Cerveceria Antiguo Almacen de la Madera y El Tabaco (Havana) 2018

                      Continuing on our walk along the Avenida del Puerto, across the street from the Church is the Cerveceria (Pub).
                    The original structure, which was a Tobacco and Wood Warehouse, was built in 1906, the construction of the docks close by were approved in 1860. The revitalization of the Avenida del Puerto and beyond included this building and the Almacenes San Jose (the tourist market) next door as well. The original owners of the warehouse were The Havana Central Railroad Company which used it as a steel warehouse. It had it's own railway lines connected to it and modern cranes, very advanced for it's time. The locomotive that was parked out front of the restaurant was sitting on the rails once used by the warehouse (the train wasn't there on my current visit). In 1959, with the triumph of the Cuban revolution, it was nationalized along with everything else. In 2014, the old warehouse was restored by the Office of the Historian of Havana and converted into a small brewery and a restaurant which opened it's doors to the public March 14, 2014 with a capacity for 400 people. Eusebio Leal Spengler, Historian of the City, was at the inauguration. Just like the Pub-Brewery in Plaza Vieja, the Cerveceria Antiguo Almacen also produces their own beer in the same 3 styles, light, amber and dark @ $2.50cuc a mug or $12cuc for 6 liters, using the same Austrian technology.
                   Although the food and service has declined somewhat since it's opening a few years ago, it still beats it's predecessor hands down for quality of food and cordial service.  During different times of the day they have a live band playing and don't forget to check out the sunset over the bay. Cigar smoking is allowed inside and on the huge patio. All in all, a pleasant experience.




Ave Del Puerto y San Pedro,
La Habana Vieja, Habana,
+53 7 8647780
Opening hours: noon till midnight

La Iglesia de San Francisco de Paula (Havana) 2018

                La Iglesia de San Francisco de Paula is one of the most important monuments in Cuba both for it's Artistic and Architectural values. It was constructed in 1668 to act as the chapel for the 'Hospital de San Francisco de Paula' that was once located next to the spot where the church now stands. At that time the hospital had 30 beds and was one of the most important in the city. In 1787 the hospital was expanded, it's specialty was maternity.
                 In 1940 the hospital was demolished but the church was left standing. After 1955 the church building was used for other purposes but not religious. Not long after that the church was abandoned all together and so began it's decline. When in 1990 the church was taken over by squatters, who used it as a residence, the church really began it's deterioration. Shortly after that the Cuban Government and the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana took over the building and restored it to it's present state by October 2000.
                 Today the site is used as a concert hall for groups playing Classical Music and as an Exhibition Hall for Contemporary Plastic Art and Religious Themes by Cuban Artists. You can see in the photos below the Procession of Jesus Christ have been painted by Zaida del Rio and there are other works done by other artists as well. Also in photos below you can see the ruins sticking out of the ground to the back and side of the church. This used to be a cemetery where they buried the patients that died in the hospital.
                  It's a great way to kill a few more minutes while taking your walk along the Avenida del Puerto....you're nearing the end.



Calle San Pedro (Avenida del Puerto)
e/ S.Ignacio y Leonor Perez (Paula)