La Ciudad de Habana, Day 3

Today's story begins with the overnight period. Our new room is overlooking Obispo Street, which is one of the main commercial streets in Habana Vieja.

And last night was Friday night. So the street life went on for some time. Loud talk, some yelling the occasional banging on the metal shutters of the store across the street, the odd dog barking, and some musical rhythm instruments (which didn't seem so musical in the night). But it did quiet down. And it was hot, to the point of sweating in bed. So we turned on the air conditioner, which served two purposes: it masked some of the noise in its own white noise; and the room cooled considerably. So we slept, waking eventually about seven (all right, seven-thirty for me).

Richard's foot was sore, and my back and foot was also sore, so we decided that this was a good time to try out the internet at the Parque Central. We went over, did about a half-hour, then went up to the roof pool and bar, for pictures and a coffee. After that, we were back to the hotel for a re-grouping, before heading off to finish our tour of the old town. This included going to the Plaza de San Francisco de Assis, with its statue to El Caballero de Paris, a local street person who died in the late fifties, but was much known and loved.

While there, we went to see if there was a classical concert in the church of the Plaza, and indeed there was, so we vowed to return. A visit to an art project, a tour of the Plaza de Armas—with its book sellers

—and its environs, and a quick return to the hotel finished off the day's events before returning to the Plaza for our concert.

And what an experience that was! Two pieces, a Mozart piano concerto (#13 in C major), followed by Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. Different pianists, both good, but the latter, a Señor Pita, was spectacular: he is a real star and a showman.

 He got a standing ovation from the large crowd and played two encores to the wowed crowd.

We had made a reservation for supper at Restaurant el Templete,which is recommended by Lonely Planet, and lived up to its billing. Food was great.
But by now it was al ost ten, and our beds beckoned.

The man at the desk was Tulio, the same guy we met two years ago. He. Is a bit grayer and seems to have more responsibility now.

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Location:Hotel Florida