Havana

[Ty Down]

Yeah, one day, I was with other tourists visiting a fruit market, and one of them said to the madam: que bonita tu papaya! Hahaha, no need to say that all the market was laughing!

Some words are very specific to Cuba. They never say coche for car, but carro. They often don't pronounce the are and S, and pronounce the LL as why. For example, instead of saying Ven por aqui, para comer alitas de pollo (normally pronounced as polio) (Come here, to eat some chicken wings), they would say: Ven pa'qui, pa' come' alita de poyo. One day I was negotiating a journey with a taxi man. He kept on saying that with the PAY-YO, it would be cheaper than with a Geely ('good' chinese car). I ask him PAY-YO? What's that? And he answers LA PAY-YO, LA PAY-YO! When I meet him, he showed me the car: a PEUGEOT. I'm french, but would have never guessed PAY-YO was the car brand of my country! What a laugh we had! They speak very fast also, and first time is quite hard, even when you speak spanish quite fluently. And telling your GF she's your mango is a good compliment there!

Hahaha good stuff Paris! Cuba has it's own unique version of the Spanish language. The French Egg Omelette in Cuba is a Tortillia. And a Penga is a Penga!

[NamasteParis]

Thanks for that history lesson! Always wondered why they called them that in the DR, never been to Cuba but reading the tread bcuz would like to stop for a couple days this summer en route to Santo Domingo. Also thanks for the other info knowing those colloquialisms helps big time, people treat you different in a better way when you talk like they talk.

Yeah, one day, I was with other tourists visiting a fruit market, and one of them said to the madam: que bonita tu papaya! Hahaha, no need to say that all the market was laughing!

Some words are very specific to Cuba. They never say coche for car, but carro. They often don't pronounce the are and S, and pronounce the LL as why. For example, instead of saying Ven por aqui, para comer alitas de pollo (normally pronounced as polio) (Come here, to eat some chicken wings), they would say: Ven pa'qui, pa' come' alita de poyo. One day I was negotiating a journey with a taxi man. He kept on saying that with the PAY-YO, it would be cheaper than with a Geely ('good' chinese car). I ask him PAY-YO? What's that? And he answers LA PAY-YO, LA PAY-YO! When I meet him, he showed me the car: a PEUGEOT. I'm french, but would have never guessed PAY-YO was the car brand of my country! What a laugh we had! They speak very fast also, and first time is quite hard, even when you speak spanish quite fluently. And telling your GF she's your mango is a good compliment there!

[BMo814]

For all of you who wonders what's the QBola meaning. Que Bola is the very specific Cuban way to say Hola (=Hi! It means "What's the ball" referring to the people asking for the last baseball match score. When meeting, teenagers use to say Que bola, hermano very fast, and you just hear, qbola 'mano.

As I'm today in the mood to share some knowledge, you may also wonder where the Guagua word comes from (that's how people call the public taxi minivans)? The first buses in Cuba (and DR I guess) were from Washington Wallace & Co company. On the side of the vans, you could see the 2 Wa in big letters, so people used to call them WaWa, hence Guagua with the time.

And to say a final word, don't call the fruit Papaya like that in Cuba, as it means pussy there. You should call this fruit Fruta Bomba.

Thanks for that history lesson! Always wondered why they called them that in the DR, never been to Cuba but reading the tread bcuz would like to stop for a couple days this summer en route to Santo Domingo. Also thanks for the other info knowing those colloquialisms helps big time, people treat you different in a better way when you talk like they talk.

[Chris H]

I always said that club was a tourist trap. The chicas were like taxi drivers in Cuba trying to scheme for as much money as they can from you. Paying anywhere near $80-$150 in Havana or anywhere in Cuba befuddles me. Once you leave that club scene the price drops to $40 average with a little negotiating skills.

I was contemplating a trip back to Cuba next month. Thank you guys on this board for keeping me updated of the scenes yall witnessed.

Even $40 is high. Got to keep the prices at 20 to 30 cuc. Don't mess up the market.

[GrownMan1]

Thanks 4 the update!

I won't really miss it. The girls weren't all that hot (not worth the high sticker price) and it was just too damn crowded in that place. Impossible to stand much less get a drink at the bar. I would think they would have closed it for violating the firecode alone.

I always said that club was a tourist trap. The chicas were like taxi drivers in Cuba trying to scheme for as much money as they can from you. Paying anywhere near $80-$150 in Havana or anywhere in Cuba befuddles me. Once you leave that club scene the price drops to $40 average with a little negotiating skills.

I was contemplating a trip back to Cuba next month. Thank you guys on this board for keeping me updated of the scenes yall witnessed.

[Hyrul]

Thanks 4 the update!

I won't really miss it. The girls weren't all that hot (not worth the high sticker price) and it was just too damn crowded in that place. Impossible to stand much less get a drink at the bar. I would think they would have closed it for violating the firecode alone.

Uncle,

Where would you recommend instead of Fantaxy for quality of ladies? Specifically nightclubs I should mention.

Thanks in advance!

[NamasteParis]

Hey Hyrul,

Qbola (that's how Cubanos spell this joint) is in Miramar on Calle 42. Their Facebook link below so you can get all the info you might need.

You are welcome.

Mondo.

https://www.facebook.com/QBolaBar/

For all of you who wonders what's the QBola meaning. Que Bola is the very specific Cuban way to say Hola (=Hi! It means "What's the ball" referring to the people asking for the last baseball match score. When meeting, teenagers use to say Que bola, hermano very fast, and you just hear, qbola 'mano.

As I'm today in the mood to share some knowledge, you may also wonder where the Guagua word comes from (that's how people call the public taxi minivans)? The first buses in Cuba (and DR I guess) were from Washington Wallace & Co company. On the side of the vans, you could see the 2 Wa in big letters, so people used to call them WaWa, hence Guagua with the time.

And to say a final word, don't call the fruit Papaya like that in Cuba, as it means pussy there. You should call this fruit Fruta Bomba.

[Uncle Volodya]

For all you fantaxy lovers, the place is confirmed closed permanently. Nothing much Castro's grandson can do about it. Heavy prostitution is said to be the reason to its closure. Its a pity but I see it as a blessing for us mongers. The regular girls working there have all moved to quebola. Not as fancy as fantaxy but same quality of girls with cheaper price. Fantaxy's rate was around 100-150. Most would not go below 120. The rate for girls at quebola is around 80-100. Pay nothing more than that. Of course there are cheaper girls outside if you think this is too much. Have fun!

Thanks 4 the update!

I won't really miss it. The girls weren't all that hot (not worth the high sticker price) and it was just too damn crowded in that place. Impossible to stand much less get a drink at the bar. I would think they would have closed it for violating the firecode alone.

[Mondo707]

Mondo,

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my explanation. We expected to get back around 900 CUC but we got "less than $900". I don't recall the exact amount we received in the bank exchange hence using "less than". It was off by a significant amount that I remember raising a stink at the place, to no avail. As for Cuba, one trip was a decent experience but there are many better places to go that I personally prefer.

Hey Todai,

Guess you didn't understand my explanation! Here it is again: the exchange rate is 87 CUC for a 100 USD if you go thru the legit places, I. E. Cadecas, banks or government places. So, if you exchanged 1000 USD you'll get 870 CUC. That's it no more no less.

Hope you get it this time around.

Mondo.

[Mondo707]

Damn. That's a shame.

Where's quebola at? Can't seem to find it on my maps. Me search.

How's Shangri La? Seems like Mio why tuyo is what's really left over for the "upscale" young Cuban crowd, no? No more Bolabana and no more Fantaxy.

Hey Hyrul,

Qbola (that's how Cubanos spell this joint) is in Miramar on Calle 42. Their Facebook link below so you can get all the info you might need.

You are welcome.

Mondo.

https://www.facebook.com/QBolaBar/

[Hyrul]

For all you fantaxy lovers, the place is confirmed closed permanently. Nothing much Castro's grandson can do about it. Heavy prostitution is said to be the reason to its closure. Its a pity but I see it as a blessing for us mongers. The regular girls working there have all moved to quebola. Not as fancy as fantaxy but same quality of girls with cheaper price. Fantaxy's rate was around 100-150. Most would not go below 120. The rate for girls at quebola is around 80-100. Pay nothing more than that. Of course there are cheaper girls outside if you think this is too much. Have fun!

Damn. That's a shame.

Where's quebola at? Can't seem to find it on my maps. Me search.

How's Shangri La? Seems like Mio why tuyo is what's really left over for the "upscale" young Cuban crowd, no? No more Bolabana and no more Fantaxy.

[TadaiMaybe]

Hey Tadai,

If I have it right by what you state in your post, you wrote, "gave the teller $1000 in a stack of benjis" , I take it you are from the USA So, if that's the case, let me question your assumption of them " stealing your money".

Whenever you exchange US dollars in Cuba legally, meaning at a bank, cadeca or another government institution you get 87 CUC in exchange for your 100 Benjis. In your case if you got less than 900 CUC my conclusion is no one ROB you.

Yes, some people will take advantage of tourists, that's something that happens anywhere in the world and not only in Cuba.

Mondo.

ps, I'd suggest you read thru the posts about exchanging money in Cuba in case you want to avoid the cadecas/banks. There are many post with good suggestions on how to get better than 87 CUC per 100 Benjis. I recently visited and got around 94/95 for every 100 US.

Mondo,

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my explanation. We expected to get back around 900 CUC but we got "less than $900". I don't recall the exact amount we received in the bank exchange hence using "less than". It was off by a significant amount that I remember raising a stink at the place, to no avail. As for Cuba, one trip was a decent experience but there are many better places to go that I personally prefer.

[DiavelLoco]

For all you fantaxy lovers, the place is confirmed closed permanently. Nothing much Castro's grandson can do about it. Heavy prostitution is said to be the reason to its closure. Its a pity but I see it as a blessing for us mongers. The regular girls working there have all moved to quebola. Not as fancy as fantaxy but same quality of girls with cheaper price. Fantaxy's rate was around 100-150. Most would not go below 120. The rate for girls at quebola is around 80-100. Pay nothing more than that. Of course there are cheaper girls outside if you think this is too much. Have fun!

[MtVadose]

Hi! About Trinidad, I answered you in the 'Other Areas' section.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...=1#post2306856

Thanks! Good read.

[Hyrul]

Fantaxy is closed for few weeks already and I heard maybe closed permanently. Check out piano bar as per Chris h suggestion. You won't be disappointed.

Damn. Hopefully it's not permanently. That'the be disappointing!