Top Cuba hotels
Holguin City Holguín
3 Reviews There is a lot spainish in Cuba, also the buildings. If you like the spainish buildings there are alot of pictures you can make just of the buildings. So bring enough. This building has a balcony and...
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Cuban Music Santiago de Cuba
1 Review The famous "Casa de la Trova" in Calle Heredia - exchange of emotions between a teacher and his student (a Cuban music player living in the Netherlands ) - we had a great time. But no misunderstanding...
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Trinidad People Trinidad
2 Reviews In most of the Cuban Cities it is an experience to visit the local temples of music and that made my second trip to Cuba so different Like this building - not that far from the Plaza Mayor This island...
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Give Aways Holguín
2 Reviews Get to know the locals. They are the best people but remember they are poor. Bring lots of clothes and toys for the children. One little girl her toy was an empty toothpaste box. We litterally gave...
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Practical Santiago de Cuba
2 Reviews During your visit of Moncada garrison you'll see that part of it is school as well (Mr.Casto decision)... it's strange that we passed and kids had exam...with open door and none told us to be quite or...
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Religion Santiago de Cuba
2 Reviews Christmas in Cuba this year passed with little more observance than the tiny plastic Xmas tree for me. Some of my Cuban friends did attend church as usual but there was none of the comercialization...
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In my three years of trips to Cuba, I met so many wonderful people... and they became great friends of mine...I hope I will have the opportunity to meet them again soon !!They are warm... happy and always very friendly !
Catholic religion in Cuba has never been prohibited or persecuted as someone can think (this is a communist country after all)... and many Cubans are devoted to both church and Santeria, the local and traditional Afro-Cuban religion.
I think it's important to have read something about the history of Cuba in order to really appreciate how it has developed to its present condition. As you travel through Cuba you will find monuments to many of the heroes of Cuba's long struggle for freedom. This is Jose Marti a writer and revolutionary who was instrumental in the First and Second War of Independance.Some of his words are imortalized in the song "Guantanamera".
These are the uniforms that children have to wear to school. The colors of the bandana denotes the grade level and the uniforms tell if they are in elementary or high school. Later on they have uniforms for economics, medical, nursing school, etc. The school year in Cuba is virtually identical to that of Canada and the U.S. in terms of holiday schedules for summer and Christmas. This is important when deciding on your Cuban holiday because during the summer the beaches are full of Cubans on their holidays as well. Not that it bothers me but sometimes the cheaper accomodations are already full.
Christmas in Cuba 2002 passed with little more observance than the tiny plastic Xmas tree for me. Some of my Cuban acquaintances did attend church as usual but there was none of the comercialization that we have been accustomed to here in North America and Europe. However, there is always a shrine to El Cobre, the patron saint of Cuba, in the house. Offerings are made for Christmas. From the picture below you can see it was offered one of my Mayabe beers to secure blessing for the coming year. If you look closely, it's also wearing one of the Canadian pins that I had brought on a previous trip.
La quince:Every trip to Cuba I have always witnessed at least one Cuban girl celebrating her 15th birthday. It's quite the production which includes a photography session during the day using a professional photographer, expensive locations, and luxurious rented gowns and dresses. Many other tourists I spoke to thought it was a wedding with a very young bride. In the evening there is a large family celebration including feasting and dancing. No expense is spared on this particular birthday even if the family has nothing they will spend months' of wages making this the most celebrated milestone in the girl's life. Why?I recently decided my Spanish was good enough to ask why. My Cuban friends explained that in Cuba girls and boys are raised differently. That a girl is raised to believe that life is a fantasy. Boys have to take on responsibilities but girls do not. When the girls reach 15,...
Cubans are generally friendly,fun loving peopleand many visiters make friends with them.If you get hassled too much though,you should just say'no gracias'(no thanks)to any advance.Why you should not be put off entering a friendship,at the same time realize that however genuine your Cuban friends are,they may be well pursuing some economic gain.Children want pens and chocolate,so take some with you so they wont be dissapointed.When visiting churches,shorts,backless dresses and tank tops should not be worn.
Meet as much Cabans as you can, they will never be the same again, they doesnt know the value of money yet, and they are so nice to you. Watch out cause they will give you there last piece of food, and they have nothing....
All the Cuban people will do their best to make your stay in Cuba the best holiday you ever had....so be nice to them. Dont give them to much at once, but a little so now and then. Bring clothes, medication, paper, pencils, $ 1 bills, soap and more like that to give to the people who do NOT live or work near / at an hotel.
There are 3 forms of currency using in Cuba.US Dollars or “divisas” ('el verde'). Convertible Pesos ('chavitos'): since the physical supply of dollars understrips the demand, Cuba prints bills and coins fully interchangeable with and convertible to dollars.Pesos or “moneda nacional”: This is the money Cubans earn and spend. You can spend pesos on street food, in peso restaurants, in peso stores (assuming they ever have anything you’d actually want), local transport, movie theaters, beauty salons, local (not tourist) discos, and sometimes even peso bars.
Villa Las Brujas Cuba
2 Reviews and 51 Opinions I could have chosen Okay but some problems, but I still think it falls too short to express how...
NH Parque Central Havana
8 Reviews and 1269 Opinions This is a jewel of a hotel, located just a block or two away from Old Havana, and the shops of Calle...
Iberostar Varadero Varadero
5 Reviews and 1871 Opinions great food gained 5 lbs on the french sauces whatch out for the car rental guy Frank , he takes the...
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Q: We're hoping to do Eastern Cuba in December, we've already done the west. I'm trying to book flights, ideally from Manchester. I...
A: flights domestically it is, aerocaribbean do it, as you are in Manchester check the Cuban tourist office http://www.travel2cuba.co.uk/ hope it helps cheers
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