Havana readies for tributes to late leader Fidel Castro

Students place candles around an image of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, at the university where Castro studied law as a young man, during a vigil in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of U.S. presidents during his half century rule, died at age 90. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) (The Associated Press)

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A student writes on a sidewalk with chalk "Fidel in the hearts of the med students" during a vigil for the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro at the university where Castro studied law as a young man in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of U.S. presidents during his half century rule, died at age 90. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) (The Associated Press)

A heart and the text that reads in Spanish "Always in my heart Fidel" are outlined in chalk on a sidewalk, during a vigil at the university where the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro studied law as a young man in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of U.S. presidents during his half century rule, died at age 90. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) (The Associated Press)

HAVANA – Havana is readying for two days of tributes to deceased Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Workers are cleaning and setting up fencing at the capital's sprawling Revolution Plaza, where Castro's remains will be brought beginning Monday.

Throngs of islanders are expected to visit to pay their respects there in the shadow of Havana's towering monument to independence hero Jose Marti and a huge sculpture of revolution leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

Cuba's government has declared nine days of national mourning following Castro's death Friday night at age 90.

Orlando Alvarez is a 55-year-old jeweler who was fishing on the seaside Malecon boulevard Sunday morning. He said Castro's passing is "a great sorrow" and predicts that "everyone" will visit the plaza for the two days set aside for Cubans to pay their respects.