ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE: HAVANA, CUBA
It's hard not to smile when you're walking in a treasure chest full of colorful gems.
“Cuba, the country that stole my heart. ”
Known for their sugar-white beaches, gorgeous pastel houses and colorful old school cars, Cuba is a culture filled Caribbean Island, located near Miami. Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad and travel to Cuba on a 10-day Summer adventure. Not only did I enjoy every second of the trip, I tried to soak up as much of the culture as I could. I found myself feeling as if I had traveled back into time as I danced at the local salsa clubs and rode in the 1950's era cars while on the island.
FOOD
The food in Cuba was nothing short of delicious. Every meal was topped with a traditional Mojito. I was a little "Mojito-ed Out" by the middle of my trip, but I quickly learned to switch it up every now and then. Here are some of the restaurants we had the luxury of dining in:
Hotel Nacional's La Barraca. To kickoff our stay in Cuba we dined while overlooking the Straits of Florida at Cuba’s most famous hotel. It possesses a great view of the Malecón, Havana’s seawall, and the Morro Castle, the old Spanish fortress built to protect the harbor. Being a pesco pollo vegetarian, I wasn’t able to eat the traditional pork and beef however, being that Cuba is on the water, I enjoyed many seafood dishes which were to die for! To top it off, we had an astonishing view of beautiful Peacocks that trotted along the property while we dined.
Doña Eutimia Paladar. Famous for its ropa vieja and frozen mojitos. This super chill paladar made Newsweek Magazine’s top100 restaurants in the world in 2012. The restaurant is located in the beautiful cathedral square, where we enjoyed experiencing more of the Cuban culture.
Bar Asturias. With an endless variety of pizza and pasta. This was some of the BEST Italian food I've ever had!
Paladar Atelier. Known for its atmosphere and exquisite cuisine, this restaurant was previously the home of a pre-revolutionary senator. A cozy, yet mordern setting with walls adorned in modern art. Here we were joined by private business entrepreneurs to talk about many of the elements of running their businesses on the island.
Café de los Artistas. A restaurant in the Santo Angel neighborhood in Old Havana where we enjoyed a colorful spread of appetizers which followed with a full meal and flan for desert.
Le Chansonnier. Located in the Vedado area, this hip mansion turned paladar was definitely one of my favorites. The glamorous decor made it a great dining atmosphere. To top it off the food and drinks were out of this world.
El Cocinero. Housed in a former factory, this lovely restaurant is home to Havana’s hip! Giving off vibes similar to those in Soho or Madrid. We concluded our trip here and the rooftop and scenery was beautiful.
STAY
Being that I went to Cuba to Study Abroad , the choice of housing for us was casa particulars (similar to AirBnB). Our host family was a young man & his significant other who basically rented out multiple apartments for tourist in the area.
Every morning I woke up to a beautiful breakfast spread prepared by my "host mom." Breakfast was always delicious and definitely something that I looked forward to.
Eggs were the main dish with every breakfast meal so I alternated between scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and omelets. I was also served a fresh fruit mix, which consisted of papaya, pineapple, watermelon, and guava which was so fresh. I don’t think I will ever eat the packaged fruit cups again.
CULTURE
Walking the streets of Old Havana was like a dream. There's no limit to what you'll find. I experienced so much of the culture by just observing and seeing locals live their everyday lives. Every corner I turned was filled with a new scene and multiple locals hustling to entertain the tourists.
From seeing people working in restaurants to selling papers and fruits, I was amazed at how much love and care was put into everything. From dogs dressed as humans riding bicycles to women dressed in traditional Cuban attire, the Cubans definitely knew how to grab our attention and they always did it with a smile. I rarely saw a frown on anyone's face.
HAVANA HIGHLIGHTS
Fusterlandia. This beautiful land of artwork is in the neighborhood of Jaimanitas in Havana. It will leave you wandering around like a kid in a candy store! The entire surface, from the walls and doors to the floors were covered in vibrant mosaic tiles; which were handmade by artist Jose Fuster.
Cruising Havana in Style, with the TOP OFF. The mode of transportation in Cuba is mainly by foot or Taxi; unless you're with a travel group and have access to a bus.
Of course the convertible I always chose had to be pink and Chanel approved! The Chanel logo was placed on all of the cars that were used during their fashion show for the Chanel Cruise Collection in 2016. Not only did I get some great photos, I got an astounding view of the infamous Malecón as well. It was truly UNFORGETTABLE!
Santa Maria del Mar. Beautiful would be an understatement to describe this beautiful, clear blue water beach. It was absolutely gorgeous and I honestly didn't want to leave. This was definitely a moment to document in my vlog so I grabbed a delicious Super Pina Colada and got to snapping pictures. By the time I finished, I was exhausted so I laid back under an umbrella and took a nice nap. One word, PRICELESS.
The History of Cuban Music and Dance. We were able to witness multiple performances and lectures on cuban music and dance. We were also able to learn how different cultures influence the different sounds and dance moves. I found it interesting that the African culture has greatly influenced the Cuban culture.
Explore History at the Museums. There are a numerous amount of museums in Cuba and of course we visited quite a few of them. Although we couldn't take pictures at the Museum of Cuban Art, it was definitely my favorite. It houses some breathtaking pieces from famous Cuban artists. One piece of artwork was a display of boomerangs, each with names of Cuban artists carved into them. My interpretation was that when Cuban artist leave, it's never too long.
Hip-Hop in Cuba. We met with two local rappers, Reina y Real who gave us a taste of the Hip-Hop culture in Cuba. The story of how they came up in the industry was so inspiring. Their main message was that their love for the music is what keeps them going. They remain humble and true to themselves and their sound.
Meeting with the CEO's of Vistar Magazine. This young Cuban duo was very inspiring. They let us in on the history of their business and how they went out on a limb to get their music themed magazine started. With a few bumps along the way, they now have one of the most popular magazines in Cuba and Miami.
FIN
During our last night in Cuba, we rode in colorful old school cars to El Cocinero. The restaurant had an immaculate rooftop which reminded me of New York. I was stunned by all of the different themes in Cuba and how diverse the restaurants were. I can honestly say that I didn't have one bad meal during my entire stay in Cuba which was definitely a shock because I can be quite picky.
Overall, my expectations were exceeded. This trip opened my eyes to a different way of living. It was a great detox from society and my regular life. I was able to appreciate the world a little more and the little things that come with it. Cuba will always be a place that I will hold dear to my heart and although it was my first time visiting, it definitely won’t be my last.
