After breakfast on our second full  day in Havana we visited the Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym in Old Havana.  This gym was named in memory of a revolutionary figure.   Rafael Trejo  was a Cuban law student killed in 1930 during protests against  the dictatorship of  Gerardo Machado. This club is perhaps the oldest boxing club in Havana.  It was an open air arena in the centre of a courtyard with seating on two sides.  Despite its well worn and neglected appearance it is one of the more famous boxing arenas with a number of Olympic champions having trained here.  

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I have to say that I have a new respect for sport photographers.  Trying to capture sharp images during the fighting was not easy.  It didn't help that I had to look up between the ropes in order to take the pictures of the boxers.   

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Cubans take their boxing very seriously.  Boxing is perhaps Cuba's second most favourite sport behind baseball and people of all ages come here to train.  Today we were most fortunate in that we were able to watch actual matches as opposed to just people training.  I don't think that foreigners are supposed to be allowed in the gyms.  

20140125_cuba_0577-Edit I should mention that today there were young kids also competing in the arena.  Children are encouraged by the time they enter grammar school to practice a specific sport apart from taking physical education.  In Cuba there is a preference for sports that come from the culture and traditions of the country.  Traditionally the Cubans have excelled at baseball and boxing.  The local gyms are used to scout future athletes  who   are coached by specialized trainers who hold bachelor degrees in exercise and sport sciences.  The kids who prove to have a special talent for a specific sport will go on to sports schools at the elementary and middle levels.  

20140125_cuba_0678-2 Some last minute advice  was given to this young boxer before the match.

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It was also fun to watch and photograph the action going on outside of the rink.

20140125_cuba_0699 The gym was surrounded by  three level apartment buildings with windows opening to the training area.  

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The coach showing the kids some moves.  

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Just as we were leaving the kids lined up to pose for us.   All in all it was a very interesting experience watching and photographing the boxing.  Perhaps we are looking at a future Cuban champion!  

20140125_cuba_0079-2-Edit For lunch we took a ride to the Paladar Vistamar.  The restaurant had a real 50's feel and we  sat outside overlooking the sea.  The restaurant was located in the 2nd-floor family-room turned restaurant of a private residence.   It was too bad that the swimming pools were in such bad shape.   This area was once  very beautiful and glamorous.  

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The resorts of the past.  

20140125_cuba_0096-2 Jose Rodriguez Fuster is a  Cuban artist specializing in ceramics, painting, drawing, engraving   and graphic design.  Fuster has made a major contribution of rebuilding and decorating the fishing town of Jaimanitas in the outskirts of Havana.  Over 80 houses have been decorated with ornate murals and domes.  According to Havana Cultura he puts his own money made from selling his paintings and sculptures back into the community.  We had an interesting visit to Fusterlandia.  

20140125_cuba_0105-2-Edit-Edit Everywhere you looked there were ceramics.

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