Havana, Jun 22 (IANS/EFE): The imposing figure of `Ernest Hemingway' multiplied by six doubles, who for their resemblance to the novelist won a contest in the US, surprised Cubans and tourists alike as they strolled the streets of Old Havana and visited places long identified with the American writer.

This is one of the novelties of the 14th International Hemingway Colloquium dedicated to the author of "The Old Man and the Sea", which opened this week at the Palacio O'Farrill Hotel in the historical center of Havana, where more than 100 scholars, professors and admirers of Hemingway (1899-1961) from the US, Canada, Japan, Italy and Ireland are meeting to discuss his life and works.

Among them are Americans Wally Collins, Stephen Terry, Gregory Fawcet, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Barry and Far Torrell, who proudly show off their amazing resemblance to the renowned novelist and journalist in the latter years of his life.

"I'm really only here to attend the four days of the Colloquium in Havana, which seems to me an excellent experience," Fawcet told EFE on a walk that took them to the bars of the restaurants La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita, two places forever associated with Hemingway's stay in Havana.