Leagues competed in this venue. It was home to the Matanzas Crocidiles.

Estadio Victoria Giron

This is Matanzas newest stadium and is home to the Crocidiles. It is very modern and close to the main plaza.

Sancti Spíritus @ Matanzas
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Time: 18:30 · Stadium: Victoria de Girón

Sights & Scenes

There were many great sights and scenes. One which was a critical part of this trekk was visiting the Slave Rebel Museo which featured the statue of Carlotta. The site is monumental and recognized as an international monument.

My taxi driver who took me to the Slave Rebel Museo and dropped me off at Palmar de Junco – had to negotiate because was running low on USD so settled on $30. It was justified as the venue was off the beaten path.

Fred Thomas, III

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