Changing perspective and being able to see things in a different way is great, and I had the opportunity to experience this as I was able to see much of the city from a great height. I was so high up that I saw birds gliding right in front of my eyes, it was a great feeling!

Today's post is about the José Martí Memorial and the great Mirador that is located there.

José Marti Memorial

This is a site well known by all Cubans, since it is located in the Plaza de la Revolución, a space closely linked to the history of the country. The memorial honors José Martí, national hero. A great man who fought for Cuba's independence when it was a Spanish colony, to the point of giving his life for his ideals.

Here is a large marble statue of Martí, seated in a reflective attitude. It was the first time I had seen the monument from so close and its sheer magnitude amazed me. It is a simple and yet beautiful sculpture.

Museum to the life and work of José Martí

The interior of the Memorial has a museum with five rooms, where different works and objects related to José Martí are exhibited. Through them the history and life of our National Hero is narrated. Numerous photographs, copies of his writings and various works of art can be appreciated.

I was amazed by the golden columns, as they are laminated in gold, as well as Martí's thoughts engraved on the walls with large letters, these phrases are still valid today.

In one of the rooms there is a scale model of the site and different photographs showing the history of the construction of the Plaza and the monument.

We can also enjoy an exhibition of paintings by some of the best artists who have been inspired by the figure of the hero.

The lookout point

The lookout point is what impresses visitors (and me) the most. It is the highest point in all of Havana, in the shape of a five-pointed star, one of the symbols of the Cuban flag.

The ascent is by elevator, although there is also a staircase. Inside the elevator, I got a little tense because it takes a while to reach the top, since it has to climb 142 meters! The view from the top is extraordinary; it is possible to see a large part of Havana. Each point of the star offers a different perspective of the city.

The place is a bit narrow, because as we climb the tower gets narrower and narrower. The windows are quite wide with large panes of glass. Besides the city, which looked like a big model under my eyes, I could also see some birds (Turkey Vulture, Aura Tiñosa in spanish) up close, flying over the place, even some below the height at which we were. My husband and I loved the Mirador, although not so much my little girl, who was frightened when she peeked through the glass and saw an Turkey Vulture flying; after that, she didn't want to peek any more.

This is a very nice site, and I am glad it was created especially to commemorate the life of this great man. It is a beautiful place of great historical and cultural value.