On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, we returned to the Miami airport to fly to Cuba.
CCT/Marazul had their person, Luis, there to help us get through customs.
Lorraine, John, Rich, Bob, Mary, Doug, Luis, Renee, Patti (behind Lou) and Lou in Miami airport

John, Doug, Bob, Patti, Rich, Lou

First sight of Cuba out our plane window

Fields of Cuba out our plane window

Our AA jet on the tarmac at Jose Marti International Airport, Havana, Cuba

Walking from the plane to the terminal
at Jose Marti Airport, Havana, Cuba
March 16, 2016

Mary in Cuba!

We passed the bigger, more modern looking international terminal
as we left the airport

Good planning! Our first stop is for food
at the El Aljibe Restaurant, Havana, Cuba
March 16, 2016

Mary and Steve
El Aljibe Restaurant
Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2016

Bucanero and Cristal are the beers of Cuba

Listening to our first musical serenade
and first of many renditions of 'Guantanamera'
Rich, Renee, Lorraine, Mary, Carli, Lou, Bob, Marnelle, John, Patti, Doug
El Aljibe Restaurant, Havana, Cuba
March 16, 2016

Carli posing with singer, guitar and CD
El Aljibe Restaurant, Havana, Cuba
March 16, 2016

After lunch we visited Orlando Garrido at his home.
He is Cuba's 'greatest living naturalist' and co-author of
'The Field Guide to Birds of Cuba.'
Patti, Doug, Lou, Renee, Marlene, John, Rich, Carli, Lorraine, Mary and Orlando Garrido
in his little office, Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2016

Senor Garrido showed us photos of many of the birds we were likely to see.

And then he brought out his collection of endemic birds,
all the while regaling us with stories of his pro tennis career,
birds he'd seen or discovered and people he met along the way.

Orlando Garrido, author and naturalist,
among his books and trophies in his office.
Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2016

Next, we got a tour of Revolution Square
with government buildings with likenesses of national heroes.
In October 2009, to note the 50th anniversary of his death, a 100-ton steel outline of Camilo Cienfuegos' face and the words 'Vas bien, Fidel' were added to the side of the Ministry of Informatics and Communications building on the Plaza de la Revolución. At a rally on 8 January 1959, Castro interrupted his speech to ask Cienfuegos "Am I doing all right, Camilo?" His response Vas bien, Fidel (You're doing fine, Fidel) was taken up by the crowd and became a slogan of the revolution.

This tower and statue commemorate the revolution
and Cuba's hero of the revolution against Spain, Jose Marti.
The tower is the highest point in Cuba and is shaped like the 5-pointed star of the flag.

Statue of Jose Marti at Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba
He united factions to defeat Spain, but died early in the fighting.

Statue of Jose Marti at Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba

Outline of Che Guevara, Venezuelan hero of the Cuban revolution: Until victory always
This may be the Defense Ministry building on Revolution Square

Artwork on the ministry grounds next to Revolution Square

For dinner, we went to El Tocororo Restaurant.
Tocororo is what Cubans call their national bird, Cuban Trogon,
one of the priority endemic birds for our survey.

Inside El Tocororo Restaurant, Havana, Cuba
Carli, Bob, John, Rich, Lorraine, our tour guide, Yuri, Patti, Lou, Marnelle, our tour organizer, Gary, Mary and Doug
Wednesday evening, March 16, 2016

Their walls were covered with artwork, comments and testimonials from previous patrons

A group of young musicians performed for us

Musicians at El Tocororo Restaurant
Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2016

One of several Cuban Trogons in the restaurant

Another Cuban Trogon painting

Cuban Trogon in mural at El Tocororo Restaurant
Evening of first day in Cuba, March 16, 2016

We spent Wednesday night in El Bosque Hotel, Havana, Cuba.
We left Thursday morning for the Zapata Peninsula
(so named because it's shaped like a shoe).

Hotel El Bosque
Havana, Cuba
Thursday morning, March 17, 2016

Hotel Mirador
our hotel for Thursday and Friday, March 17-18, 2016,
in San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Hotel Mirador
San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Walking the grounds of the pig farm near Las Terrazas, Cuba

Bust of Jose Marti at the pig farm, one of several we saw in our travels.

Pig Farm
near Las Terrazas resort, Cuba
Thursday, March 17, 2016

Oxen-drawn cart of sugar cane at the pig farm

We drove into San Diego de los Banos, Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba,
had lunch at our hotel, then went to Parque La Guira.

Some of the grounds at La Guira Park
San Diego de los Banos, Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba

La Guira Park grounds

Water lilies
Parque La Guira, Cuba

La Guira Park, Cuba

Description of some of the property of Hacienda Cortina
La Guira Park had been the property of a wealthy landowner before the revolution.

Makeshift sign near the entrance to La Guira Park
"Fire, logging and hunting prohibited"

"Castle" at La Guira Park, Cuba

Thursday evening we spent the night at The Miramar Hotel
in San Diego de los Banos (the baths--warm springs)
and were entertained by this musical group during dinner.

Paulino, Mary, Patti, Lou (behind Patti), Marnelle, John,
Jose, Yuri, Doug, Bob, Rich, Lorraine, Renee
at dinner at Hotel Mirador, San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Steve, Mary, Patti, Lou
at dinner Thursday evening, March 17, 2016
Mirador Hotel, San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Mary and Steve
with 50s Pontiac in the parking lot
before leaving Hotel Mirador, Cuba

Must have been wash day
in San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Leaving San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Tobacco crop with drying barn in the background

Tobacco and drying barn

Multi-family dwellings
San Diego de los Banos, Cuba

Waiting for the bus

Mountains at Cueva de los Portales
a 'through cave' on the San Diego River

Looking for the Cuban Solitaire
Marnelle, Lou, Patti, Steve, John, Carli, Renee and Doug
Cueva de los Portales, Cuba

Cabins at Cueva de los Portales, Cuba, resort

Looking at the Scaly-naped Pigeon
just outside the cave at Cueva de los Portales, Cuba
Doug, Renee, Marnelle, Lorraine, Patti, Bob
Friday, March 18, 2016

Mary on the rock path
Cueva de los Portales, Cuba
March 18, 2016

Bob, Patti, Doug, John
headed back through the portal
Cueva de los Portales, Cuba

Mary and Steve
at Cueva de los Portales, Cuba
Friday, March 18, 2016

Mountains, tobacco and drying barn
near Cueva de los Portales, Cuba
March 18, 2016

Tobacco drying barn

Cultural center
near Cueva de los Portales, Cuba

Steve, Doug, John, Paulino, Lou, Marnelle and Patti
going over the bird survey checklist
Friday, Mar 18, 2016, Playa Larga Hotel, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba

Lorraine and Rich checking the bird survey list
Playa Larga Hotel, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba

Patti and Bob reviewing bird survey checklist
Friday evening, March 18, 2016

Carli and Lou appreciating the music
at Playa Larga Hotel, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba
Saturday, March 19, 2016

Saturday morning our bus stopped near the village of Santa Tomas, Cuba
San Lorenzo Sector, Parque Nacional Cienega de Zapata
Zapata Swamp National Park, March 19, 2016

Corral

A residence near the village of Santa Tomas, Cuba
San Lorenzo Sector, Parque Nacional Cienega de Zapata
Saturday morning, March 19, 2016

We loaded into two boats powered and maneuvered by two local men using poles to push us along.

On the road to the boats

A new adventure, a boat ride in the swamp

Frank, standing in the bow of the lead boat, John, Bob, Carli, their gondolier, Doug, Paulino, in the bow of our boat.

Mary, Steve, our gondolier, Patti
in our boat on a narrow waterway in Zapata Swamp National Park
Saturday, March 19, 2016

Frank in our boat behind the first boat
looking for the Zapata Wren and Sparrow

A makeshift bridge along the edge of the water
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

Disembarking after a successful field trip
Gondoliers, Lorraine, Frank, Paulino, Rich, Doug, Carli, Patti, Renee, Mary, Yuri
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

Mary and Frank

Our boatmen with birding guides Paulino and Frank
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

Yuri, our boatmen, Paulino and Frank

Charcoal making

Mary in front of
our lunch spot back in Playa Larga

Tiki, Mirador Bahia de Cochinos
Bay of Pigs viewpoint, Playa Larga, Cuba
Saturday, March 18, 2016

Our swordfish being fileted in the open air
at Tiki restaurant, Playa Larga, Cuba
on the Bay of Pigs

Boats moored on the Bay of Pigs
Playa Larga, Cuba

Lunch at Tiki
John, Doug, Renee, Lou, Marnelle, Patti, Lorraine, Mary, Carli, Rich

Patti and Renee at the sextant

Small harbor on the Bay of Pigs
outside the Tiki restaurant
Playa Larga, Cuba

Cave Swallows
Bay of Pigs, Playa Larga, Cuba
Saturday, March 19, 2016

Good soup at Tiki restaurant
Bay of Pigs, Playa Larga, Cuba

Rich, Carli, Bob, Marnelle, Lou, John, Doug, Renee, Patti, Lorraine, Mary

Sailboat coming into harbor

Small harbor on Bay of Pigs

Mary at Tiki
Playa Larga, Cuba
March 19, 2016

Waiting for lunch at Tiki

Frank, Yuri, Paulino and Jose at Tiki for lunch

Fresh fish at Tiki

Boatmen in the harbor
Bay of Pigs, Playa Larga, Cuba

Our afternoon birding destination, an area of saltwater lagoons

Marnelle, John, Carli and Bob
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

Renee and Yuri
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

Patti searching the sky
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

Paulino scanning for birds
Zapata Swamp National Park, Cuba

The beach at Playa Larga Hotel
Zapata Peninsula, Cuba
Sunday, March 20, 2016

Beach at Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs)
Playa Larga Hotel, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba
Sunday, March 20, 2016

Beach and cabana at Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs)
Playa Larga Hotel, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba
just before leaving Sunday, March 20, 2016

We took some pictures of our room at Playa Larga Hotel before we left.
Sunday morning, March 20, 2016

Our bathroom at Playa Larga Hotel, Cuba

The living room in our bungalow at Playa Larga Hotel
Playa Larga, Cuba

Jose loading our bags into the bus before we departed Playa Larga, Cuba

Brightly-colored bungalows at Playa Larga Hotel

Entrance to Playa Larga Hotel

Sunrise at Playa Larga Hotel
Sunday, March 20, 2016

The pool at Playa Larga Hotel

Wide view of the entrance to Playa Larga Hotel

Stepping stones

Daybreak, Playa Larga, Cuba

Our bungalow, #24, at Playa Larga Hotel, Cuba

Soplillar, where Fidel Castro came for the first Christmas Eve after the revolution

Birding near Soplillar, Cuba
Paulino, Bob, Carli, Lou, Doug, Renee, Steve, Patti, Marnelle
Sunday, March 20, 2016

Waiting in vain for the Bare-legged Owl to reappear
near Soplillar, Cuba
Steve, Lou, Patti, Marnelle, Doug, Renee
March 20, 2016

Ground snails

Our survey group on the trail near Soplillar, Cuba

Our bird survey group walking the trail near Soplillar, Cuba

Lunch at Frank's favorite restaurant, Casa Enrique in Playa Larga
Sunday, March 20, 2016

Patti got a double dose of coffee after lunch at Casa Enrique

Mary at Casa Enrique
Playa Larga, Cuba
March 20, 2016

Lou, Doug and John enjoying relaxing after lunch at Casa Enrique
Playa Larga, Cuba

They also rented rooms to out-of-country visitors
(indicated by the 'I' on the sign)

Casa Enrique
Playa Larga, Cuba

Mary at Casa Enrique

Workmen were building forms for concrete columns across the street

Construction in Playa Larga, Cuba

A last look at Casa Enrique

Another casa particular across the street

A building of unknown purpose in Playa Larga

Young Communists Union

Another monument to Cubans killed in the Bay of Pigs invasion

Adios, Playa Larga

One of the ponds at Boca de Guama Criadero de Cocodrilos (Crocodile Farm)
Zapata Peninsula, Matanzas Province, Cuba
on our way to Playa Giron
Sunday afternoon, March 20, 2016

Flame Tree at Boca de Guama Crocodile Farm

Lou at our stop at Cueva de los Peces (Cave of the Fish)

The red crabs were migrating.
They look fierce but they sidle away quickly when you approach.

Piscina--the old swimmin' hole

Marnelle and Patti contemplate the deep water

Cueva de los Peces

Our room at Hostal Luis, a casa particular in Playa Giron
The woodwork looked brand new.
Our towels were laid in a pattern on the bed.

The bathroom looked new as well

Modern toilet and shower at Casa Luis
Playa Giron, Cuba

There was a big kitchen we didn't use.

Mary admires the fine woodwork in our room
Hostal Luis, Playa Giron, Cuba

She also liked the banana jabon (soap)

Female Emerald Hummingbird on a nest
Playa Giron, Cuba

On Monday morning, March 21, we drove outside of Playa Giron to a refuge near the village of Bermejas.

'Here was fought a decisive battle for victory' over the Bay of Pigs invaders.

Nearby was a monument to Cubans killed during the Bay of Pigs invasion.

List of names of Cubans killed at the battle near Bermejas, Cuba

Bermejas Wildlife Refuge

Little Lakes Trail

Wildflowers along the trail

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflower

Carli with our birding guides Frank, Paulino and Orlando, our local guide for the day

Frank, Paulino and Orlando

Paulino talks with the resident on the land we were birding.
He is the brother of our local guide Orlando.
He worked at the refuge before being injured in a fall from a ladder while checking bird nests.

Caleta Buena was a beachside resort area where we stopped for lunch.

They had a beach, bar, grill, restaurant and rented snorkeling equipment.

Welcome to Caleta Buena (Good Cove)

The grounds at Caleta Buena

It had a rough limestone shoreline, rather than a sandy beach.

Caleta Buena beach

Mary investigating the beach

Doug was the only one who braved the cold water in the cool breeze.
He was rewarded with seeing many species of fish, he said.

Doug in the cove at Caleta Buena

Marnelle, Paulino, Lou, Patti and Renee watched Doug from shore.

Meanwhile, Mary lounged in a beach chair.

John, Patti and Renee took some time to relax as well.

John, Patti and Renee at Caleta Buena

Another crab at Caleta Buena, Bahia de Cochines
Monday, March 21, 2016

This one was guarding the opening to its lair under the edge of the porch.

Getting ready for lunch at Caleta Buena

John doesn't seem to be concerned about that crab over his shoulder.
Lunch at Caleta Buena, a restaurant and beach on the Bay of Pigs
Monday, March 21, 2016

Perrito de Costa lizard (Shore Puppy, so-called because of its curled tail)

Back at Hostal Luis, the Emerald Hummingbird left her nest long enough for us to get a photo of her eggs in the nest.

Emerald Hummingbird nest and eggs

Mary enjoys the landscaping at Hostal Luis while Bob checks his hummingbird egg photos.

Later in the afternoon we drove around Playa Giron.
We saw the museum dedicated to the victory there over the Bay of Pigs invaders.

We also saw this baseball stadium of the local team whose mascot is the Cuban Alligator.

We walked along the beach behind the Hotel Playa Giron on the Bay of Pigs.
John, Yuri, Doug, Renee, Marnelle, Lou, Paulino, Bob, Steve

A seawall or breakwater had been built to protect the beach.
Bob, Paulino, Doug, John, Lou, Renee, Steve, Patti, Yuri
Hotel Playa Giron beach, Cuba
Monday, March 21, 2016

Someone was thinking about the historical happenings of President Obama visiting Cuba.

Sea life along the shore
Playa Giron, Cuba

Part of the malecon around the beach at Hotel Playa Giron

Patti found a shell.

Looking back at the hotel behind the sea wall at Playa Giron, Cuba

Mary gazing out across the sea wall

John, Lou, Renee, Paulino, Patti, Marnelle, Yuri

Abandoned building at Hotel Playa Giron, Cuba

Yuri explained that, after the dissolution of the USSR and loss of their economic support to Cuba,
there was an economic crisis that led to the abandonment of some building and maintenance projects.

Abandoned bungalows on the grounds of Hotel Playa Giron

One of the vacated and dilapidated buildings on the Hotel Playa Giron property

A house near the Hotel Playa Giron property

It was too windy for much birding.

The road had caved in toward the water and had not been repaired.

Our last breakfast at Hostal Luis, a casa particular--private house--at Playa Giron, Cuba
Rich & Lorraine, far end; Doug, Patti, Lou & Carli on L; Mary, Yuri (standing), Renee, Paulino, Marnelle & Bob on R; John, near end; Tuesday morning, March 22, 2016

The Hostal Luis annex where Mary & Steve, Carli & Bob and Doug & John stayed
Tuesday, March 22, 2016, Playa Giron, Bay of Pigs, Cuba

The intersection at Playa Giron
Hostal Luis annex on the left, main house on the right
Tuesday, March 22, 2016

On our way back toward Havana on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, before going on to Cayo Coco, Cuba,
we stopped at, La Guada de Pasajeros (a watering hole for passengers),
the same place we stopped on the way down to Zapata Peninsula.

At the edge of Havana, we ran into this road repair work that slowed traffic.

Waiting for check-in at Jardines del Rey resort
on Cayo Coco, on the north coast of Cuba, March 22, 2016,
the setting for part of Ernest Hemingway's "Islands in the Stream"

The entrance and lobby of Jardines del Rey resort, Cayo Coco, Cuba

Mary in the lobby at Jardines del Rey, Cayo Coco, Cuba

Musicians in the lobby
at Jardines del Rey resort, Cayo Coco, Cuba

Performers providing a preview of their act
during dinner at Jardines del Rey, Cayo Coco, Cuba
March 22, 2016

Performer at Jardines del Rey

Another performer at Jardines del Rey
March 22, 2016

Kite surfer near Cayo Guillermo, Cuba

One of the statues of Ernest Hemingway along the bridge to Cayo Guillermo, Cuba

At Cayo Paredon Grande (big wall key)
looking for the Bahama Mockingbird and Mangrove Cuckoo
Doug, Renee, Patti, Marnelle and Lou
Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Renee, Lou, Marnelle, Bob, Paulino, Patti and Carli
on Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba

Steve, Bob and Doug

One of the big pieces of earth-moving equipment
preparing roads for new resorts on Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba

Mary and Steve on the beach at the end of the road
Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba
Wednesday morning, March 23, 2016

Patti contemplating the Atlantic Ocean
Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba
March 23, 2016

Atlantic Ocean from Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba
March 23, 2016

Looking west along the coast of Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba
March 23, 2016

Our tour leader, Yuri, steadying himself for a photo
Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba, March 23, 2016

After visiting the sewage lagoon again, we stopped at Wild Boar's Cave (Cueva de Jabali), a place where Paulino had set up some drippers to attract birds. There was also this blooming agave.

Agave blooms
Cueva de Jabali
Cayo Coco, Cuba
March 24, 2016

Doug searches for a bird at Jabali Cave
Cayo Coco, Cuba

The only wild boar we saw

We then drove to Playa las Coloradas to look for shorebirds.

Playa los Coloradas indeed had beautiful colors in the beach, water and sky.

We said good-bye to Paulino at his apartment
on the mainland from Cayo Coco
Jose, Yuri, Carli, Paulino's wife, Paulino
March 24, 2016

Paulino's wife and Paulino outside their apartment
March 24, 2016

Our tour leader, Yuri, giving us a history lesson
on the bus from Cayo Coco to Santa Clara, Cuba
March 24, 2016

After driving the rest of the day, we were welcomed by more serenaders,
this time at our motel, La Granjita, in Santa Clara, Cuba
March 24, 2016

Dinner at La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
Lorraine, Rich, Mary, Renee, Carli, Bob and Doug
Thursday evening, March 24 2016

John, Patti and Lou
La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
March 24, 2016

Mary, Renee and Carli
Dinner at La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
March 24, 2016

Lorraine and Rich
La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
March 24, 2016

Steve enjoying another ice cream dessert
La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
March 24, 2016

Exterior view of our lodging at La Granjita in Santa Clara, Cuba
in the morning before checking out, March 25, 2016

One of the main buildings at La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
March 25, 2106

Our bungalow was on the second floor.
These buildings were shaped to look like historical homes, but made of concrete.

A Magritte print in our room?

The nice pool none of our group used at La Granjita
Santa Clara, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Flowering shrub on the grounds
La Granjita, Santa Clara, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Creatures of the island made of stone
over the entrance to La Granjita resort, Santa Clara, Cuba

Our first stop of the morning was at another resort, Las Caneyes,
which refers to the original people of the area. There were many carvings and statues
like this one to represent the life of early inhabitants of the region.

Woodcarvings inside and outside the office at Las Caneyes resort
depict early inhabitants of the area.

Woodcarvings on the office exterior at Las Caneyes resort, Cuba

Woodcarvings

More woodcarvings

Woodcarvings

This mural depicted the layout of the resort grounds.

Office door at Las Caneyes resort

The Cuban Crocodile at Las Caneyes

We walked the grounds behind the buildings at the resort in search of the Gundlach's Hawk.

Seeds and casing

Statue at Las Caneyes resort, Cuba

More depictions of earlier life on the island

Large woodcarvings across the windows of one of the buildings

A sofa made with local wood

Entrance to Las Caneyes resort

Lunch on the road back to Havana
at Fiesta Campesina
John, Rich, Lorraine, Mary, Marnelle, Lou, Carli, Bob, Patti, Yuri (standing), Renee
March 25, 2016

Lunch at Fiesta Campesina
Marnelle, Mary and Lorraine (this side);
Yuri (standing), Carli, Bob, Patti, Renee, Doug (opposite)
March 25, 2016

Mary and Steve
Fiesta Campesina
Friday, March 25, 2016

Mary enjoying her tasty beef lunch
Fiesta Campesina, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Another musical group serenadint us with Carli helping on percussion
Fiesta Campesina, Cuba
March 25, 2016

The string bass player for the group was 86 years old
Fiesta Campesina, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Musicians at Fiesta Campesina, Cuba

A special guitar
Fiesta Campesina, Cuba

Carli and Lou cha-cha to the music
Fiesta Campesina, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Musicians at Fiesta Campesina

Mary and Steve resting from a tour of the zoo
Fiesta Campesina, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Mary and Steve
Fiesta Campesina zoo
March 25, 2016

Mary at the Fiesta Campesina zoo

The tree had dropped most of its flowers.

Burning sugar fields after harvest

At one of our gas stops, Ranchon La Aguada, where Mary and I bought postcards and a Cuban flag.

They had Chinese catfish in a pool--an invasive species.

Concessions at the roadside stop.

Back on the bus, returning to Havana, Cuba
Our tour leader, Yuri, preparing us for our arrival
March 25, 2016

Waiting in the lobby of the Hotel Nacional
Renee, Bob, Mary and Lou
March 25, 2016

Waiting for Yuri to get us checked into Hotel Nacional
John, Renee, Carli, Doug, Bob, Patti and Steve
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Photos in the lobby of Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

They shuffled us into this conference room to hand out our room assignments
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2106

So we held a conference to announce our arrival
Steve, Carli, Lou
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Rich, Lorraine, Bob, Yuri, Mary (in front), Carli, Marnelle, Patti, Renee, Lou, Doug & John
in the Havana, Cuba, Hotel Nacional conference room, waiting on room assignments

The view out our 5th floor room
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Complimentary drink tickets from the Hotel Nacional

On the back patio of the Hotel Nacional
Steve, Doug, John and Bob
Havana, Cuba, Friday, March 25, 2016

Mary, Carli and Renee on the patio at Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Marnelle and Lou
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Friday, March 25, 2016

Lou, Patti and Doug
on the patio of Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Doug, John, Bob and Yuri in an animated conversation
on the patio of the Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Friday evening, March 25, 2016

Bob, Yuri and Steve relaxing at Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Renee and Marnelle at Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Marnelle, Patti, John, Doug, Bob, Yuri, Renee (back to camera) and Mary
enjoying complimentary drinks on the patio of the Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Friday evening, March 25, 2016

Oceanside view of the Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba

Courtyard and fountain of Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba

Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Friday, March 25, 2016

Musicians serenading diners at the outdoor restaurant
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Marnelle and Patti heading to dinner
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Patti, John, Bob and Marnelle

Patti, Marnelle, Bob, Carli, John, Yuri, Lou

Dining outside at the Hotel Nacional in Havana, Cuba
Lorraine, Renee, Marnelle, Lou, Carli, Yuri, Patti, Mary and Rich
March 25, 2016

Carli and Yuri at dinner at Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Mary, John, Doug and Rich
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Musicians performing at our outdoor dinner
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Outdoor dinner at Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Patti, Mary, John, Doug, Rich, Lorraine, Renee, Marnelle, Lou, Bob, Carli and Yuri
Friday evening, March 25, 2016

Havana across the harbor from Hotel Nacional
March 25, 2016

Cuba Bird Survey Group
after dinner at Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Yuri, Patti, Steve, Mary, John, Doug, Rich,
Lorraine, Renee, Marnelle, Lou, Bob and Carli
Friday, March 25, 2016

Cuba Bird Survey Group
Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba

Patti and Renee in our 1928 taxi
in front of Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Friday night, March 25, 2016

Friday night on the big town: Patti, Renee and Steve ready for adventure in a 1928 taxi. Our driver, William, 39 yo, took us to see the Rolling Stones at their free concert at the Ciudad Deportiva (Sports Complex)
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Havana, Cuba traffic
Friday night, March 25, 2016

People listening to the Rolling Stones from their balcony
across the street from Ciudad Deportivo (sports complex)
Friday, March 25, 2016, Havana, Cuba

Patti and William, our taxi driver, among the throng
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 2016

Onlookers, the Rolling Stones on stage and the giant projection screen
from behind the fence at the back of the Ciudad Deportiva, Havana, Cuba, concert
Friday, March 25, 2016

William, Renee and Patti
enjoying Angie, Paint It Black and Honky Tonk Women
at the free Rolling Stones concert
Friday night, March 25, 2016, Havana, Cuba

Renee, Steve and Patti at the Rolling Stones concert in Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

The Rolling Stones in Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Part of the well-behaved crowd outside the fence
at the free Rolling Stone concert in Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Portrait of Camilo Cienfuegos on a state building at night
Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Che Guevara likeness on state building
Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba
March 25, 2016

Renee, William and Patti
safely back at Hotel Nacional after our concert outing
Friday, March 25, 2016, Havana, Cuba

Saturday we toured Old Havana and Yuri surprised us
by starting the tour with a ride for all of us in classic taxis

We had so many pictures from the tour that I put all the pictures from the day in a separate gallery, but I left the classic car ride in this gallery.

March 26, 2016

For our Saturday tour of Old Havana, Yuri surprised us with vintage taxis.
Rich, Lorraine and Marnelle
climb into a 50s vintage Cadillac
Havana, Cuba, March 26, 2016

Carli, Bob and Patti rode in a 1956 Chevrolet

Doug, John and Renee rode in an old Dodge.

In the car behind

Steve in the back seat

The view from our back seat

John and Doug moving up on the outside

Doug, John and Renee

Mary, Yuri and Steve rode in an early 50s Chevy

Our driver and Yuri riding along the malecon,
the seawall sidewalk along the water.

Cruisin' the malecon
in Havana, Cuba
Saturday, March 26, 2016

Fishermen on the seawall
Havana, Cuba, March 26, 2016

John, Renee and Doug try for a pass

Looking back at 'new' Havana

We rode to the Central Square in Old Havana, disembarked
and the taxi drivers rolled off without us.

Armadillo in the Tequileria in Charlotte Airport while we waited--and waited--for our plane to Dallas.

A turtle on the wall in the Charlotte Airport Tequileria