Camaguey

The journey around Cuba continues with a road trip from Santiago de Cuba to Camaguey with a stop in the city of Bayamo. This was a trip of about five hours on some of the roughest roads you can imagine due to lack of maintenance .

This is the Plaza de Himno (Hymn Square) in Bayamo, to my left is a memorial to the composer of the Cuban National Anthem , Perucho Figueredo.

Bayamo has a long tradition of rebellion. In the early 1500’s , the native people fiercely resisted the Spanish here , for which their leader Hatuey was burned at the stake. A few years later an African slave killed the pirate Gilberto Giron, displaying his head in the central plaza.

In 1869 , rather than surrender their town to the Spain, the citizens burnt it down. The Spanish regained control but lost it for good during the War of Independence in 1898.

Camaguey is Cuba’s third largest city and its historical centre is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. I was enthralled with its many pastel coloured colonial buildings nestled away in its maze of warren like streets designed to outwit the marauding pirates.

 

 

This Wedgewood blue building is a typical example of nineteenth century one storey neo-classical residential architecture.

We stumbled across this museum ( the name of which escapes me- I really must make better notes) and these delightful murals that were in the process of being lovingly restored.

 

 

This was one of my favourite spots in Camaguey, Plaza de Carmen with the rather pretty church, Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Carmen.

The studio-gallery of Martha Jimenez Perez overlooks the square . Perez is a world renowed  Cuban artist working in sculpture, ceramics and bronze .

The Water Carrier. The pots depicted here are tinajones (clay pots) and are still seen throughout the city.

The newspaper delivery man is based on a local man , who is often seen in the square posing along side his statue – although not at our time of visiting.

Young Love – speaks for itself.

Of course I had to join in the conversation with the ladies- this is Chismosas ( Gossipers).

Milena and I – the two redheads- posing on one of the bronze benches in the square. Milena was our wonderful and very knowledgeable guide who made our Cuba trip such a rich experience. We have exchanged emails since our return and I was so pleased to hear that all is well with her and her family and she is enjoying time with her little son.

The Plaza San Juan de Dios , another of Camaguey’s historical squares. The vessel that John is standing behind has a rather confronting history , it was where some poor soul was dismembered in Spanish times. ( for the life of me I can’t recall who this was).

Another square – another statue of a War of Independence hero- Agramonte.

Renovations Cuba style – despite the sad state of this building it is still occupied- we saw two ladies and a child enter and make their way up the stairs.

A pony trap bus – a common method of urban transport seen in many towns.

A pretty pink wall and pink blossoms well we just had to didn’t we. Wearing as I always do when travelling old favourites Moyuru pants , Sarah Paccinni knit , comfy walking shoes and socks , beads and sunnies.

Best wishes to all – stay safe and well.

Linking to Jess at Turning Heads Tuesday, Nancy for Fashion Friday and Mica for Weekday Wear.