This bronze statue, entitled "The Gentleman from Paris" stands outside
the St. Francis Cathedral. The gentleman depicted in the statue, however,
was neither noble nor French. He was, instead, a vagabond who roamed
Havana in dark clothes and a cape, but whose kindness to others is well
documented. Although he died penniless in a psychiatric hospital in 1985,
his bones were later exhumed and placed inside the Cathedral. Locals and
tourists, seeking good luck, routinely stop at this statue. Touch the
gentleman's index finger for prosperity; rub his beard to return to
Havana one day. So many people stroke the statue while making wishes
that the patina has worn off the index finger and the beard. Clearly,
the man seen in this image is a defiant non-believer