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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 25, 2018 14:49:18 GMT
After more than a week in Havana, we were filled with revolutionary fervour so what better place to visit than the Museum of the Revolution. The building was constructed in 1920 and was the presidential palace until 1959. It was such a symbol of complete corruption to the new leaders that it was out of the question to continue using it for government functions. It was therefore converted into a museum.
I found it very interesting, but there was not much to photograph indoors. There were many documents and photos in glass cases, and even though some of them would have been worthy of a picture, the reflections on the glass pretty much prevented any chance of success.
The major highlight as far as I was concerned was that our visit coincided with the arrival of about a hundred young soldiers, probably on their very first visit to the capital. They were quite excited by everything they saw, even though their had the attention span of their age group. I read that military service lasts two years in Cuba and is performed between the ages of 17 and 28. For men it is compulsory and for women it is voluntary. There were quite a few young women in the group. Besides being a patriotic thing to do, I imagine it is an excellent way to finally get away from home. A number of the soldiers were holding hands, so it seems to be a good dating service as well.
s19.postimg.cc/dm03q9qs3/Cuba_1008.jpg
Here is a full view of the building, not my own photo, because I did not think to take one from far enough away.
mythatchedhut.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Museum-Revolution-3.jpg
s19.postimg.cc/cjpx7qfoj/Cuba_1010.jpg
All of these presidential palace buildings around the world seem to have the same basic design with a dome.
s19.postimg.cc/uzae546nn/Cuba_1011.jpg
s19.postimg.cc/kqhwyrfvn/Cuba_1012.jpg
There were a couple of diaramas to jazz things up. The little soldiers thought they were wonderful as a backdrop for their selfies.
s19.postimg.cc/5gi1s4hyr/Cuba_1013.jpg
s19.postimg.cc/550letjcz/Cuba_1014.jpg
Women were very prominent as revolutionary figures in the museum.
s19.postimg.cc/8omj4lyxf/Cuba_1016.jpg
s19.postimg.cc/8nclbrhub/Cuba_1017.jpg
s19.postimg.cc/bu74vehpv/Cuba_1018.jpg
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 25, 2018 14:52:56 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 25, 2018 18:46:21 GMT
Usually when arriving at a museum, you don't want to see a large group going in before you. But it this case, as Kerouac pointed it, it enhanced the experience. It was a singular experience for me anyway, in the sense of the museum not only celebrating a major event that took place within my memory, but presenting history that has been a constant companion to the young Cubans visiting it. As we got further into the exhibits, many of the pictures looked like poorly reproduced photos in a history textbook, very probably the very illustrations seen by those young people as they grew up. As in my previous sightings of cops and soldiers in Havana, I was struck by the very in-style tailoring of their uniforms. Right off the bat, I see things in Kerouac's photos that I missed -- the field radio and the telegram. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 25, 2018 18:55:56 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 25, 2018 19:22:09 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 25, 2018 21:56:38 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Jan 25, 2018 23:42:20 GMT
Those young men and women sure have the sexy, well-fitted uniforms!
Am I a dirty old lady if I add that they have nice bums?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 1:32:24 GMT
(Please note that I accidentally left out two pictures in Reply #4, which I have since added.) No doubt a positive side effect of running the obstacle course.  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 2:12:02 GMT
Museum doppelgänger ~  There were various significant artifacts displayed, such as a doll in which messages had been hidden, and this typewriter used by journalist Herbert L. Matthews to record his interview with Castro in the Sierra Maestra ~    Of course I could see the importance of those historical items, but think I can be forgiven for my snort of laughter over this one, as I thought, "That chain, huh? That very chain?"  It wasn't easy getting pictures of these model scenes, as they were always surrounded by men deeply discussing them ~    Work is is ongoing in and on the building, but .....  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 3:12:47 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 5:32:10 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 5:48:26 GMT
Here are four views from the terrace which will catch me up to where Kerouac left off in his last post. He can then lead us into the exterior section of the museum.   If you wish, you can go here to see the area shown above from street level (Reply #43). I never got the name of this church, but it features in the movie Soy Cuba.  Yes, my photo, but the credit goes to Kerouac for spotting this parking lot art ~  Over to you, Comrade K! |
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 26, 2018 6:12:38 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 26, 2018 6:17:24 GMT
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Post by bjd on Jan 26, 2018 8:03:23 GMT
Seeing all this reminds me of an absolutely terrible movie called Havana with Robert Redford. It's the lead up to the guerrilla takeover in Cuba, with people being snatched off streets by Batista's police. Perhaps I thought it awful because it was confusing and I didn't know the background very well.
After so many years, the young soldiers must have heard all this stuff over the years -- I wonder whether seeing the actual articles (even the chain!) means much any more, or whether they have become desensitized to it all.
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Post by lagatta on Jan 26, 2018 10:26:23 GMT
See that you found a British plane for Mossie...
Oh, I'm sure the young soldiers have heard that stuff over and over. But it is a good opportunity to hang out with their friends and flirt.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 17:29:04 GMT
Breeze, I've never seen (nor wanted to see) that movie, but maybe I should see it now that I have a little historical context. It would mean having to endure Robert Redford, but I guess anything for knowledge, right?  I had the same thought as you and Breeze, LaGatta -- that the young soldiers wouldn't be that interested. However I observed them being quite taken by the inside exhibits, discussing them and seeming to readily identify relics of particularly salient historical moments. And let me see how salient I can be now, since Kerouac has already done such an excellent job of covering the outside exhibits. I have to say, seeing the various hardware involved really brought home how rough and ready, how homemade a revolution necessarily is! |
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Post by mich64 on Jan 26, 2018 19:37:04 GMT
Quite an amazing collection of photographs you both have shared. I am in awe of everything you were able to see in Cuba.
Their exhibits look impeccably well kept, especially the grounds, planes, tanks, and vehicles outside in the last post. That must be a lot of work keeping everything so spotless and manicured.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 20:22:36 GMT
Thanks, Mich! Your report on your visit to Cuba was one of the things that convinced me I needed to go see for myself. As far as all the work on the exhibits and the grounds, it's my impression that there are many such jobs because of the government's need to provide work: The 1959 revolution promised 100 percent employment for Cuban people of working age. State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are the largest employers of Cuban citizens../ source |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 26, 2018 20:32:16 GMT
The eternal flame honoring the heroes of the new homeland ~  Some mysterious but nifty items in the parking lot ~  The building seen on the left in the picture above. Because of its position, it once must have been an important government building ~  And now we end as we began, with the museum-visiting soldiers ~   |
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