Cigar Tour – Vinales

Vinales is a small, fairly touristy village about three hours from Havana, relatively close to the sea. Apart from a famous rock – the main attraction – there also are huts to dry leaves for original Cuban cigars in Vinales. My travel buddy and I booked a tour where we visited one of these huts and saw how the leaves for a Cuban cigar are cut and then rolled. And, of course, we got to try one afterwards. Not to roll ourselves, but to smoke. It's an interesting experience even for non-smokers. Afterwards, we rode horses through the countryside and at the end of the day we were served a real Cuban shot. All in all it was a very cool day and we got to see a bit of the nature and surroundings of Vinales. Yes or no? The cigar thing was really cool I have to say. The rest was whatever, but seeing how a real and original Cuban cigar is rolled was something special 😊

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Vinales

Small, really cute and very famous. Vinales is a small, charming village near the coast of Cuba. Despite it’s size there is a lot to see, which is making Vinales quite touristy. Firstly, there is the famous rock of Vinales. You can also go on cigar tour, ride horses through the countryside, take a day trip to Cayo Jutias and much more. Accordingly, almost all the houses in Vinales are Casas Particulares – Cuban Airbnbs. As the tourist flow is naturally quite high, they hence are relatively expensive. Funnily, the bus to Vinales also costs quite a lot of money which is why I travelled there by taxi colectivo. That cost me like half or even a third of the bus price. Concerning supermarkets or stuff like that... Since you usually can't cook in Casas Particulares, just go out to eat. There are inexpensive and very tasty options. You could also ask at your Casa Particular and they might make you food, but it will be more expensive and very probably less good than going out. Just being honest. Otherwise, Vinales itself is really small, quite pretty in the centre and totally cute. And apart from that it's simply a village. Accordingly you are incredibly quick ‘outside’ civilization and seeing nothing but nature. Apart from that it's pretty easy to walk to the viewpoint of the famous rock. The cigar tour and stuff you gotta book and to get to Cayo Jutias you have to find a driver and then negotiate the price. Because there are no buses to Cayo Jutias. It's quite far off the beaten track and in Cuba most transport is by taxi colectivos (for the locals as well) Go or not? Definitely yes. Vinales is far away and you have to watch your expenses if you want to keep it cheap, but Vinales is just really cute and the rock is really great. And frankly, I liked Vinales a lot. Despite the fact that it's touri-zone.

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Room of Ernest Hemingway – Hotel Ambos Mundos

The Hotel Ambos Mundos is the hotel in Havana where Ernest Hemingway always stayed when he was in Havana. Since the hotel, like the bar ‘El Floridita’, owes much of its fame to Ernest Hemingway and he always stayed in the same room, the room now is a museum. The hotel itself is still bookable and habitable, and the roof offers a nice view over the rooftops of Havana. To find the room, you basically just have to follow the signs and you will soon find yourself standing in front of a small brass bust of Ernest Hemingway and a large photograph of him at his desk with his former typewriter, which is hanging on the wall. It's not spectacular, but still pretty cool. And the hotel itself is also quite beautiful. Go or not? Like all these little sights and places in Havana, I think this one also contributes to the overall picture of Havana. So yes 😊

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Central Park & Paseo del Prado y de Colón

The Parque Central (in Spanish) is located directly in front of Hotel Inglaterra in Casco Viejo and is surrounded by imposing, beautiful, tall buildings. From the Parque Central, a kind of marble promenade or avenue runs is going, running between trees where souvenirs and works of art are being sold on the left and right. The Paseo ends in a kind of sculpture with hanging red plastic threads. A hint: from the rooftop of Hotel Inglaterra you have a truly fantastic view of the Parque Central :D Go or not? It may not sound like much, but the square is really beautiful and right in the centre, and the Paseo is a very nice way to just stroll around and see what's on the left and right.

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Rooftop View – Hotel Inglaterra

Hotel Inglaterra is the oldest hotel in Havana. Small artistic tiles with various mini paintings are integrated into the pavement in front of the hotel and the lobby, the restaurant, the lifts and everything else are really chic. The hotel itself is also quite impressive. However, the absolute highlight of the hotel is the rooftop, from which you have an absolutely fantastic view of the square with palm trees and beautiful buildings surrounding it directly in front of the hotel. Personally, I found the view from up here to be one of the most beautiful, and in Casco Viejo itself, the most beautiful view of all. Is it worth it? Definitely. The view is amazing, the hotel is really beautiful and it's a piece of Havana's history.

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Sunset & Harbour Havana

When I saw the sunset at the harbor of Havana I fell in love with Havana all over again. And yes, I mean that. At the harbor (it’s like at the very end of it where there also is a platform) you look “back” and see the promenade as a long, gentle curve with the skyline of Havana right behind it. To your left and right you have Cubans fishing and at the same time Cuban music is coming from somewhere. Depending on the day and time there also may be a small art exhibition or another artistic performance. And above all there is this incredibly relaxed and relaxing vibe. I myself have watched the sunset at the harbor in Havana more than once, and each time it caught me just as much as the times before. I even went back to the harbor on my last evening to say goodbye to this magical sight 😊 Yes or no? You can probably guess, but yes, one hundred per cent. The sunsets at the harbor in Havana are simply magical.

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Art Factory of Havana

Colourful, musical, diverse, artistic and really cool. A Cuban showed me Havana's art factory and took me to a small concert that was taking place there that evening. Being there, I discovered that there also is an art gallery and a small café here and that events and concerts are held here regularly. Meaning pretty cool and a great opportunity to get in touch with Cubans. Because the Fábrica de Arte is not an ‘attraction’ in that sense, but a normal art centre. It also has the vibe and everything. Very, very cool 😊 Go or not? Well, I would actually go just for the exhibition and then check if there are any events or concerts taking place at some point. But you obviously also can combine that.

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University of Havana

There are quite a few cool, interesting and beautiful places outside the Casco Viejo. The University of Havana is one of them. I had marked it on Maps beforehand and so I found myself standing right in front of the large, imposing and sweeping staircase leading up to the bronze statue of the Madame who sits proudly enthroned on the steps of the University of Havana. The staircase itself is very chic and clean and lined with lots of marble. There is also a small colonnade at the top of the stairs. And the view up and down is really nice. The rest of the university is not quite as pompous, but still very beautiful, very clean and also very green, in my opinion. Because green spaces and plants are not usually integrated into the cityscape in Havana. Go or not? Yeah do so. The University of Havana is really beautiful and shows another side of Havana.

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José Marti Memorial

The José Martí Memorial is basically a large square outside Casco Viejo with a large, tall statue in the middle. The surrounding buildings feature huge artistically in lines created metal heads of – I assume – José Martí and Che Guevara. I admit that there isn't much to see or do in the square, but it still has something special about it. Go or not? I'll leave that up to you. It's not a must-have-seen, but somehow the square had something about it.

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Callejón de Hamel

Very sweet and very beautiful, full of music and art stuff and very, very cool. I discovered Callejón de Hamel more by chance. I was walking from my hostel towards Casco Viejo and wandered through the streets a bit. Suddenly, I saw strange but interesting statues and works of art in the distance and heard salsa music. When I got there, I found a paradise of art that you don't find everywhere, and on top of that, there was a salsa event with a live band and people dancing. And I found it all by chance. Very, very cool. Go or not? Since Callejón de Hamel is an absolute eye-catcher for the artistic eye even without live music or other events, definitely yes.

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