Buzz
In 1940, he acquired a charming house in the village of San Francisco de Paula at Finca Vigia, then still a rural suburb outside La Habana. In Cuba, Hemingway lived through tumultuous years, working as an action officer attempting to sink German U-boats roaming off the coast of the United States during the early days of World War II. It was also here that Hemingway conceived the initial pages of the renowned novel 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'...
A taxi winds through narrow roads under the shady canopy of trees in the outskirts of La Habana, arriving at Hemingway's residence in Finca Vigia after roughly forty minutes. During Hemingway's time here, it was a large house in the countryside. Upon his move, the place was transformed into a splendid villa set amidst a beautifully landscaped estate. Today, both the house and the estate stand as the Hemingway Museum.
The entire property is painted in an elegant white and green, blending seamlessly with the lush greenery. In front of the entrance stands a bell with a cord hanging at arm's length. During his lifetime, when Hemingway resided here, friends only had to ring the bell to alert the host of incoming visitors.
Hemingway's residence features multiple rooms. As one might anticipate, the Nobel laureate's living space is overflowing with books, estimated to be around 9,000 volumes. Books are placed throughout, with the highest concentration in the library, the workroom, and even the bedrooms.
Adorning the walls of the various rooms are numerous taxidermied animal heads. The museum guide explains that these are all animals Hemingway hunted in Africa.
Many paintings by renowned artists, gifts from various painters, grace the walls. A large canvas by Spanish surrealist painter Joan Miro, vibrant in color, hangs in the dining room. A circular painting personally gifted by Picasso to Hemingway adorns the living room.
In Hemingway's main workspace, stacks of books remain untouched on the writing desk, forming a crescent moon shape as if he just paused reading and left for a moment. On one end of the table, there's a vintage telephone, and on the other, a plush tiger head. The museum guide revealed that Hemingway acquired this tiger head from the Italian dictator Mussolini during his time as a journalist in Europe, where he had the opportunity to interview famous personalities post World War I.
The bathroom wall still bears Hemingway's handwritten messages. Perhaps in a spontaneous moment, the writer inscribed his emotions on the wall to prevent them from slipping away...
An airy, pure, and gentle atmosphere envelops the entire house and its gardens. It feels as if Hemingway has just ventured somewhere, and he will soon return to his masterpieces.
That intimate feeling lingers as I leave Hemingway's residence and head back to the historic streets of La Habana. Walking on cobblestone paths, I visit one of the taverns where Hemingway frequently sat during his time in La Habana.
Situated at 557 Obispo Street in the historic district, built in 1817, the bar named Floridita, meaning 'Little Florida,' evokes memories of Hemingway's American homeland with the Florida landmass just a hundred miles away.
The bar is bustling with people. The atmosphere is lively and vibrant, with a band playing Caribbean-flavored tunes. I order a Daiquiri, a drink that Hemingway once enjoyed, made from white rum, lime, sugar, and crushed ice. Whenever he was here, Hemingway savored this drink, describing it as the 'best in the world.' The faint aroma of rum and lime fills the air with just one sip enough to make you feel slightly dizzy.
At the forefront of the bar, on a cozy chair, sits a large Hemingway statue, almost life-sized. It's as if Hemingway is still there, sipping a Daiquiri and reflecting on the tempestuous journey of his life, crafting masterpieces of the era...
By Khương Duy/Qdnd.vn
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourMarch 9, 2018
