La Habana

In Havana we got a nice accommodation in Vedado, next to a parque. The first day we walked into Old Havana but since it is a 45 minute walk we decided to take a cab back.

At Habana Vieja we strolled around the different Plazas: Plaza de la Catedral with its beautiful Catedral San Cristóbal, Plaza de Armas with a big book market, Palacio de los Capitanes Generales with the wooden floor and Plaza Vieja with its nice colorful colonial houses.

Unfortunately the Partagas Cigar Fabrique was closed so we walked around the Parque Central with the Capitolio and found the big and famous Farmacía Habanero. From the Bacardi building we got a very nice view over the city and its dimensions.

For sure we explored Vedado and strolled down the Malecón. The massive cemetery Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón with over 800 000 graves is like a city and just beautiful with its white marble tombs and angels. At the Plaza de la Revolución we took the typical Che picture and walked down to the Parque John Lennon where the guard keeps his glasses and brings them over when you take a picture. At the big Hotel Nacional on the Malecón we had our daily Mojito and enjoyed the view.

The next day we went to the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro for the sunset. After the sunset we wanted to see the canon ceremony at 9pm at the close by Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana.

At a hidden Palador we had a nice last dinner. On our Vedado trip we ran into it since they had cheap and strong Mojito. The food and the people where incredible, so when you are in Vedado go for it:

Restaurant: El Portal de Calzada, Calzada No. 710 e/ Paseo y A, Vedado

Than the time came to say goodbye to my family and Cuba. After such a long and fun-trip it was a sad feeling to travel on without them. We had a fantastic time, thank you sooooooo much!

At the airport we had some issues to leave Cuba since we didn’t have a ticket out of Mexico. So no boarding without a return ticket that was the airline policy. Even the Danish couple with a flight ticket back home to Denmark (ticket in 6 months leaving from Costa Rica) couldn’t get on board without a flight ticket.

Let’s buy the ticket and pay Euro 80 for cancellation fee. Didn’t want to swim to Mexico.

Accommodation: Hostal Casahabana (Ramiro y Judith), Calle D No. 555 apto. 3,
                         1er piso, e/ 23 y 25, Vedado/Habana

Price: Double room, own bathroom $25
          Triple room, own bathroom $35

Comment: nice and quiet, need a taxi to go into old Habana