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...
Janet's Jaunts Blog
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...
Havana hotel, breakfast and historic neighborhood
Hotel Inglaterra in old Havana, seen behind the statue of Jose Marti, is one of the oldest hotels in the city. It was a great headquarters for my first two nights in...
Cuban anthem to Jose Marti heard all over Havana
Floral tributes to Cuban poet and hero Jose Marti were placed in front of his statue on the May 19 anniversary of his death in 1895. My Havana hotel, the Ingleterra, is...
Gifts brought home from Cuba
This necklace, crafted from a silverplated fork left behind when Batista supporters fled Cuba in 1960 , was something I bought at a craft market near downtown Havana. No I didn’t buy...
Recent Comments