(06 December 2007)
Havana - capital city of Cuba - is located on the north coast of the
island and is one of the most captivating places in the Caribbean.
The colonial old town is a maze of cobbled streets, great buildings and
grand plazas, with romantic, crumbling Central Havana to the west.
Colourful 1950s cars still cruise the streets, and there's a gritty
vibrancy few other cities can match.
Spanish and African history has made Havana a hotbed of culture -
there's music and dancing at every turn. There's no bad time to visit,
but it gets more crowded between December and April. New Year's Eve is a
big deal, so book early if clients want to join in the fun.
Get your bearings
09:00: Habana Vieja, or Old Havana, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
a great place to start exploring the city. Grab a coffee in one of the
old cafes, then go for a wander.
A restoration project is helping preserve the main sites, and there's a
massive concentration of museums and galleries in the area. Check out
the colonial Morro Fortress, cathedral and the Museo de la Ciudad on the
Plaza de Armas. Housed in an 18th century palace, it's a good place to
get an overview of the city's chequered history and includes rooms
devoted to the Cuban wars of independence.
Get arty
11:00: If you've still got the culture bug, the restored Museo Nacional
de Bellas Artes in Central Havana is a wonderful art gallery. Cuban and
international art are separated into two buildings. Central Havana's
other highlights include the Museo de la Revolucion and the Capitolo
Nacional, where you can join a tour of the building that once housed the
Cuban Congress (today it's home to the national library and the Academy
of Sciences).
Grab lunch
13:00: Cuba's not known for its food, though more restaurants are
opening. Floridita on Obispo Street in the old town is one of the most
popular and if you tuck in to one of the speciality fish or seafood
dishes you'll soon discover why. It is also an old haunt of novelist
Ernest Hemingway. It is advisable to book in advance.
Visit Revolucion Square
14:00: The Plaza de la Revolucion is a city landmark, the site of many a
political rally. The huge square is dominated by the Jose Marti Memorial
with a museum dedicated to the national hero at its base. Take the
elevator to the top for great views over the city (it's the tallest
building in Havana). Check out the famous Che Guevara image on the
Ministry of the Interior's wall nearby.
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Shop for cigars and rum
15:00: Shopping isn't Havana's thing - unless you're into cigars and
rum. Havana Club rum is the brand to buy, and you'll find cigar houses
scattered around the city. Even non-smokers should check out a cigar
factory - it's an age-old tradition and you can see cigars being rolled
by hand. Try the Partagas factory on Calle Industria for $10, the oldest
in town.
Relax with a cocktail
16:30: Stop off for tea or a cocktail at the iconic Art Deco Hotel
Nacional de Cuba, overlooking the coast in the Vedado area. Opened in
1930, Nat King Cole, Ernest Hemingway, Frank Sinatra and Winston
Churchill are among its past guests.
Chill out on EL Malecon
16:00 Stroll along El Malecon, the 1.9-mile-long sea wall skirting the
city. Chill out and watch the fishermen, or stop in a bar along the
seafront and join the locals for a Cristal beer or shot of rum.
TropicanaMake like Hemingway
20:00: No visit to Havana's complete without a trip to La Bodeguita del
Medio on California Avenue, where Ernest Hemingway used to hang out
downing his beloved mojitos. It's an atmospheric place with photos and
signatures of famous visitors covering the walls - and for daiquiris and
mojitos it's hard to beat. Try local crab cakes or Caribbean curry with
shrimp and coconut.
Evening extravaganza
22:00: Tropicana, open since 1939, is a city institution and worth a
visit for the Las Vegas-style extravaganza, with scantily clad beauties
dancing salsa in an idyllic open-air setting. If you haven't eaten
already you can have food here before the show starts at about 10.30pm.
It's a bit pricey (from $60 per person for the show and drinks), but
it's sure to thrill.
Party into the small hours
After midnight: Havana is the life and soul of the Caribbean - and
that's saying something in a region that loves to party. There's no end
of bars and clubs with a huge range of live music. New places spring up
all the time, but try the Casa de la Musica de Centro Habana and the
Salon Piano Bar 'Delirio Habanero' at the Teatro Nacional de Cuba.
Jane Dunford
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2007/12/06/26069/cuba-24-hours-in-havana.html
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