Casa Particular Pepe Y Rafaela Havana

Eigentlich wollten wir **st spaet** nach Kuba, ab** dank Schweinegrippe haben wir uns dann doch gegen den Weg ueb** die USA und Mexiko entschieden. Und so landen wir am 29. April nach direktem Flug von London aus in Havanna. Schon die Vorb**eitungen fu** diesen Flug waren spannend. Am Tag vor Abflug muessen wir noch schnell das Visum aend**n und haben imm** noch kein Ticket. Stattdessen bekommen wir einen Anruf von d** Fluggesellschaft Virgin Atlantic, die uns darauf hinweist, dass wir in ...

... rang the doorbell of our contact in Havana. I had chosen this place because it was very beautiful inside, with Art Nouveau details, wood carvings, colored galss doors, etc., the Art history major in me forever looking for the artistic in every place I stay. Instead our man said the room was full and he would have to take us to another place nearby. Not seeing other options, it being almost midnight, we were then dumped onto his brother who walked us through ...

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Havana is a strange place - almost trapped in time with its glorious, albeit dilapidated, buildings and classic America cars cruising the streets. With a bit of spit and polish, it would be a spectacular city, rivalling places like Spain and Italy, but many years of neglect have left Havana's glory days in the past.



We presumed it has a little to do with Cuba's lack of ...

... is rife, with jinteros, hawkers and cab drivers all in on the rort. Taxi meters are rarely present and never working, the charm of a seatbeltless ride through the city being rewarded in whole multiples of the "average" fare. To be fair, outside Havana the people were genuine, the classic cars a utility and the natural beauty of the land evident in abundance. If only the food was better...

... in the common spaces, but the rooms are a bit drab (but huge!). Clearly it's been well-maintained but it hasn't really been updated in a while, aside from the plumbing. It has two pools, several dining areas, okay food and good espresso. I think the food was a bit mediocre compared to the fantastic food that we'd been eating in the casas particular - they sure know how to do a lot of things with ...

... standard with the Bush regime roundly condemned and little desire to build bridges. One thing I did notice in favour of the regime, was a lack of desperate poverty - although most people, especially those from the countryside didnt have much, everyone seemed to have a roof over their head, in distinct contrast to most other countrys we have been to. And the people are overwhelmingly friendly. We spent a few days living with a family in a ...

... him on. We met a couple of cuban musicians, and they taught us some more salsa. The conversation got a little uncomfortable when they started talking about chinese girls. One guy was happy cos his daughter had chinese eyes tho she wasn't half chinese. hmmm the other guy said he wanted a girlfriend like me....a chinese girl. I tried to steer him away saying chinese girls are difficult and trying to disagree with him in everything. When he said he wanted 2 girls ...

... some breakfast at a local bakery (mostly sweet cakes), checked LP for places to go (and eat!), did the washing in the bathroom sink (there was washing line next to the terrace and it was a beautiful day) and then about 10 M and I headed out with a beach bag to walk up the beach to the places in the Playas del Este that only foreignors could afford. It was about 6km away and the beach was littered with bluebottles (unlike our section - ha!) When we got there we ...

... some people to help. No one did anything. Luckily the only thing my bag contained was my newly purchased Jose Marti book. But still, I was really ****** off that I didn't knee the guy or struggle harder for my bag. It was the first time in my life that I have been mugged. Apparently it happens a lot in Havana. Rule one is NOT to carry a bag with you on the streets if you can avoid it. Apparently there is usually no violence involved, but it can happen... Weekend trip to Vi ...

... in a plastic carrier bag! (not container, just straight in the bag!) i swiped a fork while she wasnt looking and ambled off. the back turned out to be giant pork knuckly things but the rice was delicious! eating rice with a fork out of a carrier bag whilst walking isnt the easiest thing in the world so i grabbed a can of cerveza and took a seat on the prado, where a bar was belting out bagpipe music! * walked along a bit and found an open air concert ...