Havana

Havana is unbelievable! It is definitely the place in Cuba where the time warp is the most obvious. Cliches lovers are served! The city vibrates, it’s all decrepit, but meantime beautiful!

Exceptional renovated buildings adjacent to ramshackle houses, people selling coffee, fruits or newspapers… All of this is part of Havana.

Three days is the minimum to spend in Havana. In its three main quarters, Habana Vieja, Habana Centro and Vedado, everything is a live show. Inhabitants talking between them, a baker yelling “el pan!” in the streets, music, decrepit buildings, witness of the glory and the magnificence of the city back in the time.

Old cars, buildings, no Wi-Fi, live salsa music bands playing music on terrace. Havana is by herself a journey through time.

Havana is very rich in museums of all kinds. All museums turn out to be dedicated – on one part, to socialism and its promotion all around the world. The Simon Bolivar museum has for instance an area fully dedicated to Hugo Chavez.

The museum of the Revolution, in the previous presidential palace, is really instructive – but highly politically oriented, regarding the socialist revolution and how discontent grew up during the Batista dictatorship. All steps of the revolution and all changes made in the Cuban society are clearly explained.

On the other side of the river is a much more quiet neighborhood with less people swarming than downtown Havana. A small boat, at the end of Calle Sol or Calle Santa Clara, drives you on the other side. At its tops, two former fortresses, witnesses of the glory of Havana during the slavery period, and the wars between Spanish and English to own the island. At the top, the house of “the Che” overhangs Havana.

HABANA VIEJA

To be immersed into the Cuban lifestyle, spend some time in Habana Vieja. Walking in it streets and living the Cuban lifestyle simply amazes. All streets are a demonstration of the various occupations and jobs Cubans do.

There are a lot of things to do in the area. A lot of museums and churches testify of the seniority of the island. The different architectural styles in the buildings are the best illustration of the different influences which laid the foundations of Havana.

The Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco is astonishing, and so does the view on Havana at the top of its bell.

A nice way to discover Habana Vieja is to cross Calle Mercaderes entirely, complete the tour by following the river, and finish it by having a local drought beer in the Plaza Vieja.

Meantime, have a stop in the Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana, and get some rest at the Castillo de la Real Fuerza.

UNSUAL: Fidel once said “Every Cuban Inhabitant must know how to shoot, and shoot well”.

There is a shooting range in Habana Vieja where Cubans and tourists can improve their shooting skills, not far from the cross between Calle Brasil and Calle Cristo.

Unexpected quite often, decrepit facades may hide beautiful houses, as the casa particular below.

CASA PARTICULAR:  Casa de Pepe y Rafaela, Calle San Ignacio, between Calle Sol and Calle Santa Clara.

It’s really nice to go and sit for a while to the open-air boxing gymnasium, in the south the Habana Vieja. Located in Calle Cuba, it offers, every Friday, a boxing show opened to everyone.

 

HABANA CENTRO

Habana Centro is famous for its Malecon, the famous boulevard which goes along the sea in Havana.

Even though there is less things to do than Habana Vieja, walking in Habana Centro is really interesting for understanding how the Cuban people lives in Havana. The neighborhood is more authentic, with a few shops, at the opposite of Habana Vieja. This is the chance to capture the usual way of life of Havana inhabitants.

A lot of houses in Cuba do not have access to running water, which explains all the tanker trunks in trouble in the small and narrow streets of Havana.

CASA PARTICULAR: Casa Tropical, 154 Calle Industria, between Calle Bernal and Calle Trocadero

The chouse is close to the Malecon and Habana Vieja, in the middle of the vibrant neighborhood of Habana Centro.

Houses are more decrepit on this side on the city. But life and music there nether stops though.

By day or night, Habana Centro nether stops living, with a unique atmosphere.