HAVAN-A GREAT TIME!
We flew into Havana from Mexico at 1:30am, exhausted from diving for 5 full days straight. With no clue of where to stay or even stay away from, we placed our faith in a friendly cabby waiting out the front of the airport. He took us straight to the hub of Centro Havana to one of the only hotels that had an open reception desk. Nothing flash but Cuba is hardly the place for snobbery. Even though it was now 3:00am, we thought it a great idea to sit in the deserted lobby and ‘relax’ with a couple of local brews to help us unwind. We eventually sent ourselves to bed at 4:30am for some well earnt shut eye. We woke dreary and weary but eventually managed to step out into the blaring sun and hunt for a Casa Particularé, which is a popular home stay type of accommodation. The streets were very quiet at 8:30am so it was hard to decide where to start. We were approached by a man standing out the front of a 24hour bar and insisted that we try one of his famous, award winning Mojitos. What? Mojito at 8:30am after just 3 hours of broken sleep? Ummm, Okay! Our new found barman and buddy, Rolondo, served us (and himself) many toxic and tasty Mojitos whilst we gurgled about where to go next. Suddenly, Rolondo bolted out of the bar and left us to hold the fort and scurried back within minutes and handed us the keys for an air conditioned apartment directly across the street. We went over to check it out and immediately made ourselves at home. In the air conditioning. We raced back across the road to San Juan Bar and ventured into the streets with Rolondo on his lunch break, first stop: a dingy drinking spot that is famous for a local specialty, Bloody Mary oyster shooters. A performance was indiscreetly showcased by Kez (locally dubbed ‘Cathy Freeman’) as she tried her hardest to swallow the glass of 6 mushed up oysters in tomato juice. But try as she might, her stomach reflexes got the better of her as she heaved uncontrollably with her mouth full and tears streaming down her face, eventually spraying the entire bar patronage with what looked like a prolapse. Luckily, everyone found it one of the funniest things they had witnessed – as ‘Cathy Freeman’ made them look like they’d just been massacred. Kez had a sense of humour failure as she continued to peel off half chewed oysters from her fellow drinking buddies. Red faced (a combination of embarrassment and second hand tomato juice), Rolondo took us to a restaurant that was pretty much in someone’s lounge room – one of those undiscovered gems that only the locals know about. We devoured an incredible feast of lobsters, rice ‘n beans and seafood salad and beers with a massive doggy bag of left overs for just $35! Our exaggerated waistlines and blurred/slurred vision had us sentenced back to the apartment for some A/C and much deprived sleep.
WIN:
The Havana spirit is contagious. It’s funky, extremely humble and after a past of political turmoil – still so happy. It’s like one big community – everyone greets each other with a hug and kiss (or a dislodging handshake for man to man), be it strangers, collegues or friends. Nothing like a bit of bromance on a Monday morning. Better pucker up Doddsy!
FAIL:
Australian taxis are so two thousand and late. Most Cuban taxis are circa 1950s which is the expected standard. Disappointing though, that air conditioning isn’t.
NOTABLE NOTES:
EAT: Cuba doesn’t have a very good reputation for food, with some of the best Cuban food actually being in Florida. Best way to go is have breakfast and dinner at your Casa. It will set you back about $6pp but the food is fantastic. Street food mainly consists of Pizzas or toasted ham and cheese sangas for about $0.50 a but are surprisingly delicious.
DRINK: Obviously, rum is the staple fluid here in Cuba with it being served up for breakfast if you’re that way inclined. A brick of Havana Club rum will set you back about $9. Rolondo’s $3 Mojitos can’t go unmentioned – but be warned, these puppies are potent!
SLEEP: Casa particulares are the way to go. $25/night normally including a fantastic and huge breakfast. Centro or Old Havana is the best loction in our opinion. Don’t forget that it’s virtually a 3rd world standard of living here.
TIPS ‘N HINTS:
– If arriving in Havana during business hours, you can find a Casa Particulares anywhere, just ask the locals.
– Be mindful that there are jinutares (swindlers) so caution will serve it’s purpose when asking for assistance.
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