General Info

[Deep Dive]

Yes chevre has been closed for over a year. As far as salsa dancing, most of the tourist clubs will have your local pros working, clubs like casa de la musica or diablo tuntun. Best advise is to see a salsa band live at a small venue, or even see van van somewhere. But many of the girls there are probably out to have fun and not looking to hook up.

[Jonesie]

Hi Jonesie

Sorry, but I think you have wrong information. 1830 has every Sunday evening an excellent salsa-party, I was there in February. I myself wasn't in Chevere, but I heard today from locals, that every Wednesday its good.

Well, the next two weeks I'll be testing the spots.

Bet you a box of Cohibas Chevere is closed... I don't have every piece of info ever on 1830, I was was commenting on my many times driving by and looking over to see 20 people milling around the courtyard there. It could in fact have 1,000 people there, who have a lookout for my taxi, and when they give the signal, everyone rushes inside to avoid being seen by me.

[Salsafan]

Hi Jonesie

Sorry, but I think you have wrong information. 1830 has every Sunday evening an excellent salsa-party, I was there in February. I myself wasn't in Chevere, but I heard today from locals, that every Wednesday its good.

Well, the next two weeks I'll be testing the spots.

[Jonesie]

I'll be in Habana the next two weeks. Where do the non-sex-pros go dancing salsa ? 1830 and Chevere a good, other suggestions?

Chevere closed over a year ago. Replaced in style by La Cecelia in Miramar. 1830 always looks dead when I go by.

Hit me up, I'll try to meet up with you this next weekend.

Jonesie

[Salsafan]

I'll be in Habana the next two weeks. Where do the non-sex-pros go dancing salsa ? 1830 and Chevere a good, other suggestions?

[Bowline]

On recent trip to Havana, stayed at my regular Casa. I was introduced to a local lady who is a friend of the family who operates the Casa. When it came time to go to my room with my lady friend the Casa operator took the ID information and entered it in the registration book. I was surprised about this and was told that every one who stays in a Casa must register and have the registration information delivered to the authorities the next day, no exceptions.

The fine and penalties are very severe.

This is Cuba.

[Bonker04]

[QUOTE=Water Boy]

I agree that the casa owner faces a large fine. However, I have never heard of prison for such an offense. I dont believe it.
[/QUOTE

I know it sounds incredibly harsh, but I can assure you it's true. I used to take his family to visit him, and take a few home comforts for him. He actually only served about 8 months inside before being released.

He was actually allowed out on weekend home visits about every six weeks or so.

That's Cuba for you!

[El Cubanito]

I agree this is the best option. This is the first thing I suggest to the casa owner. Sometimes they are not so compliant with this request.

I agree that the casa owner faces a large fine. However, I have never heard of prison for such an offense. I dont believe it.

If the girl registers too many times, she is sure to get questioned and if too many times - she is sure to go to prison. I would rather protect the girl.

let you bring in a chica, but with the understanding she has to be out by no later than 7:30 AM. I know that getting a chica up this early is inconvience, but it an alternative than getting the info in the books.

[Member #4167]

What is internet like in Cuba now? Last time I was in Cuba it was 2004. Then you go to Fancy hotel, spend $10 per hour for dial up. Even back then you could email casa particular owners. They have internet. There is internet in Cuba.

How do you get it? I'm reading other boards and people talk about magicjack.. Thats fucking nonsense on a 56k dialup.

Anyone in the field. Tell us about internet in Cuba

Internet is expensive. $9/hour. Everywhere you go it is about the same. It is a government monopoly. You can't get around it with magicjack. It is a fact of life - just pay the price.

[Member #4167]

The ironic thing is, like my friend would do, some casa owners will take the chicas details and keep them on a piece of paper. Then if the cops come calling he can quickly fill in the chica section of the registration book. Otherwise they get 'binned'! But he was never given that chance!

I agree this is the best option. This is the first thing I suggest to the casa owner. Sometimes they are not so compliant with this request.

I agree that the casa owner faces a large fine. However, I have never heard of prison for such an offense. I dont believe it.

If the girl registers too many times, she is sure to get questioned and if too many times - she is sure to go to prison. I would rather protect the girl.

[Misinformation]

What is internet like in Cuba now? Last time I was in Cuba it was 2004. Then you go to Fancy hotel, spend $10 per hour for dial up. Even back then you could email casa particular owners. They have internet. There is internet in Cuba.

How do you get it? I'm reading other boards and people talk about magicjack.. Thats fucking nonsense on a 56k dialup.

Anyone in the field. Tell us about internet in Cuba

[Bonker04]

Whenever possible, I snuck in a girl without registering her.

I purposely chose casas with private entrances in order to do this.

I know the temptation is there to sneak in girls, but the consequences for the casa owner can be devastating!

A friend of mine who ran one of the best casa's I'd come across in just about every respect was closed down, given a multa of 1400 CUC's AND FIVE YEARS IN PRISON when some guy snuck a girl in during the night. Nothing happened to the tourist of course, and I don't know what happened to the chica, but it would not surprise me to learn she was given a prison sentence as well.

His life, and that of his family have been ruined as a result!

And he was completely unaware that the girl was in the house!

The ironic thing is, like my friend would do, some casa owners will take the chicas details and keep them on a piece of paper. Then if the cops come calling he can quickly fill in the chica section of the registration book. Otherwise they get 'binned'! But he was never given that chance!

[Member #4167]

Yes, she is not (likely) going to register with the first not too bad foreigner she meets, so I would say it is still unlikely for most visitors to have no problems with that. So I think stating that 'she will' and 'no problem' is correct only if we are talking about a girl you have spend time with and who knows you. I don't think it applies for a regular girl you just met down on the square and chatted with for an hour. Of course, this is Cuba so there are always exceptions. I did a few times have a regular girl I just met go home with me and register, but only in the province (because in Havana it's a moot point, since there are casas to be found that don't register guests). But if youre in a Havana casa that goes by the books, or in a hotel for that matter, I think the Havana girls are way more hesitant to register. Perhaps because the campesino-girls are just living in a place where they dont expect to meet that many interesting foreigners, and so unlike a Havanera they don't have to be really picky about which two foreigners to spend their total of two registrations on.

But if your statements holds true, that would lead us to the inevitable question: How many of those girls did you take off the island and marry? :-)

Whenever possible, I snuck in a girl without registering her.

I purposely chose casas with private entrances in order to do this.

One girl I met on online dating site - she had no problem registering - and she DID NOT want to sleep with me right away. Actually, first date she didn't even want to give me a kiss. I dumped her.

Other girls had no problem registering - unless they were hard core jiniteras.

As for marrying the girls - as a substitute for that, what I had was "short term marriages" in which we met, we had sex and sometimes went on a honeymoon to another town.

[El Rey De Pollo]

Regular girls will and do register. I had many register with me. No problem (...) The Cubana will make sure that you are the "real deal" and you are not there just to sport-fvck her. That you are serious about marriage and taking her off the island. Therefore, she will wait until the right Yuma comes along.

Yes, she is not (likely) going to register with the first not too bad foreigner she meets, so I would say it is still unlikely for most visitors to have no problems with that. So I think stating that 'she will' and 'no problem' is correct only if we are talking about a girl you have spend time with and who knows you. I don't think it applies for a regular girl you just met down on the square and chatted with for an hour. Of course, this is Cuba so there are always exceptions. I did a few times have a regular girl I just met go home with me and register, but only in the province (because in Havana it's a moot point, since there are casas to be found that don't register guests). But if youre in a Havana casa that goes by the books, or in a hotel for that matter, I think the Havana girls are way more hesitant to register. Perhaps because the campesino-girls are just living in a place where they dont expect to meet that many interesting foreigners, and so unlike a Havanera they don't have to be really picky about which two foreigners to spend their total of two registrations on.

But if your statements holds true, that would lead us to the inevitable question: How many of those girls did you take off the island and marry? :-)

[Member #4167]

Sure, they changed the law in May 2008. But it doesn't change a lot in reality. Jineteras will seldom go because if they have registered three times with different foreigners, they are likely looking at prison time for being prostitutes. And regular girls usually won't register out of fear of being in the books.

You were lucky to meet so many who had no problems registering. Where those girls pros or regulars or somewhere in between? And were they totally fearless of going to a hotel with you and registering? Interesting...

Regular girls will and do register. I had many register with me. No problem. In fact they had no concern about registering (I had more concern than they did). There are two types of registering: "visitors" and "overnite guests". It was only the jiniteras that have a problem registering.

The problem is the limit of 3.compare a poor girl in Colombia with one in Cuba. The Colombiana can screw any guy she wishes without fear of harrassment or imprisonment. The Cubana can only pick three. Therefore the Cubana will be much choosier. The Cubana will make sure that you are the "real deal" and you are not there just to sport-fvck her. That you are serious about marriage and taking her off the island. Therefore, she will wait until the right Yuma comes along.