In Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución, the site of more than a few political rallies, the Monkey stops on a beautiful day for a shot in front of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior. The wire sculpture of the Argentine doctor turned Cuban revolutionary, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, is accompanied by his most famous quotation, “Hasta la victoria siempre” (Toward victory always).

A Habanera (Havana resident) welcomes El Monito to her home.

Leftovers from the days when Havana was little more than a playground for U.S. mobsters and well-heeled tourists, there truly are still a lot of 1940s and 1950s U.S. cars rolling the streets of Cuba (not to mention a fair amount of Russian ones). By necessity, Cubans are experts at keeping old machines running, though the Monkey felt this car in Central Havana had already driven its last miles.

The Monkey met up with some friendly folks and took a close-up look at some of Cuba’s most world-renowned products: hand-rolled cigars.