Operation Hedgehog

A secret mission of this scale takes more than preparation. Whatever my critics may say, luck is a very important factor to consider. I invite you to join me in this exciting adventure that will take you to discover corners of Havana, as yet unexplored in Hive.

My secret service divided Hedgehog into 5 phases.

1- Towards Old Havana
2- Hedgehog Location
3- Walk to Harris Brothers
4- The Conquest of Carlos three sticks
5- Return to Villa Nani

And that's the way things happened:

As soon as I left home a neighbour gave me a lift in his Almendrón to the 100 and Boyeros bridge and I immediately jumped into a taxi heading to Old Havana for just 200 CUP (0.62 USD). A tourist, of course, will not find the price of this taxi expensive, which - by the way - covers a very specific line. It is not the kind of taxi that picks you up wherever you ask and takes you wherever you ask as well. This one went as far as the Parque de la Fraternidad (Fraternity Park), an important landmark as it is right next to the Capitol.

(I've been lucky so far, right?)

👀 Route video and map
https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO7e414Ayq
Towards Old Havana

There is also a very beautiful place there that I like to photograph a lot. I hadn't taken my camera out of my backpack yet in order to go unnoticed.

These are photos with the smartphone... I promise to get back to doing a better job with the camera. Remember there was a mission in progress.

👀 Route video and map
https://www.relive.cc/view/vKv2nX87N4v
Walk to Harris Brothers

But...

On the way to the shopping centre, we had to track down the Hedgehog! 😁

And this is where @alt3r's passion begins.

🙃

There are so many opportunities to portray these classic cars in Havana, and if someone asks me for "more cars"... I can't refuse. They stand out a lot. They make the city unique and if you concentrate on them, you miss some things in Havana that I don't like so much, but let's see I was in a happy mode and also in a secret operation. This is part of field work: street photography.

Several times I was asked if I was from Spain. The camera around my neck and gazing at the buildings in a self-absorbed way is not something the locals do all the time here. Maybe that's why...

I was on my way to the boulevard on San Rafael Street and the scenes for photos were like handfuls of rice falling on a bride's veil.

A door knocker

Okay... hahaha... This was just about going to buy my bike helmet and other stuff like a spare tube and cool patches, just in case I get a flat tire on a trip. I was on that mission.

Tube: 1060.80 CUP (3.26 USD) - Cold patches: 435.20 CUP (1.34 USD)

An this is a unique helmet that has to do with me, not maturing, not maturing... 😂 I found it yesterday on the online sales page Revolico.com.

Price: 5000 CUP (15.38 USD)

And more cars on the way to the Harris Brothers shopping center.

I was having a good walk so far. My energy was getting stronger: photos everywhere, the mission was looking very successful.

Carlos three sticks (the Carlos III shopping center on Ayestarán Avenue) had not yet been conquered. But at Harris Brothers, I found two Hivers who gave me a ride. You see, I'm lucky! They were looking for a grater. And since they knew I was on my way there, they stopped by the sports department and discovered that they also sold some helmets, of course not as childish as mine. Oh well, I was happy with Mr. Hedgehog.

And this... is amazing. She's the driver and yeah, she knows how to dress well, right?

I'm sorry, the framing got cut off. I had the 45-200 mm lens on and couldn't change it at that moment, would've missed this action. 🤷‍♀

Returning to Villa Nani was quite a trek, a lot of walking, actually. I forgot to track it on Relive. But I walked from Carlos III all the way past the Bus Terminal, through Ayestarán. I passed by the ice cream place, where the pinareños hivers caused havoc, but there was a long line. I was hungry and had a burger near where Olo, the microgreens guy, is building his business.

All that before catching another old American car to the 100 and Boyeros bridge. Do you see? Easy Peasy? or lucky ditsy?

This 👆 stuff will only be understood by those who follow my posts hahaha... it's not important, actually. Just wanted to say that I'm tired. I'm going to share one last photo that I really liked and then off to bed. Tomorrow (Oh, no) in three hours it's time to work for Bohemia Magazine and the car will be honking its horn at my door) - Goodbye. I hope you enjoyed these snaps.