The Road to Santiago de Cuba, Casa Grande Hotel, Park Cespedes, Hotel Bucanero

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Rick’s Santiago Cyber Café presents: page 1 of 12

The Roads to Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Index of the 12 pages - The Roads to Santiago de Cuba

Page 1 - The small towns of Seguay and Baconao

Page 2 – Hotel Los Corales and the city of Santiago de Cuba

Page 3 – Santiago street life

Page 4 – Santiago street life

Page 5 – Small towns in the country and links to Santiago de Cuba Hotels, Casa Particulars and Los Primos Project

Page 6 – 2005 - Hotel Bucanero Santiago de Cuba and a link to Jane Bunnett’s web site. FREE Radio Batanga, FREE Radio Taino

Page 7 – Santiago de Cuba street life, Hotel Bucanero and the small town of Oasis

Page 8 – The small towns of Seguay and Baconao in Cuba

Page 9 – Maritza’s Casa Particular in Santiago de Cuba

Page 10 – Felipe’s mothers house for lunch in Santiago de Cuba

Page 11 – A story entitled ‘Looking for Fernando’s Hideaway’, the true story is about a young boy from Santiago de Cuba named Fernando

Page 12 – F.A.Q. – Frequently asked questions. Tips on what to bring, how much to tip, suggestions about what to do when visiting the city etc.

2002, 2003 and 2004

Santiago de Cuba has been called the New Orleans of Cuba, it is a city of many cultures and is one of the most exotic of this country’s cities. Santiago is the Cuban capital of Afro Cuban culture and the base of the distinct Cuban rhythmic music; it basks in the hot noon-day sun and then it parties into the early hours of the following day. It is at the other end of Cuba from Havana; it is known as the Capital of the Caribbean and has a population of about 400,000 people which makes it Cuba’s 2^nd largest city. February to March day time temperatures hover in the low to mid 30’s and it is slightly hotter from June to September. We go there in early March and stay for 2 weeks, and it usually only rains for about 30 minutes total. It’s hot and you want to make sure you wear 15 or 30 sun block or you are going to end up with bad sunburn. Santiago de Cuba is situated on a bay between the sea and the beautiful Sierra Maestra Mountains; the city was founded in 1515 by Diego Valasquez. It is accepted as the “The birthplace of the revolutionaries” because Carlos Manuel Cespedes and Antonio Maceo Grajales were both architects of the 19^th century war for independence, and Fidel Castro tried unsuccessfully in 1953 to seize the Cuartel Moncada (military barracks) which landed him in jail. After his release and his voluntary exile in Mexico, he returned accompanied by Che Guevara and a group of other rebels and again he chose this area as a base from which to launch his attacks.

Exercise such as bicycling, horseback riding, walking or hiking is best done in the early to late morning as the sun and heat in the afternoon can be sizzling. Needless to say when walking in the city, we usually did not walk on the TOURIST side - sunny side of the street unless it was necessary. There are lots of trees and vegetation which provide for ample protection from the sun. Since it is one of Cuba’s largest cities, it has museums, restaurants, hotels, parks, sporting events and lots of places to see and things to do.

Park Cesepedes is a beautiful historical park named after Carlos Manuel de Cesepedes who is considered the father of the country. Cesepedes sparked the First War of Liberation against Spanish rule by freeing the slaves on his sugar plantation in 1868. On January 1, 1959 Fidel Castro gave his first speech as Cuba’s leader in Park Cespedes. The park is located in the heart of Santiago, and on some day’s musicians play concerts; and local children, teens and elders gather to people watch, talk, and listen to the music and to dance.

Santa Iglesia Basilica was built in 1532, it was restored in 1932 and it is one of the oldest cathedrals in Cuba. The interior of this classical cathedral is completely made of hand carved wood, and at the top of the structure stands the Angel of the Annuniciation flanked on each side by a domed bell tower. It is right across from Park Cesepedes.

Hotel Casa Grande in Santiago de Cuba is also across from Park Cesepedes and is a real gem in the heart of the city. Even though it is only 5 stories high you can get a great view of Santiago de Cuba from the rooftop garden and snack-bar area. On the first floor there is a very popular, charming raised terrace restaurant were you can get pizza, sandwiches, soft drinks, beer or your favorite rum drink.

The Bacardi Musuem in Santiago de Cuba was founded in 1899 by Emilio Bacardi Moreau of the famous Bacardi Rum family, and it is considered the oldest museum in Cuba; it is located a short distance from Park Cesepedes. Admission for tourists costs 2 Convertible Cuban pesos equivalent to $2 U.S. The museum has 2 floors filled with works of art, archaeological artifacts, objects of historical interest and relics from the Spanish conquest up to the war of 1895. My favorite museum pieces were the clothes that are made from banana leaves; these were used by the rebels who had to live off the land in order to survive during the war. There was also a large display of old swords, photos, articles used to torture the slaves, sculptures, pieces of art, drawings of well known historical Cubans and even a statue of Che. The young Cuban female guide who showed us around was very knowledgeable about Cuban history and all the artifacts in the museum. The Bacardi family left Cuba when Castro overthrew the Batista Government and the rum is now distilled in other countries. Emilio Bacardi Moreau was a Freemason as were many of the other leaders of the revolt. Barcardi was a painter, a sculptor, a businessman; and he was also the first mayor of the city under the Republic of 1902. The museum still bears his name and has many of his family’s artifacts.

The Carnaval Museum in Santiago de Cuba is also a short distance from Park Cesepedes and it is close to the Bacardi Museum. Santiago de Cuba has an annual carnival which dates back 400 years, and the museum is inside an 18^th century house which has been maintained in its original state. The museum contains masks, costumes, photographs and instruments, and once inside you will get a feel for one of the top Carnivals in the world, and once you visit it you get an urge to come back to Santiago de Cuba during the Carnival in July.

Antonio Maceo’s Birthplace

Calle Los Maceo no 207 entre Corona y Rastro

This modest home was built around 1820 and the walls were made of intertwined flexible twigs covered with lime and sand. Antonio Maceo was a Freemason and is considered to be one of Cuba’s greatest military commanders during the 1868 to 1895 wars for independence. He waged 900 combats and received 26 bullet wounds; he lost his father and several brothers in the war. In 1895 Antonio Maceo and 2 other Cuban Freemasons Jose Marti and Maximo Gomez led an attack on Cuba, Jose Marti who is described as Cuba’s greatest hero, poet, statesman and revolutionary was shot and killed.

Antonio Maceo’s birthplace is now a museum containing mementos of his heroic deeds.

The museum is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 6:30pm.

Diane outside a Cuban beach children's playground –Seguay Cuba 2003

Richard with a Cuban family who helped to fix our bicycles flat tire – Juan Carlos is on the left, his wife Donna is the town nurse, Alex has the blue cap on, and Richard is on the right. Donna’s girl is on Alex’s horse – Seguay Cuba 2003

A village school we visited by our resort –Seguay Cuba 2003

On the road in to the school - Seguay Cuba 2003

It was in 2002 on one of our bicycle rides to one of these small towns that we met Bergin and her 2-year old daughter Rosanna. Rosanna had the biggest smile I have ever seen on a child so small, and if I gave her a chiclet the smile even got larger. Diane and I visit Bergin and Rosanna every year when we go to that area, and in 2004 I met her father for the first time. He has been confined to a wheelchair after both his legs were amputated below the knee after a tractor accident he was involved in.

Diane with 3 of our little friends at a small local restaurant. Rosanna is in the middle - Baconao Cuba 2004

A local restaurant near the village of Baconao -waitresses and their children- Baconao Cuba 2004

HUMANITARIAN AID TO CUBANS

Distributing anything in Cuba can be quite the experience.

I took 2 dozen t-shirts to Havana once and decided to hand them out to a bunch of youngsters hanging around watching other youngsters playing baseball. Dozens of youngsters dropped what they were doing and rapidly ran towards me. I almost panicked, hands were appearing out of nowhere grabbing for a t-shirt, I managed to get them handed out in half the time I originally thought it was going to take.

I only know of one organization that is working with Cubans but I'm sure there are many more.

Masonic Relief for Cuba has their Humanitarian Aid distributed through the Freemason Lodges in Cuba, they send medical instruments, medical supplies, multivitamins and cases of Ibuprofen, shampoo, soap, lotions, Glucosamine, Chondroitiin, MSM, Polysporin and water purification tablets.

I am a Canadian Freemason and many Cubans I have met have one family member who is a Freemason. Freemasons help the entire community not just other Freemasons and they have proven to be one of the most honest when it comes to getting the goods to the people who need it the most. I have met 2 surgeons in 2 different cities in Cuba, they were Freemasons and other members of the Cuban Freemasons are from all walks of life.

Here is a link to this Canadian Organization and you can give my name if you contact them.

My name is Richard Snowdon, Halifax Nova Scotia.

http://nelsonking.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=30

If you read this page it will say the items that are most needed by Cubans.

As you are aware over the counter non-prescription drugs are not available due to the cost and prescription drugs are very difficult to obtain. The average income for a Cuban is $20.00 - $25.00 per month, the cost of aspirin or any drug is very expensive for them. There are 30,000 Regular Freemasons in Cuba and The Gran Logia de Cuba has a Masonic Home for the Aged and there is a desperate need for these non-prescription and prescription drugs.
For the last 10 years Masonic Relief for Cuba has supplied both non-prescription and prescription drugs to the Masons and The Grand Lodge of Cuba.

Cubans will take almost anything and they will be happy that you gave them a gift.

The Roads to Santiago de Cuba, Cuba Continued on page 2

October 14, 2005

Santiago de Cuba has been called the New Orleans of Cuba, Cuban Freemasons Jose Marti and Maximo Gomez, The Bacardi Musuem in Santiago de Cuba, The Carnaval Museum in Santiago de Cuba is also a short distance from Park Cesepedes, Hotel Casa Grande in Santiago de Cuba, Hotel Bucanero Santiago de Cuba, Hotel Los Corales, towns of Seguay and Baconao in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba Hotels, Casa Particulars and Los Primos Project, the small town of Oasis.

Hiram king of tires