-
As far as, "Cuba not being a place to go to hobby"' I disagree with that. Mind you I am not the expert. Cuba is a different kind of place to hobby. If you stick to pros it will cost you some $s. I believe HAV was something like the 3rd most expensive city in the world in 1955. I think the true hobbiest should at least check out Cuba before it changes any more. And it will change. Especially when it is officially is opened up for American tourist. The place will explode when that happens. Prices will skyrocket. I do agree that you should at least take in some of the culture. I know I can't shag 24/7. I do need time to recharge the ole batteries. Maybe that is just me. There is so much to see and do in HAV. There are the cigar factory tours, the museo de la Revolucion and the meseo dela aire. One place everyone go see, just once, is the show at the Tropacana and the caberat at the National Hotel. A great way to kill a Sunday evening (6-9p) before the clubs get going is to go see the band called the Kents at El Chevere (years ago used to be military officers club).
will be back need to charge battery one in computer.
-
back
It will cost you $1 to get in. I understand this band was the best band in Cuba during the 60's. They play music from the 60s and 70s. I saw them in Nov 2001. They were great. The first song they played was American Woman. I loved them-my girlfriend (early 20's) could not get into them. After an hour we left. Better yet, save your $1 and go around the corner and up the hill (calle 16 #504) from El Chevere to the hotel called El Bosque. Set outside the bar on the deck that over looks El Chevere. Drank mohitoes, smoke cigars and listen to the band.
more tomorrow
END OF PART 3
-
>A long time hobbist of Cuba once told me "back in the days immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union you could get laid for a bar of soap".
I've heard the same things. Even heard stories of girls having sex for a banana. People were really starving.
That's was a terrible period and Cubans will tell you stories that are fairly amazing. One story I heard was that there was no gasoline, as all the gasoline came from Russia, that traded gas at ridiculous low prices for sugar. Everyone had bikes to get around., even if they had a car because they couldn't get gas.
One day a Cuban friend of mine was really sick and had to be transported to a hospital on the back of a bike.
So its difficult now but nothing like it was.
I love Cuba, it's a special place but don't go there just for the hobby, as it has so much more to offer. The hobby is difficult and you will be wasting your time there if that's the only focus of your trip. It's not like Thailand or Costa Rica. There is so much more there....
-
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Peterman
>I have found there to be lots of casa particulars in HAV. Because I have >never stayed anyplace other than HAV, while in Cuba, I have no way to >judge, as far as #s go, how they compare with the ones in other parts of >Cuba.
The Cuban government makes money (dollars) on hotels, not little casa particuars, which are basically family owned private bed and breakfasts.
They exist in Havana but there really aren't that many compared to other places. The general rule in Cuba is that where there are lots of government or foreign operated hotels, like in Havana and Veradado casa particulars are rare or outright illegal.
in places where there are few hotels like Trinidad and Cienfuegos there are quite common. In any case, bring a chica into a casa particular is problematic. The best chica situations are the illegal apartments with private entrances, and they are in Havana and eveyr city but you really have to work hard at finding them...
-
There are plenty of legal Casa Particulars in Havana. You can find them on the web or in guidebooks. There are also plenty of illegal casa p's in Havana. You can find them by hanging out in busy places and looking like a tourist, or by asking someone local - - a good place to ask is at a local paladare or private eating establishment. Have some dinner or lunch and ask the waitress about casa particulars. One great irony of Cuba, especially Havana, is that an officially socialist state, economy, and society has generated an intense, everyday, street entrepeneurial culture. People will help you find what you want so long as they get a cut of the action.
When you find a Casa P - - and the best bet is to find a private apartment or room with private entrance - - you need to be clear about whether you intend to bring Cuban visitors. You might for instance tell the owner that you have a novia and want to spend time with her. If that's okay, then you're set. (If the owner talks about an exra charge, take a walk. There's plenty of competition.) My experience has been that most Casa P owners are happy to accomodate you one way or the other, so long as you're not going to cause trouble or inconvenience for them. If you have or find a girlfriend, ask her about Casa P's.
The "Special Period" was hell for Cubans. Everyone suffered. Best not to return to that time.
Conor OC
-
>One great irony of Cuba, especially Havana, is that an officially socialist >state, economy, and society has generated an intense, everyday, street >entrepeneurial culture. People will help you find what you want so long as >they get a cut of the action.
yes. Exactly. That's what's fascinating about Cuba and made me really understand capitalism and - for the worse sometimes - basic human nature.
Cuba is officially socialist but in reality everyone is hustling. On a street level it's more entreprenuial then the states. Everyone seems to have their scam, whether it chicas or guys stealing a few boxes of cigars from the state factory and selling them on the street or taxis turning off their meter.
And on a higher level you have mansions in the Miramar district that no one really knows who is living in but you can surmise that it's very high level communist party members.
It's really a fascinating place to go because of the contradictions between official ideology and reality. Of course in America this exists like Enron, Adelphi but it's just not so damm obvious.
As for "the bearded one's" residence. Cubans tell me that all roads are blocked in the area. Eventually it will become a tourist attractions, like
Stalin's palacial dachas in Russia. One can only imagine.
-
continuing from yesterday.....
For the guys that can shag 24/7. There is a cake shop next to the Hotel Inglaterra. I have been "approached" there while having my afternoon cup of cappuccino. Also, around the corner between the Hotel Inglaterra and the Capitolio on San Martin are a couple of outdoor bars/cafes. One called La Calesa Cafeteria. I have "fished" a couple out of there while having an afternoon beer. One said she was a dancer that worked the National Hotel caberat. Who knows. I do know she had a hard body with nice big cha-chas! Reasonable priced at $25. She had a room around the corner for $15. I believe I still have her #. I hope it still works for next time. Still another way to kill an afternoon is to check out one of the crafts markets. I have even been "approached" there. One is about 2 blks east of the Melia Chobia next to the Melecon and the other one is one blk off the channel or entrance to HAV harbor on Cuba Tacon.
END OF PART 1
-
It never hurts to hire a guide. I had accumulated a list of clubs/bars/fashion shows and paladars that I wanted to check out so in Nov 2001 I hired a guide to take me to these places. I made some notes and over the next few days I returned to the ones that showed promise. Two guides I've used in the past;
Gustavo Hm 995760/ Office 963939 says he was an english Prof at the U of HAV.
Cristobal Leon Padron 792655 Freelancer I met outside the hotel.
If you ever have the need to call Cuba, you know to tell your Chica you are on your way, ask questions about a casa or even make a reservation, try using [url]www.nobelcom.com[/url] for calling cards. I've not had very good luck with the normal calling cards from the states. My MCI cards don't work. These cards seem to have the best min/$ and always ring through.
Peterman
-
I've had a big response on my email for info on paladars. So, instead doing individual emails I'll post here;
La Esperanza, Calle 16, #105, Miramar, #2024361
My favorite. A gay guy (he's harmless) owns it. He speaks excellent english.
La Guarida, Concordia, #418, Centro Habana, 637351
Queen of Spain and Jack Nicholson have dined here.
La Casa, Calle 30, #865, Nuevo Vedado, 817000
La Cocina de Lilliam, Calle 48, #1311, Playa, 296514
La Chansonnier, Calle J, #257, Vedado, 321576
Sushi Sakura, Calle 18, esq 3, Miramar, 242209
Go figure, sushi in HAV!
Most of these require reservations.
If you must eat at one of "The Bearded One's" restaurants, try;
El Aljibe (Cuban food), 6th Ave, all taxi drivers know it.
Raul Real Trelles (Polynesian), lower floor of the Habana Libre Hotel (hilton before the Revolution) Decor has not changed sense late 50's.
Enjoy!
-
>Sushi Sakura, Calle 18, esq 3, Miramar, 242209
>Go figure, sushi in HAV!
Figure that's illegal. Paladars are not permitted to serve seafood to keep them competing with the "bearded one's restaurants.
-
I believe it is just steak and lobster that are illegal. Not sure. Never had sushi lobster. Had several fish meals in paladars. I've been offered steak and lobster in paladars. Who knows. I guess it is whatever they can get away with. I also understand they are officially limited to 12 seats. Most of them I saw many more than that.
-
Peterman
Great information, I am going to print out your posts and take them with me when I return next month. I agree with you, anyone who has thought that they might like to go to Cuba should be doing it before things change, or as a friend of mine says "before they build a bridge to there from Key West." I really appreciate the list of places to eat. the last time I was there that was my major complaint, the food. Hopefully I will learn some new things this time, so I can share them with the board when I return.
Sman
-
Back from Habana. I would like to make two posts, the first one being about the apartment which I rent when in Habana.
The location is "el edificio super cake, calle Belascoain No. 452, esquina Zanja, piso 7". The owner is Jorge Luis and you can reach him at (537)-879-0432. His own apartment is actually two doors down the hall.
This is a two bedroom, completely independent, extremely comfortable and well decorated apartment. You can have it all to yourself or share it with friends if you like. You can bring 100 girls there if you wish. No one will care. It is pricy for Cuba. I was charged 50$/day, but I can assure you that it is worth every penny. In fact, the apartment seems to stay occupied all the time. Every thing in the apartment is functional, and it gets cleaned every day. Anyways, check it out if you're interested.
J.G.
-
Now to my second post.
If you breathe, you can score in Habana. Talk to any single girl that you're interested in. Just ask them up to your apartment for a drink. No one will turn you down. Most girls in Habana are black and average looking at best, but you will find a few stunning beauties from time to time, especially in dance clubs(my favorites are Oasis and Casa de Musica). The reason of course for the ease with which you can pick up a girl is Cuba's immense poverty. And understandably most girls, although not all, will be interested in what you can do for them "economically". Most of my girl friends seemed more interested in smoking, drinking "mojitos", listening and dancing to Salsa, going to restaurants,etc, than having sex with me. Also because of Cuba's liberal sexual culture, most of even the younger girls, have had at least dozens of partners and possibly an abortion or two. By the way, the police never bothered any of my girl friends, but they will most certainly hassle them if they suspect them of being prostitutes. However, I do not recommend initiating a conversation with a "cubana" when the "policia" is nearby. Also, do NOT even think about having sex with some one below 18 years unless a stay in a Cuban jail is part of your travel plan.
Cubans are a fine and patient people, but they are also very gloomy and depressed secondary to living in a society where there are no freedoms, no opportunities, and no hope. Habana is a city stuck in the 1950's, with degenerating buildings, and HUGE holes every where in the streets and side walks. A visit to the so called "markets" with their limited supply and selection was enough to make me depressed every time. One word about the "paladares": make damn sure that you ask the price or see the menu BEFORE you eat or you can get ripped off big time as I was once.
Also as you have recently heard, hurricanes frequently rip through and devastate parts of the island. You may want to avoid visiting the island during the hurricane season if your travel plans are flexible.
J.G.
-
hey peter have you ever been to cienfuegos?because if you have does universidad de cienfuegos ring a bell?