So I'm going to Cuba(Advice)

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Its all cheap fun and games for the tourists, but the harsh reality for people in Cuba is so much different.

Actually I would say it is the tourists today who make out of this country a Disneyland with funny adventurous rides.

Someone who has never been to Cuba giving their opinion on the lives of the people there is like a virgin discussing the merits of doggystyle v. missionary.

[normtwofinger]

Originally Posted by fleury

I'm just curious, but how do some of you bring an extra suitcase of stuff down there? Aren't you limited to 42 pounds?

When I travelled to Asia for a year my backpack only weighed 30 pounds (including winter and summer clothes). I think you can pack under 42 pounds for a week in a tropical place.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

When I travelled to Asia for a year my backpack only weighed 30 pounds (including winter and summer clothes). I think you can pack under 42 pounds for a week in a tropical place.

I think girls have it easier... or SHOULD have it easier. Back 3-4 bikini's and a couple of those spring dresses, light coat and that's it! And to pack extra light, the less material the bikini's offer, the lighter it is.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by driveway

Someone who has never been to Cuba giving their opinion on the lives of the people there is like a virgin discussing the merits of doggystyle v. missionary.

Too funny.

I said that as someone who lived in a communist country, just like the Cubans, as someone who can relate. And as someone who knows people from a central european NGO working with Cuban disidents. Does my opinion count now?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I think girls have it easier... or SHOULD have it easier. Back 3-4 bikini's and a couple of those spring dresses, light coat and that's it! And to pack extra light, the less material the bikini's offer, the lighter it is.

Haha exactly, the key word there is SHOULD. I'm dreading to see how much the girl is gonna pack, she's a serious clotheshorse, even worse than most girls. I hear she's already planning on an entire carry-on bag just for her SHOES!! We're gonna spend 90% of our time on a sandy beach, what shoes could you possibly need?! I'm bringin a pair of sandals and some runners for when we go to Havana, and for hittin up the bars in Varadero. Done deal.

[Bobblehead]

I stayed at Jibicoa. As Evilcougar mentioned, the beach isn't great (although there is lots of great snorkeling), but the resort is really nice.

I had a nice long chat with an old guy who sells paintings at the resort. He was telling me about how it was before Castro, and as a kid remembered seeing Hemmingway. Apparently all the kids were afraid of him.

This was in '02 and I asked him about the US. He said he knew it would eventually happen, but he was fearful about being inundated with American culture. He would hate losing all their small Cuban restaurants and having McDonalds popping up on the street corners.

[wooohooo]

Now that you guys mention Jibicoa... I believe I stayed there. Beach wasn't great, but if you move more to Varadero, the beaches were a lot better. But being in the middle of the two cities were pretty awesome. That said if it was my first time, I'd go there again, but since I've been there already, I'd probably go somewhere in Varadero now that I've seen Havana.

[Sainters7]

Just had to bump this, as I thought of another question. I can see me bumping this several times until we finally leave in 1.5 months, as random Q's pop into my head.

When I went to Mexico last year, I came down with a baaaaad case of Monteczuma's Revenge. We went in August, and it seriously wasn't fully out of my system until after New Year's. Brutal. I really want to avoid this, so I have to ask, how is Cuba's drinking water? Should I steer clear and stick to bottled water?

[Thor]

Spend a overnight time in Havana if you stay in Varadero, the people are amazing in Cuba and you'll find them quite opposite to Mexicans.

Downtown Havana is worth the trip, just make sure you spend overnight there and the trip will be worth it, copocabana is a must obviously.

[Phanuthier]

Oh, I forgot to mention - Bay of Pigs, very historical and interesting place. IIRC you could actually see the bullet holes in the rocks which sort of put a things into place a little better.

Havana is obviously worth the trip, but one of the greatest experiences I've ever had in my travels (as I mentioned before) was taking a cab into a small town (don't remember which one, but it was about 40 min from Varadero). I'm not a real big fan of beaches, so going to a non-tourist town was the highlight of my Cuba trip. See if you can find a store where locals buy stuff.

Water - as far as I recall, water was not an issue. (I got sick in Mexico too) But, the guava juice was really good and I got that every meal; and uh, for about half the trip, I was drunk. Free booze, what can I say. Also some advice, 2 cubans and your regular tolerance of vodka (or any alcohol) = bad experiance. Do not recommend.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Just had to bump this, as I thought of another question. I can see me bumping this several times until we finally leave in 1.5 months, as random Q's pop into my head.

When I went to Mexico last year, I came down with a baaaaad case of Monteczuma's Revenge. We went in August, and it seriously wasn't fully out of my system until after New Year's. Brutal. I really want to avoid this, so I have to ask, how is Cuba's drinking water? Should I steer clear and stick to bottled water?

Never had an issue with their water at all. In saying that I always drink from the bottle in any third world country. Ive never got Montezumas in Cuba from eating their food....unlike Mexico which is a common experience.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Go to the Sandals Royal Hicacos in Varadero.(No kids at this resort and very sexy for you and the g/f)

It is a great place on a great Island. Close to Havana and has one of the best beaches in the world. Dont buy the food is terrible thing most people try to sell you...the food is very good, but not spicy in flavor as most countries of this nature are.






Sandals Site


This will also help you if you want to check out other resorts.

Just had to bump this thread to say thanks to Cheese for tellin me about this place. We just booked our trip, we're gonna be stayin at the place you recommended, the Sandals Royal Hicacos. We leave June 21st, I can't wait!

[driveway]

Here are your step-by-step instructions for getting cheap, genuine cigars to smoke while you are in Cuba.

1. Go on a cigar factory tour. Cheap and informative, factory tours are pretty-much a must-do while you're in cuba anyway.

2. Make sure you go on a very full tour at a busy time of day, mid-day on a Saturday will work well. Stay towards the back of the group - the very back.

3. Wait until you get to the room where they roll cigars. This room looks like a large classroom with many workers sitting at desks rolling various sizes of cigars. (point of interest: Cigar rollers are each trained to roll a specific size of cigar. According to the tour, the workers are not informed which brand of cigar they will be rolling on any given day, there is simply a pile of tobacco given to them to roll.)

4. Once the spiel is finished on the factory floor, wait until the tour-leader is out-of-sight and then turn to whichever cigar-roller you are standing next to and offer to buy all the cigars they have rolled that day from them. We each paid $20 US for about a dozen cigars.

5. Conceal your freshly-rolled, unlabeled cigars somewhere on your person and remove them from the factory.

The only drawback to this are that you don't know what kind of cigars you're getting. However, unless you're an afficcionado you probably just want a few to smoke for the fun of it while you're there.

---------------------

Also: You are absolutely going to want to visit Taberna la Muralla - the only Brewpub in Havana. The food there is actually excellent - or at least it was 6 years ago, and this article:

http://davidlansing.com/?p=1013

From this April indicates that the place is still going strong.

The pub is located at the South West corner of a Parque on San Ignacio, between Muralla and Brasil (Tenacio Rey).

Typing in Taberna la Muralla, Havana, Cuba into Google Maps will show you where to go, it's the "B" location, not the "A" location.

Finally, Baseball in Cuba is awesome. I'm not sure when their season runs, but I saw a killer game featuring Industriales, Havana's 'second team'. The stadium must seat 50,000 people and I think there were about 900 there to see the game. We sat three rows up from first base and enjoyed ourselves imensely.

Oh yeah, Varadero has a nice beach, but other than that is nothing but a tourist trap. Spend as little time there as you can. Unless beach and rum is all you want from your vacation.

Have a blast.

[evilcougar]

As far as the food and water goes in cuba, i drank normal water and bottled water and didnt' have a problem. The food, i had issues with the dairy a little bit, but that could've also had something to do with the 7 oz of vodka with a squirt of coke for color constantly consumed over the course of 7 days. They free pour down there. It's awesome.
The food, i didn't have a problem with either time. I did find however at the buffets that if you don't go right when they put the food out, the heat really wilts the food fast. it's still pretty good tho.

You might also find scooter tours at the resorts. Along with other peoples suggestions of taking a cab into a town, the scooter tours are pretty awesome. They're super fun to ride, and the tour group is only usually maybe 5 ppl or so at a time. The tour guides are always very informative. We did this when we stayed in Jibicoa, and it was awesome. We went to this little town about half an hour away, and he showed us all around to where people get their food rations etc...really cool.

And bags and bags o stuff to give away is a must. Not only did we take a bunch of stuff into Havana with us on our day trip, but, we also left stuff on our pillows every day as a tip instead of money. They loved that.

You will love Cuba. I'm very jealous!!

[Sainters7]

Haha as I mentioned before, I'll probably randomly bump this thread several times over the next few weeks before I go as questions occassionaly pop into my head.

So I'm reading more about Cuba, and I'd really like to be able to see one of these Santeria ceremonies, they sound fascinating. Is there a certain time/place where these happen, and are they pretty open for letting people watch(and photograph)? Are they pretty rare and hard to find, or are they common?