Havana
Whatever I tell you about Havana it would be a lie. Yes, it is thick with soot from the 60-year old Cadillacs, Moskvitches, and Ladas. A dirty Havana story. However, I know no other place more authentic than Havana. It is the heart of Cuba. It still doesn’t boast a lot of tourists no matter how much the locals want it. Only two blocks away from the centre you can see children playing in the streets care-free no laptops or i-phones. Old ladies with cigars and live music bands…
Take a look at the top 10 sights our tourists see when with us
Havana is full of colourful squares. For example, the Revolution Square is huge in the typical socialistic style. The image of Che Guevara over the facade of the Interior Ministry and the other figures of the Revolution create a manifesting atmosphere. In the square, you can also find the highest building in the capital – the memorial of Jose Marti. The squares in Havana unveil a totally different time in general. Baroque buildings encircle Plaza de las Armas, and Plaza Vieja.
Havana is the colour of Cuba – here you can see a small bit from each city.
There are plenty of ways to get to know Havana. You can read Alejo Carpentier’s novel and sink into his artistic description of life among the city’s colonies. You can also see Havana through Hemingway’s eyes or the Havana from the thousands of songs… The conspiracy in “Our Man in Havana” by Graham Greene will take you back even to the 50s. But what is for sure, there is no better way to get to know Havana than walking along the city streets and visit the most interesting spots and people there.
If you happen to have a couple of days off and feel passionate about history a trip to Old Havana will seem like a ticket in the past with one only stop – the Spanish rule of the island. The local squares speak for themselves: Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de las Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, Plaza Vieja.
Another must-visit are the military fortifications from the two sides of the bay that have withstood the bullets of time. The Morro-Cabana fortification is of the greatest significance among all because of its emblematic lighthouse with its interesting ceremony that includes firing a cannon-ball at 9.00 o’clock pm. The ritual is held every day as a commemoration of the times when the city used to be surrounded by fortress walls and this was the sign for the people to take shelter.
If you take interest in stories about the American mafia or Cuban performers of the 50s such as Lucky Luciano and Nat King Cole than your place is Vedado neighbourhood. Make sure you take a walk along 23rd Street, which will take you from Coppelia Icecream House all the way to the ocean. Don’t miss the Nacional Hotel – the place the stories of the past are part of the present.
Hemingway’s favourite places in Havana from the time he used to live there will surely add a special colour to your tour. Among them are the small room in Ambos Mundos Hotel where he wrote “А Farewell to Arms”, the coastal town Cojimar on the other side of the bay, and the Vigia farm in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the capital.
If you are a fan of contemporary Cuban music you must visit The Factory. This is a popular spot among young people and the perfect place to enjoy almost all music genres performed by local and foreign musicians. If you want to indulge in some salsa or reggaeton simply lend an ear and visit the nearest pub. What is more, the music is live almost everywhere.
