Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/458251
All In Luxury™ Inclusions: 32 W E S T W O R L D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 T wo days earlier those same high winds had closed stretches of Havana's famous eight-km- long Malecón seawall. So, on our first day in Cuba, we took a whirlwind tour arranged by our host Alan Law of GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours. First up: a horse-and-carriage ride from the Capitol building along the edge of Old Havana, emceed by the ever-ebullient Angelo. After establish- ing his Canadian credentials – "I love the Guess Who and Nickelback" – he barked out tour highlights: "Photo op! Bacardi!" (the art deco Bacardi build- ing, now home to Santiago de Cuba Rum); "Photo op! Afghanistan!" (a bul- let-riddled balcony dating back to the 1959 revolution); and every make, model and year of many aged, post-war American cars on the streets. I tried to compete but am weak on mid-'50s Chr ysler products, and Angelo trumped me with his knowledge of tail-finned Dodges and DeSotos. Next on our schedule was a walk with accomplished and government-accredited guide Nubia, who escorted us into the heart of Old Havana, pointing out many of the city's 35 museums, including the gorgeous Museo de la Ciudad and its tastefully displayed exhib- its of grand, colonial Cuba; four main squares – Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Vieja and Plaza de San Francisco; and three Hemingway haunts, including the immacu- lately restored and cared-for Hotel Ambos Mundos where the American writer lived from 1932 to 1939. We took the wrought-iron and wood elevator Papa once rode to the terrace for revealing views of the city and enjoyed a friendly exchange with six young Russians working on a round of mojitos at 10:30 in the morning. ey glee- fully informed us that it was "minus 18 degrees in Moscow!" High winds prevailed into the afternoon, and our scheduled 5 p.m. departure on the Panorama was delayed by a day. Cruise coordinator Lis- sett offered the option of a daytrip by tour bus to the cigar and rum factories of Pinto Rio or another day at our leisure in Havana. Lori and I chose Havana. We used landmarks from Nubia's tour to connect the dots and wandered down roughly cobble-stoned side streets punctuated with the occasional modest family-run sandwich shop. We purchased a postcard at a government glp/variety cruises Cienfuegos boasts a group of historic buildings, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005; (opposite) local musicians play for tourists in the streets of the colonial section of Trinidad.