Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba



Che Guevara's handsome face seems to adorn nearly everything in Cuba from huge billboards to murals and road signs. I never tire of seeing him. He must be one of the most photogenic people I've ever seen.

Around the leafy Plaza de Armas, the bookstalls appear mainly to sell his published journals, or books by or on Fidel Castro. He is affectionately referred to as 'Fidel' by Cubans. I can't imagine talking about 'Tony' at home.

Che has iconic status here. Castro not only made him a Commander (hence the reference to Che, Comandante, amigo) in 1957 but granted him Cuban citizenship in 1959. The more I hear about Che, the more fascinated I become. There are several interesting photos of Che and Castro together, two educated (Che was a doctor and Castro a lawyer) charismatic personalities who came together and changed the course of world history.

(Photo - books stalls on the Plaza de Armas)

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