Hotel a legacy of the Mob in Havana
This lavish show at Cabaret Parisien was a throwback to the past. Havana’s Hotel Nacional, alleged Cuba headquarters for the Mob during the 1950s when Americans flocked to the island to gamble and...
Category: Blog
Cuba’s Botanical Garden a tropical treat
I saw the most beautiful flower at Cuba’s Botanical Garden but couldn’t identify it until I got home. Greenhouses at Cuba’s Jardin Botanica Nacional are designed to keep plants shaded and catching...
Meet some Cuban artists, see their work
Music in Havana is everywhere – from balconies on decaying houses from which laundry lines are strung, at dinner and over drinks on breezy rooftops, in immaculate and beautifully restored public squares,...
Tocororo reveals Cuba as a birding paradise
The brilliant blue white and red tocororo is Cuba’s national bird. I’ve been stopped in the street, at the grocery store, library and at wine tastings by those asking about my recent...
A guide to staying hydrated in Cuba
Guarapo- fresh squeezed sugar cane – is made for a nearby guaraperia where a Hemingway-inspired drink that also uses fresh squeezed pineapple is served. It’s important to stay hydrated in tropical...
Rum, cigars the forbidden fruits of Havana
Partagas, one of the oldest cigars in Cuba, were begun in 1843 by an immigrant from Spain. The Trinidad is made exclusively for Fidel to present to dignitaries and diplomats. Cigars...
Old cars of Cuba have a few surprises
This is a typical Havana traffic scene with a mixture of cars old and new The cars of Cuba were one of the biggest surprises during my recent visit. I expected to...
Cuban money and legal purchases in Cuba
Five CUC and three CUC convertible peso notes are shown with a souvenir Cuban flag. The CUC currency, designed to be exchanged for other currencies brought to Cuba by visitors, isn’t used...
Amazing Havana street music brought tears
Met a wonderful guitar player in Cathedral Square at twilight. Two standouts will be forever memories when it comes to the music we heard in Cuba. On the advice of a friend...
Capture the mood of Cuba with Ropa Vieja and Mojitos
Ropa Vieja is a Cuban dish served everywhere. Usually it is made of beef, but pork is sometimes used. I’m now working on my stories about Cuba for a series that will...
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