TO DO in Havana, Cuba
The following list of "Things to do while in Cuba" was compiled by The Woodro and The Peoples prior to our trip. We spent many months reading the Cuba Handbook ~ by Chris Baker.
We selected this "To Do" list from this book and we must say - there is NUTTIN' on dis list not worthy of SEAing :-) We dun good. You will too.
1) Jose Marti Memorial
Location: Plaza de Revolucion
Take elevator of the mirador to the top ($5.00USD per person) for
bird's eye view of Havana to get your bearings
Tues - Sat 10AM-6PM; Sun 10AM-2PM
2) La BODEQUITA del MEDIO
Location: 207 Calle Empedrado, te. 62-6121
Ernest Hemingway's favorite watering hole. SEA what Papa wrote on the wall "Mi Mojito En La Bodeguita, Mi Daiquiri En El Floridita"
Sip your first Mojito here and enjoy a traditional Cuban meal.
See pages 249 & 295 in Cuba Handbook (READ!)
3) El FLORIDITA
Location: Plazuela de Albear, on Monserrate, 1 block East of Parque Central
Bar/Restaurant haunted by Ernest Hemingway's ghost. Sip on a Daiquari here as the Frozen Daiquari was invented within these walls. El Floridita is the seventh (7th) most popular bar in the world!
4)Tropicana Nightclub
Location: Calle 72e/ 41 y 45, Miranao, Havana, tel. 20-7507, fax 33-0109
Spectacular outdoor cabaret with more than 200 performers. Established in 1939.
Make your reservations at Hotel Melia Cohiba. This is a very expensive outting. We paid $70.00USD per person, (includes dinner, show tickets and bottle of rum). But the cost was well worth it.
5)PARTAGAS Cigar Factory
Location: behind the Capitolio and Industria, #502, tel. 33-8060
10:30AM - 1:30PM - $5.00USD
Tour the cigar factory and look for Fidel Castro's preferred cigar "The Trinidad" ($695.00USD per box), and for James Coburn & Frank Sinatra's preferred cigar: "The Saint Luis Rey" ($102.00USD per box). Yes the cigars are expensive in the gift shop due to Fidel's taxes.
WARNING: DO NOT buy cigars "on the street". Find a reliable Cuban escort (honest Cuban citizen) and ask them where to purchase. Please refer to Spotting Fake Cuban Cigars for information.
6)Hotel Nacional
Location: Junction of La Rampa and the Malecon
Grande dame hotel with its Moorish-influenced architecture. Beautiful at night.
7)Monumento al Maine
Location: Just below the Hotel Nacional on the Malecon.
Dedicated to the memory of the 260 US sailors who died when the US warship exploded in the Havana Harbor in 1898.
The Castro government dedicated the plaque that reads:
"To the victims of the Maine, who were sacrificed by imperialist voracity in its eagerness to seize the island of Cuba."
8)Museum of the Revolution
Tells the tale of the Revolution. Allow at LEAST two hours for this tour. Notice how the translation to English ends in the room containing relics/facts from the year of 1963 :-)
9)Walk the Malecon
Once is never enough. Havana's seafront boulevard represents all that is Havana.
10)Plaza de Arms at night
Street parties, concerts.
11)Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro
Location: On the right after you exit the tunnel under Havana Harbor.
Handsome castle built into the rocky palisades of Punta Barlovento - drops straight into the sea. Many arterial emplacements. A must see as it affords an overview of Habana Harbor and nightly, at 9 PM is the Cannon Ceremony, (gun-shot). Get there early! Castle tours open Mon. - Sun., 9AM-8PM - $2.00USD. Cannon Ceremony - $5.00USD.
12)Cojimar
Location: Suburb of Havava.
A pilgrimage to the old fishing village of Cojimar is a must for Hemingway fans. Papa's boat, the Pilar was berthed here and the most famous resident is Gregerio Fuentes who was the model for Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea". As of our visit in 1999 he was 102 years old and in good health. We knocked on his door and were greeted warmly and even shown "Papa's" old fishing rod.
13)Closest beach to Havana
Location: About 10 KM East of Cojimar
Nice white sand beaches. The beaches are well maintained and all amenities are readily available, (hicccuup). Be careful of the strong undertow.
14)Get to know the Cuban people
Location: Cuba
Take the time to sit down and talk, walk with the Cuban citizens. These people are poor in material posessions yet RICH with life. Whatever is theirs, is yours . . . we promise you will return home humbled, yet smiling :-)
Items to bring to Cuba with you to leave as gifts:
Any unwanted cosmetics ~ Sundries ~ Clothing
Shoes ~ Small household items ~ Batteries
Film ~ Computer disks ~ Watches
Pens/Pencils ~ Bottles of cooking oil ~ Aspirin
Toothpaste ~ Combs ~ Soap
Vitamins ~ Underwear and socks ~ Antacid ~ Band-Aids ~ Antibiotics ~
Men & women toiletries of any kind ~ Shampoo
Towels & wash cloths ~ Toilet tissue ~
Chewing Gum - (ie "Chicklets" so you can share with many kids)
Chocolate ~ Candy - small individually sealed packs to share with many.
$1 bills - a neat gift for a kid or a tip
Cuba trip 1999Continued
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Havana's old cars ~
Havana Cityscapes
Havana's Famous Bars ~
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Tropicana ~ TO DO in Cuba
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© Copyright 1999, 2000 by The Woodro & The
Peoples