Travel Chronicles of my Cuban Holidays.
Leaning what Cuba is all about in just ten days can only be achieved through a fair selection of its most representative places as far as history, culture and nature are concerned and following the suggestions of my friends that are experienced on spending their Caribbean Holidays in Cuba I have to visit these marvellous places: HAVANA, VARADERO, SANTIAGO DE CUBA and HOLGUIN.
Like pouring sand into the hourglass
My plane belonging to one of the famous Cuban Flights touches down the runway of Havana's Jose Marti International Airport in the evening. I am setting out to do quite a deed: tour four Cuban provinces in just eight days; this is the only time that I have to spend my fantastic luxury holidays in Cuba and get the best of the island nation, so every minute counts. I hop in a taxi and explain to the cabdriver my desire to watch the 9 o'clock cannon shot ceremony at the San Carlos de la Cabana Fortress. This was the first suggestion that my friends made while talking to their previous summer holidays in Cuba. The taxi driver was kind and friendly –as most Cubans are- he nods his head. The ceremony is amazingly solemn, accurate and gaudy. It strikes my attention to see how well preserved these old and anecdote-riddled military fortresses really are. I took lot of pictures in order to catch every moment of my Cuba Holidays. On my way to the hotel, the taxi driver acts like a timely guide and tells me those facilities have become cultural centres to house the different arts.
Around 10:00pm, I walk into the Ambos Mundos (Both Worlds) Hotel. I chose it for its location in Old Havana where I intend to take a spin around in the first morning of what seems to be the best Caribbean Holidays I ever have. It is an old hotel, yet it has been refurbished and outfitted with all conveniences. This place trimming with history and legends was well-known American writer Ernest Hemingway's hotel of choice for years. Every one knows that he was a great Cuba Holidays maker because he falls in love with Cuba as much of others do. Some say he wrote some of his great novels here. I will try to take a look at his room, preserved like a relic, and find out if a part of his wandering spirit could help me fill out the blanks in this travel chronicle of sorts.
1st day in Havana on this terrific Cuba Holidays
Daybreak reveals a clear and sunny day; my first thought is that this first day of my Cuba Holidays starts with its right foot; weather is great for taking a stroll. My mind is set on the Cathedral Square. Even though it is early, the place is already bustling. I walk quietly down the cobblestone street to the façade of the eye-opening cathedral. I take a few snapshots. Inside, the church is equally majestic with its gorgeous Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto and other attractions that lure arts buffs and culture-vultures.
I found myself in front of a breathtaking construction that sitting majestically in Old Havana as part of its historic core –declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO in 1982- is the main church of the Cuban capital: The Havana Cathedral. The Havana Cathedral is almost an obliged must-see for those who come to town on their all inclusive holidays in Cuba like me. I have the possibility on this Caribbean holidays of meeting some friends of my country that are in Cuba like tourists and travellers attending events and meetings in Havana, and they are also visiting this major cluster of colonial buildings that surround the old clobbered square in which the Cathedral stands out so beautifully, that the plaza was eventually named after it some time ago.
Trapped in a quasi-magical atmosphere I feel enchanted by the outer structure of the church that contemplates the bustling moves of people from all walks of life: tourists with cameras slung over their shoulders enjoying like me their holidays in Cuba, artists and artisans that show off their works of art to other Cuba Holidays makers, troubadours that bring some cheerfulness to the premises with their music, bystanders, city slicks and islanders from elsewhere.
Walking through Old Havana on this all inclusive holidays in Cuba
I step back on the square and realize this is a land of contrasts. I begin to feel that this beautiful island will remain in my heart for a longer time than this luxury holidays in Cuba. A black fortune-teller, tricked out with necklaces and other attributes, reads the fate of locals and foreigners alike. She foretells me a happy Cuba Holidays and a soon return to the island, drawn by bigger and mightier feelings. Love? Business? Only time will tell. I take a few minutes to glance at the assortment of craftsmanship offered by street peddlers, a typical attraction around here.
My camera starts clicking again in the face of the breathtaking colonial-style buildings hedging the square. I feel the necessity of taking them home with me as a souvenir of this amazing Cuba Holidays. I zoom in on the Museum of Colonial Art, former residence of the Counts of Casa Bayona, and on the peculiar edifice that today houses the El Patio Restaurant. A few yards away from the square, I happen on an architectural gem of marked baroque influence and neoclassical elements: the mansion that now hosts the Alejo Carpentier Foundation. The Cuban novelist used this building as the setting for his work The Century of Lights. Not far from there, I have the chance of guzzling one of those famous mojitos at the Bodeguita Del Medio. I would certainly need more time to read all the anecdotes scribbled on its walls. I found myself planning my next holidays in Cuba on the very first day. But this has been quite a refreshing pause in the tour, anyway.
Curiosity leads me to the Water House, a picture-perfect place brimming with legends where passer-bys can drink some water absolutely free. This fresh and traditional water refresh the heat of the first morning of my Cuba Holidays as nothing can do better. I saunter to the quarters of the Old Havana Scale Model, a magnificent miniature work that allows visitors to take a bird's-eye peek of the old city and have a more precise orientation for the remainder of the hike.
My next stop is the Arms Square, a plaza hemmed in by such major buildings as the Palace of the Second-in-Command (Palacio Del Segundo Cabo), one of those colonial-style constructions of astonishing beauty: inner patio, staircases, internal decoration. I am fan of the Cuban architecture that is why this Cuba Holidays are going to be like a blessing to me. The edifice now headquarters Cuba's Book Institute (Instituto Nacional Del Libro). Once again, I give myself away as a shutterbug. Other majestic building in the surroundings are the Palace of Captain-General (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales) –currently the Museum of the City- the new and luxurious Santa Isabel Hotel, and the Small Temple(El Templete), a symbol of the capital's foundation with its emblematic ceiba tree where people mark Havana's anniversary every year in a mixture of magic and history. I surround the ceiba tree three times and I make my wish giving to this all inclusive holidays in Cuba a touch of fantasy and mysticism. This is a tradition of the Cuban people that make this ritual on the eve of the of November 16th that is the date of the anniversary of Havana, the capital of all Cubans and the place where I am spending the first day of this unforgettable Cuba Holidays.
Feeling that my all inclusive holidays in Cuba are going to be even better than expected
It is almost two in the afternoon and I jump on a funny coco taxi, an egg-shaped three-wheeler that weaves its way to the store-packed Obispo Boulevard. Feeling the breeze of the Cuban Malecon is the best way of leaving the every day life away on this Cuba Holidays, I feel new, free and even younger because my adventure spirit is on its top. There are clear indications of an attempt to rescue the area's former commercial lust. Right on the corner of the boulevard, I chance upon the Floridita Restaurant. Up to here, the grand tour has been fascinating and I feel that my all inclusive holidays in Cuba are going to become even better. The tropical breeze has whetted my appetite. Besides, the food here is as superb as the unmatched daiquiri cocktail that Hemingway put on the map. Before the barstool where the famous U.S. writer used to sit on –lovely preserved by the restaurant's patrons- I recall the anecdotes I have heard about from my friends that on their previous Christmas Holidays in Cuba has become frequent visitors of the eatery.
I amble out of the restaurant and flag down a traditional horse-drawn buggy full of festoons and steered by a uniformed coachman, just like in the old days of colonial Havana. On my inner thoughts and strongly reconsider to visit this marvellous restaurant " El Floridita" on my sooner luxury holidays in Cuba The carriage is taking me to a place where I am about to kick off a new adventure during my Caribbean Holidays on this beautiful island. I will take the motorboat that ferries people across the bay all the way to Casa Blanca. I want to take a closer peek at Havana's Christ. This is an amazing statue, not only for its height and beauty, but also for the location from where Jesus seems to stare protectively at a considerable chunk of the city. While planning this ever wished Cuba Holidays I always think on this beautiful statue because on my modest opinion this is one of the most breathtaking elements of the Havana city. I take the boat back to the other side of the bay as the night closes in. I wave the Christ good bye, now glowing magnificently as spotlights light him from the base up.
Living Havana at Night
After a delicious dinner where I could again agree with my friends that the Cuban cuisine is going of the best things of the Cuba Holidays and a short break in the hotel, I must pick a place to know Havana's nightlife. It is a difficult decision due to the fact that Havana has a lot of places for enjoying its nights on this unique Caribbean Holidays in Cuba. It is Thursday and the island nation's top salsa acts are scheduled to perform at the Macumba ballroom. Among the recently opened sites that every one recommended me on this all inclusive holidays in Cuba in order to make my Havana's nightlife even better on this luxury holidays in Cuba, the Macumba Havana was the best choice. I take a cab, of course, because the nightclub is in a neighbourhood in the outskirts of town called La Coronela. La Macumba is located in La Giraldilla, at 22 between 222 and 37, La Lisa, the beauty of this old-timed mansion in the outskirts of the city take my breath away, It has a lot of facilities for the taste of the most demanding Cuba Holidays makers for instance, its restaurant and recreational centre has everything it takes to meet your preference on this special Cuba Holidays. It even has a Wine Cava that gets the 10 points evaluation of the score of my private qualification of my holidays in Cuba. Equipped with cutting-edge light and sound technology, the ballroom presents a dance floor, karaoke contests and lively animation. The night seems so short listening to salsa music and enjoying the good atmosphere there. After dancing all the rhythms of the contagious Cuban music I go back to my hotel with the opinion that this Cuba Holidays are surely not going to be the last.
