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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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#atozchallenge: V is for Cuidad Vieja

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Here’s to a great AtoZ!

Join in the FUN.

This year I traveled to Cuba. You know, it’s that little island that’s spitting distance from Florida and should not be visited without special dispensation. I wanted to see it before MacDonald’s arrived. I’m so glad I did. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful people. It seems they like us. Now there’s a change!

I’ll add a short T/F quiz to each post the same as I did last year about Burma, 
and I’ll post the answers to the questions the following day. 

Answers to your T/F Quiz for U

TRUE 1. Having a military base on Guantanamo gave the U.S. a strategic                        location during the Cold War. Russia was a huge threat and very cozy                with Castro.
TRUE  2. Only 485 miles of water stand between Florida and Guantanamo.

V is for Cuidad Vieja

One of the most charming parts of Havana is Ciudad Vieja (Old City of Havana). The streets are mostly cobblestone, and one that runs in front of the old governor’s house is wood. He didn’t like the noise of wheels going over stone. Today most of the streets are reserved for pedestrians, so you can meander without fear of being run down by a bus or car. You do have to watch out at cross-streets because those are heavily trafficked. 
Colorful Cuban Women In Cuidad Vieja
The Wooden Street with Vendors
A Courtyard in Cuidad Vieja



Your T/F Quiz for V

1. The Old Havana, Cuidad Vieja, was founded in the early 1900s.
2. Some of Old Havana is still owned by private individuals, but the state own         most of it.

Answers tomorrow.

Comments

  2. So is the wooden street in constant repair? Doesn't seem all that practical But being the governor, money probably wasn't an issue. Interestkng.

  10. Hey Lee,

    Yep, I finally arrive at your site! Oh, I notice you've been doing that alphabet thing! I also note that, what with you now being on the letter "V", that the alphabet thing shall soon conclude!

    I think I'd like to got to Cuba after sort of reading your post. Very interesting and here's a cigar.

    Of course, nothing else has changed, I'm still your starstuckest fan.

    Gary

  11. This is so cool, and I love your pictures!! 😀 Also, that bit about the streets is really interesting, that the actual streets are generally reserved for people.
    Hearing about other countries is so neat! 😀

    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com

  12. I love seeing old parts of cities because they have so much history! Love these photos. What a courtyard!
    ~Jess

  18. I'm glad JFK had the gonads of steel to stand up to the Russians. And why wouldn't he. Incredible there were those who didn;t want to make that stand.

  24. Well, here we go again. I will say number one is False. Old Havana was founded before then. For number 2 I would also say False. I think the Government is in control of all of old Havana.
    By the way, you've given me an appetite to see Cuba. My Pseudonym for writing and for concerts is Pat Garcia. The Garcia is my first husband's last name. He was half Cuban.

    Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

    Shalom,
    Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

  28. I would love to walk there because city centres closed off the traffic is often so pretty. I would think the square was founded long before the early 1900's so false to the first and false to the 2nd although that is a guess but it is communism which often means the person can't own their own..it belongs to the people…what a joke eh?

  32. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. A cobblewood street! Amazing. #1 has got to be false as I strongly believe Spaniards had something to do with Old Havana which makes it pretty old. #2 I'm not sure, I suppose some of the buildings could still be privately owned… so I'm passing.

  33. It will be interesting to see how much of Cuba's historical sites can be preserved now that more tourists will be headed their way. Wooden roads? Now that's something you don't see these days.

  35. Hi Lee – interesting about the Cuidad Vieja – it must have been lovely being there .. wonderful old wood road … that's extraordinary. I'd say #1 is false, while #2 is true … the site itself is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, so private individuals will need to adhere to those parameters …

    Lovely -thanks .. cheers Hilary