Do you have an inside tip on the Cuban capital? Send us your ideas and suggestions below.
Tourists are only supposed to ride in official taxis, easily identifiable as the only relatively modern cars on the road, but it's usually possible to flag down any passing vehicle -- including the 1950s American classic cars for which Havana is famous. They all have Russian engines these days, of course.
Check out what's happening where by picking up a copy of the free listings guide Bienvenidos at hotels, bars and restaurants. Otherwise drop by the information desk at the Hotel Nacional.
The street hustlers may put you off casual conversation but, if you get a chance, most Cubans are happy to chat and patient of error-laden Spanish (though even fluent Spanish speakers have trouble with their heavily-accented Latin American Spanish); visitors are still a fairly recent novelty and few get the chance to travel abroad themselves.
Cuba effectively has three currencies: the peso, used by Cubans and rarely required by visitors; the convertible peso, introduced in 1995 for tourists and pegged to the U.S. dollar; and the dollar itself, in which prices at most tourist-orientated restaurants, shops and hotels are quoted. There is currently a drive to force tourists to change their dollars into convertible pesos but the situation remains confusing.
Fifty years of mutual animosity with the U.S. hasn't dulled the Cuban passion for baseball and the island boasts perhaps the strongest national league outside of the MLB. Industriales are Havana's biggest club, though they share the Estadio Latinamericano with Metropolitanos, so there's a game most nights between March and October.
_______________________________________________________ • From: Marcus Andersson; Stockholm • Posted: May 8, 2006 • Comment: The money situation really isnt that confusing. Dollars are not used in any shops, anywhere and convertible pesos is the way to go.
Music: "La zorra y el cuervo", on La Rampa remains a great music club. Restaurants: Try for example Huron Azul on Humboldt or El gringo Viejo for better food than most average restaurants, and for a good prize to. Also, the bar on top of the huge bomerang shaped building (edificio fochsa) is worth a visit for an even better view than from Hotel Habana Libre.
Sights: The University, the Cristobal Colon cemetary, virtually all of old Havana, etc, etc. Havana is one of those places you need to walk around and see what there is for yourself and it requires some time and energy, but is all well worth it. Do try and see an opera or flamenco at Gran Teatro next to Capitolio.
_______________________________________________________ • From: Sandra Rodriguez; San Juan, Puerto Rico • Posted: May 8, 2006 • Comment: to enjoy the best latin jazz groups in havana the place to go is La Zorra y el Cuervo an underground club in Vedado if you are lucky you could catch Chucho Valdez performing there for $20 with some of that money used towards your drinks, very nice little place I seen there a lot of good groups there including Roberto Fonseca who was a pianist for Ibrahim Ferrer and who happens to be Chucho's stepson.Anyway there is a diferent lineup every day you won't be dissapointed.As for food I can recomend a very good restaurant is suppossed to be a chinese restaurant call Flor de Loto there is only two items that you could say are chinese food fried rice and some kind of soup the rest is the usual criollo fare but let me tell you I never been to a restaurant in cuba or elsewhere where the portions are that big i mean huge you can order lobster,shrimp,ropa vieja(shredded beef),pork etc.And get this the most expensive item is $9 that would be the lobster!!! and don't think you are gonna get only one lobster oh no you will be surprised how much they serve,you are gonna need a "cajita"(container to go)to give you an idea I paid for a party of four around $50 including drinks i mean beer and I had a cognac (courvossier) for $3, i never seen a place this cheap. Enjoy
_______________________________________________________ • From: Sandra Rodriguez; San Juan, Puerto Rico • Posted: May 8, 2006 • Comment: Not to miss: National Natural History Museum, with unique geology exhibits of Caribbean plate development. Also Casa de las Americas for literature, theatre. A great bookstore near Coppelia, with all the best of sociology, economics, history, literature...at very reasonable prices!
_______________________________________________________ • From: Tim; Grand Cayman • Posted: May 8, 2006 • Comment: I found the best music at the Jazz Cafe -- at the Malecon across from the Melia Cohiba Hotel. There's a $10 cover. The bands are superb and the service better than most clubs in Havana. Get there by 10 pm to get a decent table.
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