Cuba

There is a bill being considered by U. S. Government that will allow Americans to travel to Cuba so I decided to write an entry into the blog of a trip to Havana Cuba that I would like to do if it were legal for Americans to travel there. I would, of course, NEVER try to travel to a place that my beloved government has banned me from travelling to.

The trip would likely be five days sightseeing in Havana and one day excursion out to an eco-community in the hills outside Havana.

The first day I would just go on foot in and around old Havana “La Havana Vieja”. This part of the city sits at the mouth of the bay of Havana. Original founded by the Spanish as a stopping point for Spanish galleons it was also a major slave trade port. The buildings in this part of the city are very beautiful but like most of Havana have slowly become dilapidated over the last 50 years. They are trying to restore many of the buildings but it’s happening slowly and the extent of the damage and the sheer number of buildings that need restoration is daunting.

Of course, I would visit the Partagas cigar factory. I would not be allowed to take a camera into this factory but here is what the lobby and cigar shop would look like. All buildings, businesses, etc. are government owned so once Fidel took over all the different cigar companies became one. So Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas, Romeo & Juliet, etc. are all made in this (and other) factories. I would be surprised to learn that, regardless of price or grade, all hand rolled cigars are made by the same rollers with the same outside leaf (the most expensive leaf). It is only the inside tobacco leaves that determines the quality & price. I would try them all and be shocked to find that Partagas was my favorite… I imagine.

I would also visit the Museo Del Ron which is a museum depicting the traditional Rum distillery (complete with multiple tastings). Originally the Bacardi family ran its operation in Cuba but after Fidel’s revolution they pulled up tent stakes and moved to Puerto Rico. Now Havana Club is the main rum of the country (of course, government owned). Most locals drink rum neat (in a glass no ice). Mojitos & Cuba Libres are primarily consumed by tourist only. One mixed drink that the locals do occasionally drink is a mixture of liquid cane sugar and rum. (I don’t know the name of it).

If I were there in August then the days in Havana are hot and balmy. To cool off I would imagine that most evenings during my stay I would want to grab a HUGE Cuban cigar (considering they only cost about $8 US there) and some Buccaneer beer and join the locals on the Malecon. The Malecón is a broad esplanade, roadway and seawall which stretches for 8 km along the coast in Havana, Cuba, from the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana to Vedado. Locals sit and just “hang out” from early evening to late at night all along this area.

The last day there I would probably head out of town to get a view and experience the Cuban countryside. There is an old coffee plantation that has been converted to a sort of eco-resort. Here I would be able to learn a little about rural life in Cuba as well as do some canopy zip-lining. Another added bonus to this trip would be that I would be able to ride the one hour bus ride there and back sitting next to a Cuban law student, who speaks perfect English, and get an interesting perspective on Cuban life, Government, and her view of the United States… I imagine.

From my reading of Cuba it seems like a very beautiful place with very wonderful people. I sure hope the U.S. lifts the travel ban someday so I can go there and do all these things.