Day 5: Visiting the Cementary

Day Five- Visiting the Cemetery and More

If you are just catching up, here are days three and four.

Ah, feeling much better after finally getting some SLEEP!  We were up early to catch a couple long buses to the cemetery, but we were lucky enough to either get seats (Mom and Yolanda) or get a standing spot near the window (me).  I was able to take a lot of pictures on the way, so I was happy 🙂DSC_0525 DSC_0527 DSC_0538 DSC_0540 DSC_0541 DSC_0552 DSC_0556 DSC_0562 DSC_0570 DSC_0574 DSC_0577 DSC_0582 DSC_0585 DSC_0590 DSC_0601

First we went to the Sephardic cemetery.DSC_0605 DSC_0611 DSC_0614 Seeing Pepe’s burial site certainly solidified his passing for me, but I also felt him there.  We sat there for quite awhile and I just listened to mom and Yolanda tell stories and chat.  We visited burial sites of various family members and my mom told me a short story about each of them and her memories of them.

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We eventually made our way to the Ashkenazi cemetery where there are additional family members.DSC_0639 DSC_0641

My mom was trying to locate a relative, so she had the man that works there consult their “record system”.DSC_0658 DSC_0659

In the end, we couldn’t find who we were looking for, but we found others.  This cemetery was in much worse shape- some grave sites had entire slabs of marble stolen.DSC_0651

After the cemetery, we walked up the long hill to catch the bus into town.DSC_0665 DSC_0667

Since I’m #foreverhungry, Yolanda got me a peso pizza-less than $.50 for one!DSC_0673 DSC_0674

Unfortunately, the bus drove by while we ate which my mom used to say “I told you so……!!!”.  But another came just 20 minutes later…  DSC_0675 DSC_0677

The bus did eventually come, which took us back to El Capitolio.  We got off there and headed to Los Nardos for lunch.  A Cuba tradition!  It’s a dark, little restaurant, located on the third floor of a building facing the Capitol.DSC_0679 DSC_0683 DSC_0695

These guys wanted their picture taken so why not make them blog famous 🙂

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Lunch was good but I was still pretty full from that pizza.  Sorry mom, you were right.DSC_0691

And after lunch, mom and I went on more walking adventures through the streets of La Habana Vieja.  We stopped to sit in parks;DSC_0718Take pictures of people and things:DSC_0719-001 DSC_0723 DSC_0731

This man was very eager for me to take a photo since he “LOVESSSS Los Estados Unidos and Obama!!”DSC_0736

Appreciate the history, architecture, and beauty:DSC_0752 DSC_0757 DSC_0768 DSC_0778-001 DSC_0779-001DSC_0740 DSC_0749

And take pictures of the sunset before heading home;DSC_0781 DSC_0782 DSC_0783 DSC_0784 DSC_0789 DSC_0793 DSC_0797

It was a long day, but another good one.  We ended the day with rice, beans, beef, and plantains before ending up on the balcony and falling hard into sleep.  The following day was our last in Havana- visiting Miramar!