Illegal trading is getting intense, so expect to be asked what you want often, especially if you are on your own. Watch out for the Cuban Pesos Scam! Cuban Pesos are actually worth only on 25th of the Convertable Pesos, which you need for most things . Cuban pesos are just for bread and basics for the locals. Dont be fooled into converting dollars for cuban pesos. The three currency system is confusing at first, but its Covertible Pesos you need. 1 Dollar = 1 Convertible Pesos.

As a guy on his own I was plagued by working girls even in night clubs. They are easily sent to jail so they live very dangerously, so be careful.

Go wondering round about and look out for the corner stalls selling sugar cane drinks, they are aweson This is one time when cuban pesos can be useful, you can buy the most refreshing drink I have ever tasted for about 5 pence, or 10 cents.

But the big story for me was that I am actually quarter Cuban, and I have second cousins there I have only ever seen in a photograph, so last year I went to track them down, and found them and my great aunt living 5 miles out of town. All other links to that whole side of my family are gone with both my Cuban grandmother and half cuban father both died years ago, so this was an emotional meeting, for them! I’ve attached my favourite picture of two of my beautiful second cousins. They were a poor family 10 all living under leaking roofs, but beautiful, beatiful people, much like many of the cubans.

Most people I met were after your money, and would work on your friendship before revealing their true intentions. A polite but firm no does the trick.

Walk down Obespo, one of the main old streets for an early evening meal and local bar music, and head to the back alleys behind the malacon, for some of the oldest family dwellings, good material for photography.