Colorful streets of Havana. Field with music and “chirping” of locals.
Cuba … For us it has always been associated with a tropical island, azure waters of a warm ocean and of course palm trees. And bananas … in communist Poland as a kid we only have cuban bananas twice per year lol . We visited Cuba for couple reasons. Of course our curiosity was number one .. but it have more educational purpose : we wanted to show our children how wonderfully socialism works.
How to visit Cuba.
We as US citizens have a different procedure for entering Cuba, and not same as for example EU citizens. Americans can visit Cuba, despite the rumors circulating but, special procedures and conditions are required (which I will mention in a moment), but it is possible.
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You can travel to Cuba for a variety of reasons, including:
- Family visits
- Official government business
- Journalistic activity
- Professional research
- Educational activities
- Religious activities
- Athletic competitions
- Humanitarian projects
- Support for the Cuban people
To visit Cuba, Americans need to:
- Have a valid passport that’s valid for at least six months after their arrival date and has two blank pages for stamps
- Purchase a Cuban Tourist Card, also known as a visa. You can buy this online or through your airline. The cost varies by carrier, but it’s usually between $85 and $100.
- Have comprehensive travel medical insurance that covers medical emergencies and evacuation by air
- Complete the D’Viajeros Travel Form online 48 hours before your arrival
- Enroll your trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
- Carry your insurance card or a copy of your travel insurance policy to show to Immigration Officers
More information on gov. Website :
https://cu.usembassy.gov/services/traveling-to-cuba
Currency – Cuban Peso
Americans !!! You will have to use cash ,do to no US issued cards will work in Cuba.
There is limited phone and internet access:
Local phone service in Cuba is provided by ETECSA
Wi-Fi/ Internet access is restricted compared to other countries and requires purchasing prepaid “NAUTA” cards to use at designated Wi-Fi hotspots. Also all hotels and resorts have internet access.
Travel and Medical Insurance .
When going to Cuba (as everywhere else) you should protect yourself with emergency and medical care. In Cuba we used Allianz Travel Insurance :
Transportation:
Airport transfers when arriving in Cuba
After landing in Cuba on the Jose Martí Airport in Havana you will have couple ways to get to your destination. If you staying n resort or hotel you’re transportation probably its already arranged . So you don’t have any thing to worry about.
If you staying ih hostel or rent out Casa Particular (homestay), your host can arrange transportation for you in form of personal urban taxi. From airport to old Havana will cost you probably $15-20 , where if you pick random yellow cab it can go up to $35.
You can always go to Ministry of Tourism offices on-site, and ask them for help to find ride you can trust and with fair price. Believe or not but for tourist milicja is very friendly.
Viazul: Traveling in Cuba by Bus.
Vial is a fleet of air-conditioning , up scale ,government operated tour bus services.
You can purchase tickets in advents on line . Yes you heard me right … online.(https://viazul.wetransp.com/) . We recommend you, get reservation as soon as you can because it gets full quickly.
Cuba is the largest country of Caribbean ,so traveling by bus may take some time . For exemple 16-hour trip from Havana to Santiago de Cuba for less than US $60 per person.
Car Rental
The most independent and flexible travel form is a car rental. Best way to rent a car on official Transtour website ( https://www.transtur.com/).
Also your host or patron can arrange rental car for cash. This is how we did it . After arriving in AirBnB I asked our host for help with rental and there she was with the car next day morning.
Tips when driving :
-Make sure you put gas in every chance you get . Just because there is gustation don’t means
there will be gas.
-Do to poor conditions of roads avoid driving at night and fast.
-Make sure you have paper map with you in the car .
Day 1: Havana
We arrived in Cuba at the beginning of the “Covid-19 apocalypse”. It was not crazy yet and world just was getting stared on the madness . We landed in Havana and after passport and visa control we went to get a taxi to get to our AirBnB. As we mentioned, Americans can only enter to Cuba under a few conditions. We entered under “Support for the Cuban people” condition.
The place that was supposed to be close to the city center needs verification of the definition of “close proximity” ahahaha. And to make it more fun, the owner rented one room to someone else for two days. His explanation was we only need 3 bedrooms and the house have 4 so he rent one and don’t understand why its a big deal. So we had to figure out how to change the place to one that would better suit our needs. We managed to find a place in an ideal location. It was an apartment in an old tenement house, in the center of the old city of Havana.
The apartment was like a jewel for a traveler. The tenement house itself was probably from the 16th or 17th century. Our apartment was on the second floor at the corner of two busy alleys. We had balconies from the windows from which we could watch passers-by.
At first we decided to go on a reconnaissance mission to find food and where the only internet point in the city is. (but more on that in a moment)
At first we start to enjoying the architecture of the city. After all, there are several centuries of turbulent history here. The Spanish first arrived in Cuba in 1492 when Christopher Columbus landed on the island and claimed it for Spain.
Havana market , where local population get groceries. You can get all vegetables and fruits. All organic .
A little bit of history
Havana has been an important strategic point since the XVI century. The port of Havana with its surrounding area is an ideal place for a fortress that would repel any invader. Additionally, due to its location, it was ideal for the Spanish fleet to expand the conquistadors in the New World.
The Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro also known as Castillo del Morro in translation
:Castle of the Three Kings of Morro jest twierdza u wejścia do Portu Havana. It was for strategic
reasons that this place was chosen to build a port city. The natural terrain meant that with
minimal effort, an ideal defensive structure was obtained.
It’s a really cool place, we were used to visiting buildings with designated areas and
restrictions, and here we could run through the narrow corridors and tunnels of the fortress. Just
like the Spanish soldiers did. It was fun
The next stop is the governor’s house. Before the Castro and Batista governments, Cuba
was ruled by a governor. His residence was not only a home but also represented the king’s
power. It is probably one of the best-kept monuments in Havana. Palacio De Los Capitanes
Generales because that is the name of the governor’s house it is built in a typical Spanish style.
Rows of Columns and balconies, covered terraces. However, the interesting thing is the entrance
and courtyard of the Palace and the streets surrounding it. Known as “wooden streets”.
As we know, a carriage on wooden wheels with a team of horses driving along a cobbled
street made a lot of noise. The wife of Don Miguel Tacón y Rosique who was the Captain
General of the island complained terribly about the clatter of wheels and the lack of possibility
for resting. So her husband order to repave the roads with wood blocks. It work great … do to
short life of material and high cost it was abandoned . Perhaps it was not the best street material
but create great history and love story .
- The city’s Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) district and its fortifications were designated a
UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982
Palacio De Los Capitanes Generales
We left something rich for the end. HA HA …no, it wasn’t a luxury yacht or a Dubai-
style resort. Ha ha as the last to go and see we went to the first bank in the Caribbean. It’s located
in Old Havana.The first bank was established by the Banco de Fernando VIII in 1832 and which
lasted ten years This building is another example of beautiful Spanish architecture
After a whole day of sightseeing we got hungry. And since we are in Cuba, we have to
enjoy the local cuisine. We wondered if the cuisine here would be a mix of Spain and England
(the English occupied this island for a short period of time) or something from the indigenous
population? We were afraid that due to our location (Old Havana) we might be limited to “touriscuisine”. Unfortunately we were right. Not only were the dishes 100% for tourists, the prices were too 🙂 LOL the result of the first day? 1:0 for Cuba. But we will get back at you.
Day 2
In the morning we were woken up by the sounds of breakfast, and the owner of the apartment informed us that the breakfast was served. Our dining area was on the roof… something exotic and refreshing , in some spots you can say wonderful, and all this despite the destructive activity of socialism. Although the view was quite apocalyptic, we felt like we were in a real exotic place. I forgot to add that on this trip we took, in addition to our kids, my father who was visiting us from Poland.
After breakfast, we decided to continue exploring the city. We start with The National Capital of Cuba, commonly called by locals El Capitolio decos was very close to us 🙂 This building looks like a replica of the Washington, D.C. Congress building, but it is not. It is very similar but not identical .
Perhaps one of the most special features of this building is the Statue of the Republic. This impressive 90-foot statue is laminated with 24-karat gold to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the founding of Havana. In front of the building, it is easiest to find a line of colorful cars from the 50s.
Our next stop was Plaza de la Catedral, as we were walking towards it we came across a store with armed security. What was very interesting , the store had everything just like in a Western market, but only tourists were allowed inside. Other stores also had full shelves… Full of the same product, and to be objective, 4 products intertwined on all the shelves giving the impression of being full. But let’s get back to Plaza de la Catedral.. It gained its name from the cathedral that stands on it. Catedral of Havana. It is one of the 4 in old Havana.
You must remember that these are the places where you’re valuable things can change owners. Be vigilant.
Walking between the streets we come across small windows from which you can buy a
Cuban sandwich. Those who expect a “Cuban sandwich” in the style of Little Havana in Miami
will be disappointed… And very disappointed. Being hungry, we are not picky, and besides,
since we are in Cuba, we eat what they eat. It was quiet experience . And the sandwich cost us 15
cents. And it taste good . Dinner night before was charge by gringo prices. We eat at so popular
Mojito-Mojito. Was not impress with the food. No it was not bad , and the service was
great but it was for lack of better words to “American” for us.
Old Havana is full of colorful cars from 50s, but one
of the cars caught our attention!
And awakened memories from our youth. As you know we come from Poland, and we’re raised thereduring communism 🙂 but even though it was in hard times , we have great memories of our youth .
Ladies and Gentlemen we have here ….. Fiat 126p. (for readers who don’t remember communism in Poland, it was a car for everyone and was a symbol of communism) AKA fiat Polco how local call it.
Cuba is also known for its national drink. No I’m not talking about coffee hahaha.. I’m talking about the Cuban mojito!! When we were there they used pesos and CUC, which is the Peso Convertible currency, referred to as the ceucé (CUC) and prices versus from place to palce . However we can honestly say that best ones we have is in El Chanchullero . Got to remember this place is small and can get pack quickly . So if you want to enjoy yourself be there around 6:30 PM.
But we have to tell you something. Be careful in the evening. There are a lot of “touters”
for restaurants and bars. It is known that for them, a tourist means survival. So we went inside
and our ‘guide ’brought mojitos from him. So he brought another one to try. We ordered 2 more
and call it for the night. When came to bill we have a unpleasant surprised . Number of drinks we
order quadrupled and prices went up. Well … instead confrontation we simply announced we
would not pay for what we did not order. The lady behind the bar with a stern face said
something in Spanish to her “boss” ,and they declared that if so they would call the police!!!
Well, we lived with Bryget in communism, so we know that the police will take the side of a
foreign tourist and not a local petty crooks. So just because they are friendly doesn’t mean they
are your friends.
(From very reliable sources I know that mojito in Old Havana average $6 )
Another day in Havana passed and we say goodbye to Havana . Leaving behind her
colorful streets, overflowing with stalls, people from all over the world as it was here during the
colonial glory. This harmony of colors and joy is torn apart by the sight of decaying buildings
and the faces of suffering people under the communism regime . However, in their faces , even
though they been force to hide for years is a light of hope for better future.
Tomorrow we’ll wander around a bit more, say good buy to Havana, and then head east
towards Varadero. But more about that in the next post.
English 
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