We are off an running early – 8:30 sharp for the bus – but of course we are up way before that. 
The View From Our Room in the Morning
Breakfast starts at 7:00am and we’ve read a lot of articles and reviews that say the buffets aren’t usually refreshed. So if you want food, you need to be there early. So, the BS team rendezvoused at the restaurant at 7:00 – just to be certain. And the funny thing is – the rest of our group is there as well! Everyone must have read the same thing. Ah well – we need not have worried – there was plenty of food – and this hotel/restaurant does replenish their buffet. There also appeared to be an omelet station, all set up with eggs and accoutrements. No one showed to make the omelets though, so after a bit, they just broke it down and took it all away. Oh well…maybe tomorrow!
We had a leisurely breakfast, then headed out for a quick morning walk down the Prado. The morning is fairly quiet for being the start of the work week – not too many cars along the boulevard – so it proves to be a nice quiet walk for us.
Back in the lobby (after cleaning up) we all load into the bus for our day tour. First stop is the Senior Center in the old town where, after the bus lets us off, we walk through the streets, careful to avoid the pot holes, horse droppings and large cars/trucks coming through the narrow cobblestone streets. We arrive just as they are beginning their morning exercise/stretches out front of the building.
Inside we get a quick history lesson the building from Julie and the Senior Center director. The center was originally built in the early 1700’s as a convent and church. 
Now it has been converted into the Senior center where hundreds (don’t remember the exact number!) of seniors come every day for all sorts of social activities.
It’s a beautiful old building built around a very pretty tree lined courtyard. 
We tour the upstairs a bit – have time for photos – 
say hello to the little ones in daycare…
…and drop off our “gifts” for the seniors. Our travel documents had advised us that we would be meeting people and that we should bring “gifts” with us to show our appreciation. Also, the basic supplies we easily can purchase in the States are hard to find and afford here. Friendly Planet gave us a whole list of items to bring. We all stocked up before leaving and this was our first opportunity to share. We quickly filled a big 6 foot table with lots of supplies, such as soap (very expensive to purchase here), razors, band-aids, etc., for the seniors here at the center.
Then we went downstairs to look at their handicrafts – which were lovely – a lot of crochet and knit items, and dolls and some adorable bottle cap kittens that we purchased for Abby, our neighbor who is watching over the condo while we are away.
Then we were all escorted up on to the stage (yikes!!!) and greeted by the whole community. The choir serenaded us….
and then we could ask questions of the center members. We found out that retirement age is about 60, and after that the seniors begin to come to the center. They are divided into little groups and they stay with their group doing different activities throughout the day. The small groups help build relationships, but also help some of the folks who may be having memory issues remember with whom they should be during the day. When asked about transportation and how they got to the center, they all held up their hands and imitated walking with the fingers. It was too cute!
After that little emotional visit, we move on to an elementary school. Along the way we see some vendors selling fruits, vegetables and even eggs. These are some of the private businesses that have been allowed to operate since about 2010. Some people will augment their government salary by growing a vegetable garden on their roof, then selling the produce to their neighbors.
We also find a great pedi-cab advertisement for Maggi – great photo op!!
At the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes elementary school we listen to the principal talk about the school, the children and the lessons. The curriculum is the same for every grade across the country. School is compulsory until age 14, when the child can decide to continue on through higher levels and University. There are tests the child must take to gain admittance to University, and, as I mentioned previously, it’s all paid for by the State.
These children are all learning their basics – match, reading, writing, languages (English of course – then other languages if they want later). There are also creative courses, such as theater, music, etc. We meet two 9 year olds who recite poems and sing a song for us. They are adorable!
We ask them what they want to be when they grow up – and the girl on the left says she wants to work in a store (tourism, she knows she can make tips in a retail store), the girl on the right however says she wants to be a doctor, a lawyer….or a flight attendant! Hey – you gotta have dreams! Love it!
We deposit our supplies – lots of notepads, pencils, crayons and other school necessities – and then tour the school – peeking into the kindergarten class (Marti – these are for you) – “pequenos exploradores” – Little explorers. Adorable – all cute and giggly and waving to us!
Next up – Cathedral Square….we’re not even halfway through the morning yet! Stay tuned!
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