Havana

[Peterman]

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 www.nobelcom.com 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

[Peterman]

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

[JamesBond69]

>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.

[ConorOC]

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

[JamesBond69]

[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...

[JamesBond69]

>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....

[Peterman]

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

[Peterman]

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.

[Peterman]

As far as Cuban only taxis (old yellow and black Russian cars) go, I've never even been able to get in one. I look like a fuckin tourist and on top of that my girlfriend could pass as a european. She has blond hair and has a fair complexion. So, they usually will not even stop for us. Also, I have rode in many old 50's vintage cars. Everyone wants $s so you can just flag them down and ask for a ride. Every damn one of them reaked of gasoline. Not sure why.
I do believe the current prices ($100-200) quoted for professional jineteras to be accurate. When I first started to go to HAV the prices were in the $20-40 bracket. The last time I was there (Nov 2001) the beginning prices I was hearing was $80. They do have great pussy, but, I have not found them to be gold plated! Get real girls! If these girls are not careful they will price themselfs completely out of the BALL GAME! 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". Oh, how I long for those days to return!

END OF PART 2

[Peterman]

Just wanted to respectfully disagree with a couple of things posted earlier and amen others. Or, better yet, add my observations. I am by no means an expert.
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. I've stayed in about 8 different casas before I found a real SLEEPER. Now, I stay there exclusively. I just checked a few of the casa particular sites I know of on the net and there seems to be many casas. And, I don't think they would be advertising if they were not legal. Here is a partial list;

www.cuba-rentals.com
www.cubamall.com
www.casaparticular.com
www.cubabugettravel.com
www.webhavana.com
www.user.pandora.be/casaparticular/

END OF PART 1

[ConorOC]

I agree with most of what JamesBond says. His history is right too.

About finding a Casa P. - - the best bet to find the right casa suited to your needs is to know somebody local. I found a nice Casa P. - - private entrance - -thanks to some friends who have been visiting Havana for a decade. You must be careful about cold calling Casa P's, and you should know some spanish to understand what's going on.

In one form or another, women are plentiful in Havana. But . . . my experience with Cuban women is that they're not pros in any simple sense, but as JamesB points out amateurs. I've hardly ever traded money for sex up front, except under exceptional circumstances. More usually, money and/or gifts come later. I remember the days - - now no longer true - - when women would hang around the Habana Libre looking for tourists. You'd see plenty of them, having met and dallied with tourists, loaded up with trinkets from the gift shops surrounding the HL lobby and giggling with their girlfriends. They didn't want money, they wanted the consumer goods only available either in $ or in the dollar stores. My last trip this phenomenon had almost completely disappeared. In fact, the organized sex scene was really low key except for some tourist hotspots - - where the quality of sex and beauty was pretty low by any standards.

Cuban women are great . . .not just in bed but elsewhere as well. My advice - - as others have pointed out - - is to chat up the local women you meet in local contexts. Like anywhere else in the world. The difference is two-fold: Cubans want dollars and a shot at getting out of Cuba; and, Cubans are just generally more sensual and sexual than many other folks. The key to this kind of approach is to read the signals. Like other places, nightclubs are where men and women go to find some fun. But, my best experience has always been in much more mundane or common places. Take a bottle of rum to the Malecon, for instance, and you're bound to have a good time.

Going to Cuba for sex probably won't turn out to be as fulfilling as you might want. Going to Cuba for romance and adventure - - which might include sex - - is probably a better way to land at Jose Marti International.

Conor OC

[DownUnder]

Peterman had some good insight but may I add.....
Taxis- Get a flat rate. I paid $15 for all evening and night. Try to get driver that speaks english it can make a world of difference, one drive (Hector) took me to a great bar in old Havana that only charges $2.50 for the mojhito's that go for $5 in most places.

House of Music is the HOTTEST place right now. I mean real model types, expect to $100-200 for quaility

Also a good friend or driver can get you good deals on food. I paid $2 at a nice air conditioned place for a excellent cheese pizzi that can feed 2 people

[JamesBond69]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Peterman

Thanks Peterman...great post...

You covered Havana very well, so there is not that much to add but some slight enhancements and clarifications...

1. Taxi's and Coco cabs. There are three kinds of taxis (4 actually if you include the Coco).

Hotel taxis - Very expensive, waiting out side the nice hotels and airport to take your money.

Taxis you call on the telephone - There prices are more reasonable.

Non hotel taxis - They cruise the streets and you pay in dollars. About the same as the telephone taxis but sometimes they will turn off the meter and you can save a few bucks.

Coco;s- they're really fun but they can end up costing as much as a taxi. The trick with the Coco's is to set a price before getting in.

Peso taxis - There are incredible CHEAP and usually are more like buses, picking up cubas here and there....Sometimes if you hail them, get in and they realize you aren't a cuba they will ask you to leave....but sometimes they won't...and sometimes they will drive you around for dollars...they are taking a risk to pick some dollars...you aren't taking any risk, as the tourist is king in cuba. Some of these taxis are vintage 50 American cars and really fun to ride in.

Casa particular - They are hard to find in Havana - I think they are technically illegal in havana although quite common in other parts like Cienfuegos and Trinidad. You have a slightly better chance of getting a chica into a casa than a hotel (bribe required), but casas are highly regulated and immigration comes each week to check the register. All guests - including a chica - must register. The problem is that the girls are reluctant to register, since they don't want the police to put their ID in the computer and the owner of the casa doesn't want to allow an unregistered guests in to his place and risk losing his license to operate.

Private apartments - the best bet, with a private entrance, for about $25/night. Here you can take a chica, no problem but they are illegal and hard to find...in fact you really have to know a Cuba very well to find one. I did, so was able to take chicas back to my place.

The costs: in the really nice clubs in Havana the quoted prices start at $100 and go down...for all night....In Cienfuegos the prices can be as little as $20, even $10 for short stay. Then there are the SW's and the prices are negotiable there, about the same as anywhere in Cuba, very little

And there are the amateurs - really all the action is amateur - but it's not so easy to pick up a girl in Cuba...if a girls is talking with a foreigner the police might find this of interest...and you don't want to attract the interest of the police in Cuba, as they can do what they want.

In general there is no real organized hobby in cuba...the police really do keep in under control...it's more that the girls are dying to meet foreigners - out of genuine interest (curiousity) and possibly a bit of money. ..any money is good, since the average monthly salary is between $10 to $20...

If you are going to Cuba for the hobby it's really the wrong reason, as there are far easier places.

If you are going to Cuba because you are interested in the country and want to see it before it surely changes in some way after the death of the "bearded one" I highly recommend it, as it's a fascinating place to visit- beautiful old homes, nice beaches, very friendly and intelligent people, great music scene....

The problem with the hobby in Cuba is that it changed radically around 1995 but many people haven't caught up with how it is NOW.

From say 1992-1995 when the Russians pulled out and the economy started to go toward the dollar there were prostitutes EVERYWHERE....as the country was in worse shape then probably even Argentina now. It was the only way to survive. You would go to a place like Veradado beach and the streets would be lined with young girls that had traveled there from all over the island...

And of course that attracted the pauncy middle aged middle class Italian sex tourists who took full advantage. It was really out of hand....and frankly the economy needed less of this type of tourism and more the big chain all inclusive vacation tourists, with some family vacationers in the mix.

Also it was very bad for the society, as it was so extreme...with only the girls feeding their families...so the "bearded one" really cracked down, with massive sweeps, sending the over 18's to jail and the under 18's back to their families or should I say, the families were notified their girls were hooking and told to pick them up and take them home.

So that's a little history on the hobby there....it can be fun but really requires some good street smarts and a knowledge of Spanish is essential to know how it works and understand the "cat and mouse" game that exists.

PS
That was a really good suggestion from Peterman about two US passports, as they do stamp the passports sometimes, contrary to popular opinion...and there is a very small risk of a serious fine for an American traveling to Cuba although that may change, as the Congress as approved travel to Cuba and now the Senate must vote but of course Bush will veto any bill to appease his supporters in Miami.

If you get th stamp my suggestion is to mail your passport home and enter the US just with your drivers license. It will work and you will save yourself the anxiety...

[TeddyBoy]

Peterman,

Your Havana post is an instant classic.

Have you considered a career writing? How about "My Life as a successful HobbyMan" ?

At any rate...thank you sir.

And Jackson.........YOU DA MAN. I tried other boards...some for pay....but this is one is the best I've seen.....and free.

Rickster

[Pachangero]

Peterman,

thanks for the 411....especially the tip on the passport, that's clever!