Paradise enjoyment
Varadero rightfully deserves the title of one of the best beach resorts in the world. Just a two-hour drive from Havana, the small town is famous for Cuba’s finest high-end hotels with excellent service and endless beaches. There are few sights here, but thanks to the proximity to the capital of the island, lovers of outdoor activities can find monuments for every taste.
Varadero’s main wealth is beaches with snow-white soft sand and gentle sea entry. The coast line here is straight and long, only occasionally cut through by picturesque capes or rocks. Thanks to the giant coral reef located near the island, the water here is always clean and transparent, waves are rare. The beach season here lasts all year round, the hottest time is the summer months when the water resembles steamed milk.
Most of the entertainment is concentrated in hotel areas, in the evenings in the center clubs and discos are opened, where not only tourists, but also locals go, which gives an excellent opportunity to observe passionate Cuban dances. In the central quarter there are restaurants with live music and cafes, but prices are not cheap for tourists, so it is better to choose an all-inclusive hotel.
Freedom Island
The heart of Freedom Island, Havana, combines colonial buildings, some of which are striking with splendor, and some look at the world with covered window shutters and oppress with showering plaster, skyscrapers rise nearby, ultra-modern cars drive and “pennies” familiar to pain. During the day, they walk here on the Malecon embankment, and in the evening they dance “dirty dances” in Cuban clubs and restaurants, many bright festivals are held in Havana, and life does not subside even at night.
The most noteworthy is Old Havana with narrow streets and buildings up to 500 years old. To begin the inspection is from Weapons Square, founded in 1519, nearby is the Cathedral of St. Christopher in the Baroque style, as well as the Museum of Weapons, where, among other things, the Che Guevara rifle is exhibited. By narrow streets full of tourists and locals, you can reach Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar and skip a glass of daiquiri, there is a museum dedicated to the great author in Havana.
Another important attraction is the Havana Capitol, similar to its American counterpart. Nearby is a retro taxi parking lot, which you can take with a breeze through the central streets of the city. It is nice to walk along Prado Boulevard, the main city promenade.
Ajiaco cryoglio
You are unlikely to avoid getting acquainted with this dish while traveling around Liberty Island. Because achiaco is the face of Cuban cuisine. Maybe not the prettiest, but certainly one of the most appetizing. Behind this Spanish name lies either thick soup or vegetable stew. During its preparation, meat (most often chicken, sometimes beef and lamb) in a duet with vegetables is grilled or stewed in pots. The composition also includes green bananas, potato, sweet corn, pumpkin, malanga (something like girasol) and creole sauce with spices. We recommend that you try in Paladares – private restaurants, usually owned by individual families. The average cost of a dish in them starts from $7.
Congri
Congri is a mixture of black beans, round rice, fried onions, sweet green pepper, burning garlic. Often prepared with the addition of chorizo and sofrito sauce. The dish is simple – looking for sophistication in the cuisine of these places is not worth it at all – but truly Cuban. We recommend it for versatility (vegetarians and lovers of piquant sausages can pay attention to congri variations) and prevalence. Leaving Cuba without trying congri is gastronomically criminal, and almost impossible. You are sure that you will take the recipe for this fragrant treat for a note and repeat it when you return to your homeland.
Ropa Viehaа
This is a national meat dish consisting of pork and stewed vegetables. Translated from Spanish, ropa vieja means old clothes, which fully justifies the appearance of the couch. But not taste, no, it’s just divine! The meat for the dish for about two hours languishes in spicy broth, after which it is cut into fibers and stewed with vegetables in Creole sauce. Surprisingly delicate, but at the same time with a light sharp dish. Definitely eloquent look of the young cup. Be sure to taste!
Coppelia Ice Cream
The production of the treat served in the famous Coppelia ice cream cafe was established by Fidel back in the 60s. Since then, it has been unusually popular not only among local, but also among tourists. Of course, there are many times fewer varieties of this ice cream than, for example, the popular treat advertised by a giant pink spoon, but in one it unquestionably wins – a rich taste of natural cream. The most tender dessert is completely prepared from natural ingredients, which from the first serving conquers taste buds. And the first will certainly be followed by the second… The main thing is to gain patience to stand behind her in line.
Legendary cocktails
Cuba, despite political and social instability, is a space of carefree and rhythmic life. At least she can appear to the traveler just that. It is easiest to pump rumba, salsa or bachata with hips after a pair of glasses of fervor-cooling drinks. Cuba receives a significant percentage of its financial revenues from the export of sugarcane, a world-famous source of Cuban Roma. It is he who is the basis of Mojito, Daikiri, Cuba Libre and other unprecedented passionate cocktails. Feel the pulse of this island
Since you crossed the ocean to get acquainted with the culture of this island, you should certainly make your own idea of the fragrance of local cigars. It is important that they are purchased legally by you, otherwise they will be seized at customs. Now 24 cigars are allowed to be exported from Cuba. However, for a long time the rule of 50 cigars was in force, so now Cubans can turn a blind eye to the enthusiasm of the tourist. If you carry a couple of boxes, you can do without documents. But if you want to smuggle more than 50 pieces, you will need a check from the store, in this case you can take out 200 cigars without problems. Look for boxes labeled “Hecho in Cubatotalmente a mano,” proving the authenticity of the product.
Both the sweets and the patience with which Freedom Island is famous, Cuba owes sugar cane to grow here. It does not matter whether you have visited popular excursions on the plantation or not, you will still get acquainted with the products produced from this raw materials. Legendary rum (this is how – Legendario, instead of the Havana Club that we have) and sugar syrup for cocktails… Any such bottle will please your friends and relatives. And you yourself, winter or autumn evening, will gladly taste such a drink. If the rum from Cuba is too boring for you, pay attention to the popular liqueur Guayabita del Pinar, which has been cooked here since the end of the 19th century!
Not “Guantanamera” is single, as they say. Cuba is a rhythmic land rich in a large number of musical forms. Here travelers can appreciate the full variety of sounds of Latin America, combining Spanish and African motifs. The lively and energetic pace of Cuba involves even the most enduring in the dance. And the heart begins to beat in the beat of compositions performed by street musicians. Parting with this feeling is not easy. And is it necessary? Buy as a gift discs with Cuban music or musical instruments: maracas, drums or trese – a local type of guitar of Cuban treseros, whose sounds are posted on the streets of the island. Returning home, you will thank yourself more than once for your foresight and arrange more than one holiday in the style of “Night in Havana.”
Cubans believe that black coral has unique magical properties. Jewelry from it should be purchased carefully: 90% of what is sold in local markets is fake. Most often, tourists are “bred” into a corallino – cow’s horn. Black coral (if it is an original) always casts red in the light. If there are precious inlays in the purchased decoration, and you do not have the appropriate permission, prepare for problems at customs.
This textile souvenir will have to be tasted by men. Guyabera is a male shirt (more often flowery, but monotonous guabers are also found).
In Cuba, Comandante Che is a national hero. His face can be found on clothes (usually T-shirts) and household items. It is problematic to catch a worthy thing in the sea of consumer distribution, but it is worth searching for
6
years
1959
year
4000
островов
2008
year
49
years
Сhildren
In Cuba, milk is given free of charge to children under the age of 6
Liberty Island
Since 1959, the official name of Cuba appeared, sounding like Liberty Island
Islands
Cuba includes 4,000 small and medium islands
Technologies
Until 2008, Cuba was prohibited from using mobile phones
Fidel Castro
From 1959 to 2008, the state was led by Fidel Castro. And this is almost half a century