Bonus H: Hurray! I’m giving away a signed copy of Alligators Overhead at Goodreads. This is the last day to ENTER.
Here’s to a great AtoZ!
Join in the FUN. |
This year I traveled to Cuba. You know, it’s that little island that’s spitting distance from Florida and should not be visited without special dispensation. I wanted to see it before MacDonald’s arrived. I’m so glad I did. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful people. It seems they like us. Now there’s a change!
I’ll add a short T/F quiz to each post the same as I did last year about Burma, and I’ll post the answers to the questions the following day.
Answers to your T/F Quiz for G
TRUE 1. Guantánamo is the oldest U.S. military base outside U.S. territory. It was established in 1898.
H is for Hemingway.
Hemingway made his home in Cuba in the 40s and 50s. If you read my A post you know he lived in the Hotel Ambos Mundos in Room 151, now a museum with his artifacts. He later bought a home on an exquisite property overlooking the sea. I didn’t want to leave after walking around and visiting this place he loved.
The Cubans have restored and kept this house as it was when the writer lived in it. His typewriter, his books, his music are all here. I wasn’t a fan of the man, but I was a fan of his writing, so I soaked up as much of his writer’s inspiration as I could before moving on.
Several rooms had mounted animal heads from his African expeditions. One of the reasons I wasn’t keen on him as a human being. There are others, but I’ll save that for another time. |
This was one of the vistas he enjoyed. |
Entrance to the Hemingway house |
Your T/F Quiz for H
1. Hemingway fought in the Spanish-American War.
2. His novel, Old Man and the Sea, was the last book he wrote, and it earned him a Pulitzer Prize.
Answers tomorrow
Sharon Himsl says
I've read quite a bit of Hemingway over the years. I would have loved the tour. Thanks for sharing
Arlee Bird says
It's good that the Cuban government kept the Hemingway sites intact for tourists and history buffs.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
J.H. Moncrieff says
Um, they're both true! 😀
I despise trophy hunters. They deserve to have their heads hanging in a room.
Your cover is gorgeous, Lee!
Birgit says
Yup, I didn't like that about him either. It's a shame about these great animals. I know he loved cats and his one had 6 toes and now there are quite a few 6-toed cats due To that. One. I will say true. To both
Nilanjana Bose says
I am also a great fan of his writing but not a fan of his lifestyle choices. You are so lucky to have visited this space!
Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse
DMS says
I am glad you got to visit his house and soak up inspiration. I am sure it was interesting. What a view! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
~Jess
Lynda R Young says
Looks like Hemingway had a nice house. 🙂
Juneta Key says
Interesting history. I am not sure what I think about Hemingway, but enjoyed the post.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Lissa Johnston says
Really looking forward to visiting Cuba. Thanks for sharing the great pix.
Donna McDine says
Enjoyed reading about Hemingway. Thanks for sharing!
AJ Lauer says
Funny, that's basically how I feel about Hemingway, too. Have you read The Paris Wife? About his wife Hadley? Beautiful book, but I was super frustrated with him. It also left me feeling paranoid about the ways I interact with my husband when I'm writing a lot lol. ..not to worry – he assures me I'm not a jerk like Hemingway!
Susan Leigh Noble says
I've been to his Key West home but hadn't seen his Cuba home before…both beautiful locations.
Shooting Stars Mag says
I didn't know he lived in Cuba for a time. That would definitely be intriguing to see, from a literary standpoint.
-Lauren
Elizabeth says
Beautiful location! I can see how it could be inspiring for Hemingway.
Yvonne Ventresca says
I have photos of his Key West home. Nice to see the Cuban one as well.
Yvonne V
Bish Denham says
I had no idea his house in Cuba was so grand. It's nice that the people have kept his home is such good condition and take pride in his having lived there. Personally I never care for his writing style, though I respect the fact that he left his mark on American literature. #1 in definitely false. #2 is definitely true.
Empty Nest Insider says
It's fascinating to see where Hemingway lived! When you mentioned it was "spitting distance" from Florida, I remember my mom went there for the day with her girlfriend and some boys that they met while vacationing in Florida. This was shortly after they graduated from high school and of course it was perfectly safe back then. Another great A to Z theme, Lee!
Julie
Kathleen Valentine says
I have always said I learned more about writing from reading Hemingway's A MOVEABLE FEAST than I did from all the writing classes I ever took. He is my literary hero.
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A Tarkabarka Hölgy says
Well, he certainly picked a beautiful place to live! 🙂
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog
lorilmaclaughlin.com says
What a fascinating place to visit. I didn't realize there were so many interesting things/places/people in Cuba. Fuster's mosaics are amazing.
Yolanda Renee says
How sad that he loved the big hunt. How sad the end he came too. Some demons are just too hard to beat.But so cool that you could step back in time to visit the place he loved.
For the quiz, I'll just copy Pat's answers, is that cheating? 🙂
Lexa Cain says
I got the quiz answers right! I'll go you one better: I'm not a fan of Hemingway or his writing, but I'm now a big fan of his house! It's wonderful, and I'd love to live there! Today's quiz, I'm guessing 1-T and 2-F. Have a great weekend, Lee! 🙂
Ronel Janse van Vuuren says
Interesting. Great pics.
Good luck with the rest of the AtoZchallenge.
Pat Garcia says
Sorry, I had made a mistake and had to copy and rewrite my comment. So here we go again.
I remember when he killed himself. I had just turned twelve but even then his writing fascinated me. I would go to the library and read his books in a hidden corner.
1. False -He won the Pulitzer for The Old Man and The Sea but it was not his last book. He received the Pulitzer in 1953 if I am not mistaken.
2. False- he was a war correspondent or report in the Spanish Civil War.
Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
Mary Aalgaard says
Forgot to say, I entered your giveaway. I'm really enjoying the book you sent me to review!
Mary Aalgaard says
I'd say false on the war. He was in WWI as a young man, and his book A Farewell to Arms is set there. I like that book. He had his demons.
Sarah Foster says
I wouldn't be a big fan of the animal heads, either, but the outside views are gorgeous!
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
Looks like a beautiful house, but the animal heads would give me the creeps 🙂
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
sage says
There was a lot to dislike about the man Hemingway and a lot to like about his writings… I didn't do so well with your last questions. I don't think Hemingway fought in the Spanish Civil War, but he was there as a journalist (and if he said he fought, he might not have done so). The Old Man and the Sea wasn't the last book he wrote (It may have been the last book published in his lifetime) as "The Moveable Feast" came out after his death. I have spent summers near his home in Idaho and have been to his lake home in North Michigan and fished some of his rivers in the UP that make up his Nick Adam stories.
Nicola says
A great post. I would love to visit Hemmingway's house. The pictures are delightful, especially the vista. I am often inspired by landscapes and nature. Thank you!
Pat Hatt says
That would be interesting to see indeed. Both false?
nashvillecats2 says
This was so interesting to read and wonderful pictures to compliament your excellent post.
Yvonne.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
What a lovely home. The people must have admired him. However, a house with animal heads in it gives me the creeps.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Not sure if either of those two things are true. The war might have been a bit before his time. Then again, he might have fought when he was a teen or young adult.
Michelle Wallace says
That Hemingway house is quite majestic.
Animal heads from his African expeditions? Harumph. That's all I have to say. Anything stronger may get me banned from your blog. Not taking that chance.
Writer In Transit