El Cobre is the largest Catholic cathedral in Cuba, and it gets its name
from the town where it resides. Cobre means "copper", which
was once mined here, many years ago. Although the mine is dry, the government
now subsidizes religions (since 1987), so most churches and temples are
in pretty good shape financially. The cathedral still accepts donations,
as one might expect, and people come from all over the world to donate
odds and ends, most items being rather unusual. Some are placed on the
walls as decoration, while many of the more unique items, like old original
Barbie Dolls and Beatles records, are stored behind protected plexiglas cases.
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