Captivating Cuba

Hi there. I'm not sure what happened to November, but it seems to have flown past and people are starting to discuss how to celebrate New Year. I was trying to think of my favourite New Year's celebration so far and I wanted to tell you about it in case you're still trying to decide where you're going to welcome 2010.

The best New Years I ever celebrated was when I was in Cuba on my holidays. To Cuba, the first of January is a particularly significant date, as it is not just New Years Day, but also the date on which the Cubans officially celebrate Liberation Day. This celebration marks the triumph of the Cuban revolution, ended by Fidel Castro and his troops as they drove out Batista's dictatorship. With two reasons to celebrate, it is not surprising that Cubans tend to see in New Year with a bang.

Having been told that Havana was where the most spectacular celebrations were held, I made sure I was back in the capital for the 31st December. I planned to see in the New Year on the seafront, where people gather in their hundreds to watch the magnificent fireworks display that is held each year. The fireworks certainly did not disappoint, although in the end I was not amongst those watching from the seafront.

Picture Flickr - sonewfangled

For those 300 people lucky enough to get tickets, Cathedral Square is the real place to start the New Year and I was fortunate enough to know somebody with a spare. The square is a must see for anyone going on their holidays to Cuba, as it is full of life and festivity all year round. However, the atmosphere on New Year's Eve is unmatched on any other day of the year. The square is closed to the public whilst those with tickets enjoy a gala dinner, seated at tables that are laid out by the only restaurant located in the square, El Patio. Drinks flow all night long, with waiters and waitresses topping you up with wine, beer, champagne and especially with the famous Habana club rum, as you enjoy a combination of Cuba's finest cuisines.

Picture Flickr - Lauras512

But there is more to New Year in Cathedral Square than just the food and drink. A stage is built towards the end of December, and on New Year's Eve this stage becomes the platform for a truly magnificent display of Cuban music and dance. Watch the variety show, and join the crowds as they dance along to some of the most impressive musicians and dancers that Cuba has to offer. This truly is one of the most spectacular performances you are likely to see, and once it has finished, the fireworks are the perfect finale.

New Year at Cathedral Square is an impressive celebration, but if you're unable to get tickets, there are plenty of other restaurants around Havana that will be hosting similar festivities. There's no doubt that the Cubans know how to celebrate New Year better than anybody else, and if you're in the midst of planning your holidays to Cuba, I'd advise you to make sure you're in Havana at the turning of the year.

Now, who's going to buy me a ticket to Cuba for Christmas?
Jasna

posted at: 12:02 | path: /jasna | permanent link to this entry | 4 comments

I have a confession; I'm not a huge fan of creatures of the reptilian variety. Their scaly skin and quick movements usually send shivers down my spine. So I'm not the sort of person that you would find on the island of Cayo Iguana. However, if there's one thing that I do love its catamaran cruises and scuba diving excursions, so on my last trip to Cuba I thought that I'd brave the iguanas and take a cruise to the famous Cayo Largo. Cayo Largo is located near to Cayo Coco, Cuba, which is littered with a number of all-inclusive Cayo Coco hotels and resorts. However, I'd chosen to board the boat in Trinidad, where excursions to Cayo Iguana run daily.

The catamaran cruise was amazing and en-route we stopped off at the beautiful coral reef surrounding Cayo Coco, Cuba for a spot of snorkelling. The marine life around the reef was incredible and although it was too early in the year to spot sea turtles, I saw brightly coloured angel fish, blue tangs, clown fish and grouper. I could have stayed at Cayo Coco, Cuba all day, particularly as it would have meant missing the iguanas of Cayo Iguana.

Hector, who was with me on this trip, began slicing up bananas for the iguanas almost as soon as the boat left Cayo Coco, Cuba. He explained that it was the iguana's favourite food, but you had to feed them quickly as they could nip your fingers. This fact really was not helping my phobia and neither was the fact that on sailing up to the island, I could already spy hundreds of dark green shapes. I'm literally not joking when I say hundreds; you can not see the sand for the masses of Cuban iguanas that lounge on the beaches.

Apparently, the island was far more populated with iguanas prior to the onset of Hurricane Michelle in 2001. The hurricane killed many of the iguanas and the devastation that it caused to the island's vegetation had a negative effect on the remaining lizards. However, the population is slowly improving, and Hector told me that he spotted several baby iguanas on the islands. The baby iguanas were keen to eat the fresh banana from his hands and largely ignored the hordes of excitable tourists snapping pictures of them.

Okay, I admit Hector had to tell me all about the iguanas as I was far too 'chicken' to even get off the boat. But maybe on my next trip I'll actually get to see the iguanas for myself. Just don't hold your breath.

posted at: 12:16 | path: /jasna | permanent link to this entry | 0 comments

I've just come off the phone to the sweetest couple and their Cuban holiday plans have got me pining for a holiday on the island yet again. Bill and Joyce wanted to do something really special to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and as a Cuba holiday is full of so many incredible experiences, from salsa lessons to swimming with dolphins, I knew that they had picked the right destination. Sadly, as tempted as Joyce was with a salsa holiday she simply couldn't convince her husband. However, they both professed to be somewhat creative people and so I suggested that they try a painting holiday on the island.

Bill and Joyce both loved the idea, but simply could not agree on a destination. Bill was rather taken with the idea of painting the old colonial buildings of Havana and its impressive Cathedral Square; he also felt that the many art galleries in the region would provide both him and Joyce with artistic inspiration. However, Joyce was having none of it; she felt that she was much more adept at painting rolling landscapes and wanted to take her holiday in the scenic Vinales Valley. This destination has hills which date back to the Jurassic period and its rolling green tobacco fields are ideal for painting. The couple wanted some time to discuss it amongst themselves and, whilst I'd suggested a multi-centre break, were adamant that they wanted to spend their anniversary in just one destination.

Two hours later, Joyce called back and said that the couple had agreed on a city break in Havana. Considering that she was so adamant on painting in scenic Vinales, I was surprised that she didn't sound a little more upset. However, as I talked her through a selection of hotels in Havana, I was certain that I could detect more than a hint of happiness in her voice. I wondered what Bill had said or done to convince her, but I certainly wasn't going to ask. In the end the couple opted for the Saratoga hotel, which is considered to be the most luxurious in the area of Old Havana. Bill and Joyce, quite rightly, wanted to spoil themselves on their anniversary break and I felt that the Saratoga with its stunning marble staircases and sweeping columns was the perfect place for them to do this. So we'd booked the flights, the painting part of the break and the 5* hotel; was there anything else that the couple wanted to make their wedding anniversary particularly memorable? "Actually, there's just one thing", said Bill, timidly "could you possibly add salsa lessons onto our itinerary"?

Jasna

posted at: 10:43 | path: /jasna | permanent link to this entry | 0 comments

If there's one thing which I particularly love about Cuba then it has to be all the classic cars. But my passion for these vehicles is nothing on the Cuban's who see car owning as very much a status symbol, having a car provides them with the best-paid job and therefore vehicles are often passed down from family members. With such an important role it's of no wonder that Cubans place such high regard on their vehicle and keep them glistening clean.

American cars were imported into Cuba up until the 1960s, which is why you rarely see any modern cars in Cuba. On my last trip to Cuba I was lucky enough to take a trip in a vintage motor and for car aficionados, like me, I would highly recommend it on your Cuba holidays.

My tour began in the morning when I was greeted by a gleaming blue Cadillac, polished to perfection. The car was owned by a Cuban called Raul, who explained that it had been his father's first car at the age of seventeen. He remembered the elation he felt when his father first entrusted him with his prized vehicle and vowed to keep it in tip-top condition, which it's clear that he has done since.

Our tour begin along the Havana Seafront and as Raul reached over and stuck some 'Little Richard' on the stereo it felt as if I'd travelled back in time to the halcyon days of the 1950s. With the roof up we whizzed past the seafront and to the automobile museum to see some even older Cuban cars. I was in my element looking at Chevrolets and Corvettes and could have probably spent the day at the museum, if it weren't for the fact that I was aching to get back in my Cadillac and explore some of the sights and sounds of old Cuba. Raul drove us around some of the old neighbourhoods of 1940s and 1950s Cuba, and like the car it appeared that little had changed since.

The next part of the tour brought out my inner mechanic, as Raul explained all the mechanics and inner workings of the Cad and I was allowed to spend some tinkling around with the carburettor, before posing for a series of photographs inside, outside and around the car.

After much posing, I jumped back into the car where Raul drove me to 'La Bodeguita Del Medio', a 1950's bar, which Ernest Hemingway used to frequent for the Mojitos. I can honestly say that sipping those deliciously refreshing cocktails, was the only time during my car tour that I was thankful not to be the one driving.

posted at: 01:00 | path: /jasna | permanent link to this entry | 0 comments

Hi,

My brother is a huge Che Guevara fan so, when he told me that he was planning to visit Cuba for his upcoming birthday, I recommended that he visit the town of Santa Clara. Santa Clara is the final resting place of Che and, without wanting to go too much into the history of the destination; it was also the site of the last battle of the Cuban revolution back in 1958. Of course, being a Che Guevara boffin my brother was already well aware of the history of the destination, but wanted to know what he could see and do during his stay here.

I immediately recommended that he visit the Che Guevara Monument and the nearby museum, which houses some of the artefacts from the revolution. However, if like my brother's wife, you can give or take Mr. Guevara then the destination also offers plenty more for you to see and do.

It isn't only Che who is commemorated in Santa Clara, but also Pope John Paul II who visited the city in 1998, and a lady who the Cubans regard as a national hero, Marta Abreu de Estevez, whose claim to fame is the charitable work which she carried out for the residents of the city. Her statue sits in the middle of the Parque Vidal, which is a popular meeting ground in the evenings for young Cubans. A tradition still exists among young Cuban's that men must walk around the outside of the park and ladies on the inside.

Santa Clara also houses some of the countries most unique museums: The Decorative Arts Museum has a wide collection of 18th and 19th century furniture, influenced by three distinctive Cuban styles: classical, neo-classical and Imperial, whilst the art gallery at the other side of Parque Vidal has a collection of modern-art from upcoming Cuban artists.

Of course, a holiday just isn't a holiday without the chance to boogie, and the best thing about Santa Clara is the vast number of discotheques and cabaret bars. I recommended that my brother try the seriously cool 'Santa Clara Libre' which attracts the glam-set on Tuesday and Sunday evenings. Santa Clara has recently earned the nickname of 'Cuba's most stylish city' as this is where the glamorous fashion event 'Exurberarte' is held every year. After speaking to my brother, I'm so insanely jealous that I wish I were going instead of him, but still there's always next year.

Jasna

posted at: 17:10 | path: /jasna | permanent link to this entry | 0 comments