Rain and Tapas on Plaza de la Catedral
Blondine and I were still stunned from the scam experience but our priority was to get out of that seedy part of Havana, fast. So we desperately held on to the map trying to find out where we were exactly located and how we were going back to the old centre.
Not the best tapas we've had but it was OK.
It was also past 1 in the afternoon and we were starving. We still have 1 plaza in the agenda—Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square) so we unanimously agreed that the square will be our next destination. I really need to sit down and recover, so hopefully, lunch and booze will help drown our sorrows from the scam incident.
Thankfully Plaza de la Catedral cheered me up. It’s officially my favourite plaza in Havana, along with Plaza Vieja.
We didn’t have to go far to search for food as well because a 18th century mansion converted into a restaurant is right on the square. ‘Restaurante El Patio’ might be very touristy but it probably is the best place to sit in the plaza. For this restaurant, it’s all about location and strategic people watching =)
We ordered cold and warm tapas and some Cuba Libre (rum cola). Then we had cake for dessert and coffee. Food was 3.75 stars out of 5.
Halfway through our lunch it rained, very hard. People ran for cover and the square was empty in seconds as torrents of rain took centre stage. Rains like these brings back memories of the wet season in the Philippines. The annual monsoon rains are actually kicking off right now in tropical Asia as I post this.
Terrace of Restaurante El Patio where we had lunch.
Tourists in front of Restaurante El Patio on Plaza de la Catedral before the deluge of rain.
Inner courtyard of the restaurant. We decided to sit outside.
Just before the rain.
Warm tapas.
Cold tapas.
Dessert.
View from where we were seated.
I am easily distracted. I cannot stop taking pictures.
After the much needed lunch we checked out the baroque influenced Roman Catholic Cathedral (circa late 1700s) on the plaza.
I’ve seen so many cathedrals in my life already so it was just a quick stop. Nothing more, nothing less. The church was nothing that extraordinary.
It is not always easy to take pictures under the rain.
I think I may need to look for a better point and click camera. NO DSLRs for me please as I find them too bulky, heavy and unfashionable while travelling. Plus it screams tourist and thief target.
Our next destination is the bar where they say the mojito drink was born.
Travel Period: May 2012
Destination: Havana, Cuba
Not the best tapas we've had but it was OK.It was also past 1 in the afternoon and we were starving. We still have 1 plaza in the agenda—Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square) so we unanimously agreed that the square will be our next destination. I really need to sit down and recover, so hopefully, lunch and booze will help drown our sorrows from the scam incident.
Thankfully Plaza de la Catedral cheered me up. It’s officially my favourite plaza in Havana, along with Plaza Vieja.
We didn’t have to go far to search for food as well because a 18th century mansion converted into a restaurant is right on the square. ‘Restaurante El Patio’ might be very touristy but it probably is the best place to sit in the plaza. For this restaurant, it’s all about location and strategic people watching =)
We ordered cold and warm tapas and some Cuba Libre (rum cola). Then we had cake for dessert and coffee. Food was 3.75 stars out of 5.
Halfway through our lunch it rained, very hard. People ran for cover and the square was empty in seconds as torrents of rain took centre stage. Rains like these brings back memories of the wet season in the Philippines. The annual monsoon rains are actually kicking off right now in tropical Asia as I post this.
Terrace of Restaurante El Patio where we had lunch.Tourists in front of Restaurante El Patio on Plaza de la Catedral before the deluge of rain.Inner courtyard of the restaurant. We decided to sit outside.Just before the rain.Warm tapas.Cold tapas.Dessert.View from where we were seated.I am easily distracted. I cannot stop taking pictures.After the much needed lunch we checked out the baroque influenced Roman Catholic Cathedral (circa late 1700s) on the plaza.
I’ve seen so many cathedrals in my life already so it was just a quick stop. Nothing more, nothing less. The church was nothing that extraordinary.
It is not always easy to take pictures under the rain.I think I may need to look for a better point and click camera. NO DSLRs for me please as I find them too bulky, heavy and unfashionable while travelling. Plus it screams tourist and thief target.
Our next destination is the bar where they say the mojito drink was born.
Travel Period: May 2012
Destination: Havana, Cuba
