We have just returned home from a week in Havana. Since internet service in Cuba is still in the dark ages, we weren’t able to blog while there, and knowing that, didn’t even bring a computer. We left New Year’s Eve morning and the plan was to partake in some festivities around the city. I had tried numerous avenues to book something prior to arrival, but had no luck (just told to wait until we arrived). BUT, once we arrived all the restaurants were booked; and we didn’t want to pay 200 CUC each (equivalent exchange to US dollar) for the hotel’s event. We ended up eating a burger at the pool bar, and after being up since 5AM, turned in before the clock struck midnight….Happy New Year!
We stayed at the Iberostar Parque Central Hotel on the edge of the Centro area, and bordering Old Havana (Habana Vieja).
The hotel is divided into two buildings, an old section (colonial style) and a new section (modern décor). We stayed in the old section. The Lobby/Bar area is grand. (And one of the best areas to access the limited internet…we did bring our iphones to email people).
We spent many nights in bar area relaxing after a long day. Todd thoroughly enjoyed the selection of cigars available at the hotel.
The pool was located on the 9th floor and offered amazing views of the city. In the following photo, the massive Musio de Bellas Artes is on the left and El Capitolio Nacional is on the right. If you think El Capitolio looks familiar, you would be right. It is “very” similar to the White House, except it’s a meter wider and a meter longer.
On the street beside the hotel runs the Prado – a pedestrian boulevard that stretches from El Capitolio to the waterfront where the Malecon begins. Tourists and locals enjoy walking the tiled Prado under the shade trees.
We walked along the Malecon one day about 3km down, then back. The area is a favourite for local fishermen.
On our last day, we walked 4km along the Malecon to the Hotel Nacional in the Vedado area. We wanted to take a tour of the hotel, famous from the days of the mafia and gambling…but we missed the one and only tour of the day… After a few pics, we made our way back…another 4km.
Old cars are everywhere in Havana, but they are especially prevalent along the Malecon, a favourite cruising street for tourists who have rented the service.
Little did we know that visiting Havana just after New Years Eve meant most things would be closed….for days. That meant lots of walking about to see the sites, but not going into museums, churches, and most stores. We spent a day walking around Old Havana. In a large area just outside Plaza de la Catedral, old car after old car parked while drivers chatted among themselves.
In Plaza de la Catedral the main attraction is the Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana. The view from the bell tower is supposed to give great views, but it wasn’t open.
There are a number of life-size bronze statues scattered around the city. If you need a rest and somewhere to lean in the Plaza de la Catedral, Antonio Gades is there for you. He was a famous Spanish flamenco dancer who was well liked by Fidel Castro.
The next plaza, Plaza de Armas, is the oldest of the four colonial squares in Old Havana (established around 1520). We visited this square twice; one day everything was quiet because of the holidays, but by the end of the week, action returned. The centre of the square is shaded with palms and we wandered around the secondhand book market (even saw one seller with a storage box from Martin’s Apple Farm here in Ontario).
Also in Plaza de Armas on the second visit, the Polícia Nacional Revolucionária were on site with a display of their weapons and gear.
The next square, Plaza de San Franscisco de Asisi is the location of the Church and Convent of St. Francis of Asisi.
In Plaza Vieja, we were excited to try the craft brewery, La Factoria Plaza Vieja. We were extremely thirsty, but unfortunately, we were disappointed. They only had two beers, Shandy and Dark. They were expensive (as far as beer prices go in Havana) and not good.
Since sites were closed until the end of our vacation, we did a lot of viewing from the outside. That’s travel….you go with the flow. Below are some of the other buildings we saw:
The Bacardi Building – Built in 1930, it was the new headquarters for Bacardi. The 12-story building was Havana’s first skyscraper. Bacardi left Cuba in 1960 after the new government confiscated all their Cuban assets. The Historical Society renovated the building to its original splendor in 2003 and now it is an office building.
Taquechel Pharmacy Museum – A practicing pharmacy originally from 1898, it was restored in 1996. Its collection includes 19th-century French porcelain apothecary’s jars and items found at excavation sites in the historical center of the city.
El Floridita – opened in 1817. In the 1930s, a bartender turned owner, Constante Ribalaigua, invented the daiquiri, and it became popularized soon after by Hemingway. The bar was packed with wall to wall people every day we passed by. Hemingway’s presence is highlighted throughout with photos, a bust, and a bronze statue of him at the bar.
Partagas – The cigar factory was closed until the 15th, but the store was open for us. We watched a woman roll cigars.
Then, Todd shopped for cigars. (Note – *Todd definitely outspent me this trip…)
Coming soon… The final blog – Restaurants (Food/Drink) we found in Havana.