Havana – salsa, rum and Cuban cigars

How to get there and where to stay?

Havana is like no other place I have been. It’s mesmerising and unique. There, under the hot Cuban sun, you can have a sip of rum, loose yourself in the rhythm of salsa or try a Cuban cigar, while feeling that you have travelled through a time capsule and landed in a beautiful yet chaotic and extremely poor city 50 years ago. My advice: book those tickets and visit Havana before Cuba changes forever.

Attractions and Landmarks

Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) is the heart of Cuba’s capital and its cultural centre – beautiful colonial architecture. It is founded in 1519 by the Spanish, Havana was originally a walled city, however I noticed that most of the old walls are now gone, but the dense, 3,000-building district they once guarded contains some of Cuba’s most important cultural sites.

Amid the narrow streets of Old Havana you’ll find the Plaza Vieja, the national capital building, the Great Theatre of Havana and the city’s museum of fine arts, the Cathedral of Havana and the Museum of the Revolution.

The famous La Floridita bar was a onetime hangout of Ernest Hemingway and the birthplace of the daiquiri cocktail. I highly recommend you stop by and have a drink!

Havana’s Museo de la Revolución tells the story of Cuba’s successful revolt to overthrow the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship (and U.S. ally) in the 1950s. Located in Batista’s former presidential palace, the museum includes a variety of artefacts from the conflict. Part of the museum’s collection includes a Russian tank and U.S.-built fighter plane that took part.

Cuba is literally a rolling car museum. For instance, everywhere you look is an old-school American brand vehicle, ranging from Oldsmobile to Chevrolet, Buick to Ford. In addition to that you can even see Russion Volgas and Moskvich.

Must try: Classic American Car Tour with a Cocktail or Cabaret Tropicana

Entertainment and Food

I have dined at various places: El Templete, La Mina, El Palenque, La Floridita and at the La Guarida. I loved the latter. The food is up there with Havana’s best, with the restaurant’s pioneering brand of nueva cocina cubana driving both classic dishes (shredded beef) and those that are unusual for Cuba (lamb tikka masala). I recommend you made a reservation as it can get quite busy at times.

And finally, as reflection of my trip to Cuba, I have few words that describe my experience: unique, overwhelming and affectionate!