Havana

Yes, you are correct, there are steep bribes to be paid to get girls into hotels. That is why a seasoned hobbyist stays in a Casa P. I've stayed in 6 to 8 different ones and never had a problem with having a chica staying over night.
Yes, you are correct, it is a cat-and-mouse-game. For me, that is some of the attraction or intrigue for HAV.
Yes, you are correct, go to Cuba for reasons besides solely for the hobby. Cuba has some of the nicest people I've ever met and some very beautiful places.
But no, I think you are wrong, the hobby is there- BIG TIME!
Sorry to come down on you so hard, but, I think Cuba is a great place for a holiday and the hobby!
Anyone else?

Peterman

Peterman, jamesbond69, Scorpio, Gentlemen,

Firstly let me begin by thanking Scorpio for an outstanding report, some very nice information indeed. By the way I am also into the chica balanco / blanco mulata scene. Some nice tips for me for my December trip tanks again; I have not tried the EL CONEJITO nor the EMPERADOR, so they go on my list.

Now, jamesbond69 is very right about the historical issues, however I disagree with his conclusions sir. Peterman had the right answer all-round IMHO. Cuba is one of those places where everything and anything is available for the hobbyist, however you need to look (once I saw a squashed empty carton of Macdonalds shake on the ground: proably the only one in the whole of Cuba!..... admittedly there is no Mac's in Cuba, go figure!).

I come from the hunting school of hobbying, and so like the chase as well as rewards: prefering the non-pro action. Cuba offer this. Admittedly the hunt is not as difficult as it would be here in Europe, but nonetheless it is very fulfilling. The non-pro scene is very nice: I must say that over the years I have lost count of the number of times that I have excellent "service" without having had to part with a penny: it was never discussed and never expected. However, we all know the score in Cuba, and so I always gave very ample "taxi fare".

Cuba is a paradise. Do all the previous reports not show this? Off course they do (the most recent excellent report from Scorpio shows that). If you want wall-to-wall lazy mans hobby then Thailand / Bangkok is more appropriate. Cuba is without a doubt a connoisseurs place: and I'm not necessarily talking cigars!

I hear from my friends in Havana that "the brearded one" (nice, very nice Peterman) is very sick. Does this mark the start of the end as we know it? ~ I think not. It has been suggested that he has groomed his brother Raul Castro (five years younger than Fidel, and currently head of the military) to be the next in line to continue and perpetuate the current state of affairs. Indeed, it does not end there, there is still the remaining elder brother Ramon castro: who knows a dynasty potential? Not forgetting that Castro has a son (I forget his name....) who is also on the polit ruling committee.... but then I digress.....

Scorpio, Peterman: I am back in Havana from 23 Dec to 3 Jan, after my Buenos Aires trip . If you can make it lets hook up, spending NY in Havana will be real blast!

Regards, Havanaman

Hello Havanaman,

I would dearly LOVE to hook-up in HAV and see a pro in action, but financial obligations will not allow me to go until maybe MAR or APR (may have to work a hadj or maybe BUSH will have me activated).
Never heard of Emperador (which is now on my list) but, I have been to El Conejito for lunch. I don't speak spanish, but I believe El Conejito means something like "lil rabbit". Somebody help me out. Their speciality is rabbit. Go figure! It was just O.K.-nothing to write home about. Just another one of "the Bearded One's" restaurants.
It just so happens, after lunch, I met an excellent 19yo mulata freebie across the street from El Conejito. I used my favorite HAV pickup line "hello".

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You are correct, Cuba is a different kind of place to hobby. Then again, everywhere in the world I have been was different, hobby wise. You just have to adapt or go with the flow. You know, "when in Rome..."
You are correct that Raul is being groomed to replace "the Bearded One". One of my well educated HAV friends told me that he is afraid if that happens. He says Raul is a real lunatic. I could see the fear in his eyes when he said this. Let's hope, for the Cuban people, this doesn't happen.
Long live paradise!

Regards,
Peterman

Havanaman, between you and me, what where you smokin when you saw the "Mickey D" shake carton? It sure wasn't a cigar!

Hi Peterman, (continuing from last night)

Regarding my casa, the owner Sr. Reynaldo (speaks English) lives in a different house a few blocs away, some of the neighbours must certainly have noticed my (changing) visitors. But it never became an issue maybe because I acted discreetly. The house has a common entrance and there is about 6 appartments on every floor. It can always happen that you come across somebody else living in the house while walking upstairs to your appartment. I and the owner never talked about bringing chicas to my appartment.
But he may have known about my activities (by the neighbours). He came every fourth day to collect my payment. The price was 30$ the first 4 nights and from then 25$ per night. Every two days an older maid came to clean everything and she was happy with me because I kept all very orderly (not like many other guests, she said). The owner can be reached at #8327945 (+53 7) but my particular casa is already rented for the next two months as he told me (btw he may have more for rent). A disadvantage of my casa was the loud traffic noise, to sleep long I used earplugs. (P.S.: Conejito means Little Rabbit)

Hi Havanaman,

I like the idea to meet "on the site" at the end of the year, but at this time I'm unable to give a positive answer. We'll all stay in touch through the WSG-forum anyway !

Regards, Scorpio

Hello JamesBond69,

In your last post you mentioned pimps. I have not come across what I would classify as a true pimp in HAV. But, I'm sure they are there. What I have seen was this; while at the Comordoro Disco a (gay) guy gave me his card and told me he was a dancer at the Tropicana and he told me he could introduce me to other female Tropicana dancers. Pimp? Not really.
Another time after a night of shaging, on the way back to the Melia Cohiba, we stopped by the cafe across from the Melia Cohiba for a night cap. Got the # of a cute lil chica that didn't speak english. Called her a few days later. Talked to a "male friend" that spoke english. Met her for a shag. It was not very good (no kissing, no eating at the Y, etc.) Saw her a few weeks later hustling an Italian tourist in the piano bar @ the Melia Chobia. Saw her, again, a few weeks after that go by on the back of a motorcycle as I was having an afternoon beer @ the same cafe where I met her. The guy (probable the same guy I had talked to on the phone) dropped her off in front of the Melia Cohiba (taking her to work). Pimp? I think not. Probable just her boyfriend.

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Another time, I met a girl working outside the Habana Libre. I had shagged her several times at an "apartment of one of her friends" that I rented for the hour. Weird thing; she seemed to know where everything in the apartment was at. The "light bulb" never came on until this old lady that lived upstairs that I had befriended, told me after she had a falling out with this girl; this girl was married, that was her apartment and her husband had cleared out so I could rent the place for a shag. That was the last time I saw her. Pimp? I think not. Just a-low-life-dead-beat-husband!
Just my $.02.



Hello Scorpio,

Thanks for the info. I'll take note of this place and check it out on my next visit

Regards,
Peterman

Just got back from my 20th trip to Havana. I have been going there since 1995. Tourism is way down right now and the people who rely on it are suffering.
Johnny's (El Rio) is open and flourishing. I went there twice over my eight day trip. There were over 100 girls, many 8-9 and one or two 10's. There were only about a dozen foreigners (men); 11 Italians and one American (me). I was beating the women off of me. Since there is a $10 cover there, the girls ask for more. The usual asking price is about $80 for the whole night. I usually settle for $60. All the girls there are pros.
My driver scouts out chicas for me while I'm away. He had two non-pros who were pretty good. The non-pros never ask for money. I gave them $60 each for the whole night and some small gifts which I had brought.
During the day, I like to take chicas to pools throughout the city. Macumba is particularly nice.
I went to check out El Conejo (yes, rabbit) and Emperador at the Fosca Plaza. The girls at both these places are controlled by a single black pimp who was disturbed when I didn't find any of the girls up to my standards. Two of them gave me their phone numbers for action beyond the pimp's view for another day.
The hottest new place is the new branch of the Casa de Musica in Central Havana. It quit letting people in at 8:00 PM one evening. This is three hours before even the most eager chica ever shows her face in a club. There were a number of beautiful non-pros waiting outside for their knight in shining armor to pay their way in.
I also checked out the disco at the Bosc pool (I forget the name of the hotel). $10 cover for all you can drink. Most girls were with male Cuban friends (necessary to enter many places). All seemed to be non-pros.
Rodeo in Parke Lennin is also very good on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Mostly non-pros, and there are hundreds of them with very few foreign men to go around.
I stayed at my usual casa particular in Vedado. It is beautiful, on the 14th floor of a high rise, with shared living, dining room and kitchen. It has a large balcony overlooking the ocean and city skyline. $35 per night including private bath. The owner, Marta speaks English and can line up a driver for you. Her number is 53-7-32-64-75 and her e-mail address is martavitorte@hotmail.com. She has internet service available, but it is dial-up.
I pay my driver Emilio $35 per day plus gas and a tip of about $20 per day at the end of my trip. In return, he negotiates everything for me, buys groceries and booze and shuttles the girls around, so I never pay for cabs. A good rental car in Havana can be $85 per day and up, so a driver is a real bargain. Plus, these guys know where the action is, so I never waste time.
Cuban women have none of the sexual hang-ups American women do. Having sex is like shaking hands. It's expected. The biggest problem you'll ever have in Havanna is getting rid of a woman.

One quick ?,

from reading posts on experienced travellers it seems that the Cuban women are readily available to be picked-up by us tourists.....and in order to get into clubs they need to be accompanied by males.

My question is - do the Cuban men get jealous over us tourists picking up their girls? Has anyone had a problem like this?

I'm Latino and I wouldn't take it to kindly to have strange guys accost my female friends........maybe my thinking is warped and it's different in Cuba.....

thanks,

pachangero

Hi EL Colorado,

Excellent trip report!!! Got some good up-to-date info. I took notes and I've been to HAV maybe 50 times! Speaking for myselt, this is the kind of stuff I like to see here.
One question; does Emilo speak english and how can he be contacted? Sorry that was two.


Pachangero,

I have never seen this to be a problem. I think it is part of the culture. Anyone else?

Regards,
Peterman

Peterman - Emilio speaks a little English. My Spanish is only fair and he understands me fine. The landlady can translate if necessary or provide an English speaking driver if you need one.

Panchero - Back in the old days you could take a daughter from her father's arm. It's not a problem. If a girl is accompanyed and doesn't make eye contact, I have my driver approach her. Sometimes her companion is a brother or a cousin. They need the money.

Peterman - Contact Emilio through Marta. 011-53-7-326475 or her e-mail.

Great report Colorado. Gracias. I'd sensed when I was last in Havana - - July 2002 -- that the lid was coming down. Glad to hear that my intuitions were wrong.

I visited the Emperador with an amiga Cubana while in town . . . we were there early in the p.m. and not much action. I hung around till things started heating up . . .but didn't see anything to compel me staying.

Haven't heard before about Rodeo in Parque Lenin . . .have to make a visit next time.

About Peterman's recurring girl episode. I had a similar experience. Bumped in a voluptuous, lovely Cubana in one of the less glamorous hotel nightclubs . . . .we had a nice time together. Couple of days later, passed her on the street when she was with a couple of girlfriends - - all off to do some shopping. Then, a couple of days later, walking down a street in another section of town, bumped into her with her husband and kid! Needless to say, we exchanged glances but not much else. She wasn't a pro, just another Cuban trying to get a little bit more out of life by hooking [no pun intended] into the dollar tourist economy.

I'm trying to head back down this spring. Question: should I wait 'til the high tourist season is over? say around late April? or head down more toward the apex of high season - - say, February/March? Opinions? [Damn with all this crazy stuff going on in the States - - I'm ready to pass the whole winter in Cuba.]

ConorOC

Thanks Colorado for that great info in your report. I have my own comments and questions for you "experts", since I just came back last month. First the comments......

1) Emperador- I first got to know of this place by the way of a scam artist who hangs out in front of the nearby Hotel Nactional. He told me the place was called "Hemmingways" and he worked there. Once I got and he started ordering drinks expecting me to pay, I understood the scam and left. I returned a few times afterwards but Colorado was right the girls are average at best (6 and 7's). Interestingly, I didn't get any sense of a pimp there but he may be correct as most of these pro girls lived across the street from the club and I may have seen the guy.

2) Paying - I thought Colorado was paying way to much. I mean $55 per day ( including tip) plus gas to a driver is only cheap if your comparing it to the States. Guys since this is off- season I had no problem finding taxi drivers willing to do for $25 per day including gas (unless we left Havana). Colorado I would be interested in knowing if your driver bought your supplies for at the peso stores, there by saving you some money ??

My question for Colorado, Peterman and other experts
1) Are many true blondes there ? I didn't see any many (except the tourists). I'll have quality over quantity any time.
2) Is it possible to hang out near the unversity to get choose to the smart young ones ?? Has anybody tried this ?? I didn't get a chance

ConorOC - Tourism is way down right now. I'd go sooner rather than later. The weather starts to get pretty hot in late April.

downunder - Indeed, my driver does shop the peso stores and the fruit market (also pesos) for me as well as the black market for shrimp and lobster. A day for him starts around nine in the morning and doesn't usually end before 2:00 AM. He knows when we shouldn't be hanging around a place and when to swoop down on a target of opportunity. Also, after 7 years, I trust him. The tip is always up to me, and my driver has always been worth it.
Most of the girls I go with down there are fair skinned blondes. Alas, none were real blondes. I have had one blue-eyed Cubana and several green-eyed girls and one real red-head once.
There is a small outdoor snack shop directly across from the Havana Libre hotel. If you hang out there in the afternoon, most of the co-eds from the university pass by on the way to the bus or Cupoella (for ice cream). Personally, I've never tried out any university girls.