Havana is as startling and contradictory a capital city as the wonderful and intriguing country of Cuba itself. Artistic vibrancy exists despite political repressiveness, urban gentrification takes place just a few blocks from the appalling dilapidation the city is famed for and revolutionary, anti-American slogans abound while the cinemas play Hollywood blockbusters.
A walking tour of the capital is highly rewarding as the captivating history of this country is represented in architectural gems such as Morro Castle, El Capitolio, the towering monument to the ever present national hero Jose Marti and the former headquarter of the Bacardi corporation.
Despite the frequent reports from visitors to Cuba that the food is terrible, it is possible to eat very well in Havana - especially if you are lucky to be blessed with excellent hosts in a Casa Particular. A recommended indulgence is the Museo De Chocolate - a speciality chocolate cafe located on the corner of calles Amargura and Mercaderes in Havana Vieja where you can learn about the history of chocolate as you sample all sorts of varieties. Meanwhile, regardless of whether you are a smoker or not, a quick peek at one of the cigar shops and museums is hard to resist. A visit to the Museo De La Revolucion will reward you with a site of the relatively innocuous looking missile launcher that came close to heralding the end of the world when shooting down an American plane at the height of the Missile Crisis. Although there are some find galleries and art exhibitions in Havana, perhaps the most interesting is the more visceral experience of Salvador’s Alley in Callejon De Hamel (between Calles Hospital and Aramburu in Havana Centro) - visit this link to find out more.
The short visual poem below only gives the tiniest flavor of this wonderful, poignantly sad and exhilerating city.
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