La Habana aka: Havana

Fue nuestro viaje de novios, espectacular cuba, La Habana lo tipico, Varadero, pues exhuberante, y Pinar del rio, la verdad.

Viaje recomendable para aquel que quiera ir, antes de que el dictador muera, pues supongo que cuando ocurra habra una revolucion intelectual y cultural , que no dejara nada de lo que alli hay.

Amazing city, loved it – very beautiful and proud and friendly and….101 things. Go! Drink mojitos and wander around the streets :D

I was born and raised in Havana. Although I’m certainly biased because of that, I must say that after visiting some of the greatest cities in the world Havana is still in my top unique and peculiar places. I know there is a lot of “myth” about Cuba, but this is what you will find, first hand: a culture influenced by its Spanish and African roots, and more recently, by the Soviet Union/socialism/communism, but most importantly, a truly optimistic, welcoming, energetic people (ironically, the product of almost 50 years of misery and virtually no hope for a better future.) Although most cubans live in terrible conditions, you will find the cuban government has placed special (actually, luxurious) care in tourism, so you will be treated like royalty (sometimes out of interest sometimes out of genuine sympathy) both by the government and the people. It is not a dangerous place at all, in case it sounds remote or sketchy . Cuban food is delicious, good music, dancing, paradisiac beaches, beautiful colonial architecture, rich history…and….a relatively cheap destination!

just becouse of HAVANNA NIGHTS!!!! (mm) >:*

I loved this place. The combination of beauty with ‘misery’ was confusing, but the good disposition and friendlyness of the Cuban people was inspiring. Excellent food, good night life, you cant go there and not try either Mojitos or Guarhavanas (rum with cane and orange juice). The fabrication of cigars is very interesting and the city in general is very pretty.

definitively worth going there and returning for sure!

This was a beautiful Soviet relic. Connected with the people because I speak Russian. There is a lot of soul in this place.

Unfortunately I left my heart in Havana.

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.

Dance Around the World in 2007. See Dance Goals 2007 #2. http://dancetours.blog.com/1369256/ Want to join us?

Havana was originally a trading port and suffered regular attacks by buccaneers, pirates, and French corsairs. The first attack and burning of the city was by the French corsair Jacques de Sores. The pirate took Havana with only two caravels, plundering the city and murdering 30 elders and blacks who were imprisoned. De Sores left without obtaining the enormous wealth that he was hoping to find in Havana.       

The current Havana area and its natural bay were first visited by Europeans during Sebastián de Ocampo’s circumnavigation of the island, on 1509¹. Shortly thereafter, on 1510, the first Spanish colonists arrived from La Hispaniola and thus the Conquest of Cuba began.