Cuban street music brought tears
On the advice of a friend who had visited before, I brought a set of guitar strings to give away. They are among the many things that are difficult or very expensive...
Tagged: Cuba
Figuring out Cuban money
Cuban money is confusing to say the least. You’ll exchange your U.S. dollars, probably at your hotel, since if ATM machines exist, I didn’t see any. You’ll get convertible pesos, worth about...
Sometimes you need to step away
Sometimes you need to step away from the everyday to really examine life and how it’s being lived. That’s one of the most compelling things about travel as far as I’m concerned,...
Searching for Commies in wrong Cuban places
“Searching for Commies in all the wrong places” was my suggested headline for the second story in the Cuba series, which goes to readers on Aug. 10. Either that was just too...
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...
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...
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