Adventures in Cuba

Cuba Day 2 - Saturday September 2, 2012
One of my favorite days. We visited the Christopher Columbus cemetery or the Colon cemetery, the literacy museum, Fusterland and then visited Old Habana again.
More government food, more mediocre cuisine. So sad. This is some of my most favorite cuisine and I expected SO much.

El Cementerio Cristobal Colon was fabulous. Located in the Vedado 'suburb' of Habana, the entrance is impressive and features 3 angels that signify Faith, Hope and Charity. The cemetery a wide array of classic styles (gothic, neo classical, art nouveau, deco) in the form of mausoleums, crypts, family chapels, vaults, obelisks, large sculptures, and ornate gravestones. Our tour guide Yovani Santana was THE BEST! He told many stories of the most famous 'offerings' in the cemetery. Through all the beauty, however, you can also see that some of the monuments are very poorly kept.
I was sure that I had pictures of La Milagrosa (The Miraculous one). That tomb and sculpture was one of a mother that died during childbirth along with her baby. It is said that the child was buried at the feet of her mother and when the tomb was opened years later, the child was in her mothers arms. Her husband had a statue of the mother holding her baby created in honor of his love for her. She is called the miraculous one because it is said she performs miracles if you perform the 'ritual' which includes knocking the ring on the tomb 3 times, walking to the status and touching her and talking to her and then walking behind the tomb and exiting backwards.
I tried it. Didn't work for me. But there are THOUSANDS of plaques thanking her for answered miracles from around the world.

The main thoroughfare takes you to the cemeteries chapel.

Yovani Santana, our tour guide.

This is the tomb of Batista. The story goes that it was built in a way that would require those that visit his tomb would have to bow down to him. Batista was horribly arrogant and it was part of his undoing. His wife however was beloved.

National Museum for the Literacy Campaign

One of the great stories and accomplishments of this country. Castro created a nationwide literacy program, which focused in the most rural areas. The VOLUNTARY program sent nearly 1 million people to go 'live & teach' all around the country. It included approximately 100,00 very young adults (10-19 years old) to go to the countryside to live, work and teach those on the farms to read and write. Because teachers were required to work with the families, this meant the classes happened at night. In the rural areas, where electricity was scarce, this proved difficult because of the darkness. Teachers were given Chinese gas powered lanterns, which became very prominent symbols of the campaign. The year long literacy campaign was hugely successful and finished with a 96% literacy rate. To prove their literacy, students were required to write a personal note to Fidel. This program has been recreated in many countries.

Not to be confused with Obama's Si se puede (Yes we can). The literacy campaigns slogan is Yo si puedo - Yes I can.
The museums director wanted us to be clear that they had the slogan well before we did.

Yara Campos, the museums director, a staunch Castro supporter, told the story of the literacy campaign with great passion. Yovani, our guide translated.