"Aye La Habana!" a Havana Travel Page by Kindra

I first visited Havana in the summer of 2001 when I spent a few months studying dance and Spanish language at the National School of Fine Arts (ISA). More than eight years later, now fluent in Spanish and salsa and having lived in a number of other parts of Latin America, I returned to spend a month in Centrohabana, revisiting my favourite Havana haunts and of course, making many more memories.

Havana is so much more than the Tropicana and Habana Vieja. In fact, the best parts of Havana are the little bits, the fun and funny moments, the people, the lines, the cheap rum, the constant cat-calling (piropos) and all other types of Cuban adventures. It will always be my favourite city in the world.

It will take me a little bit to fully download my pictures and tips so bear with me as I try to include my Havana info... feel free to write me if you have any questions.

My personal opinion is that most places, especially Cuba and Havana, are best experienced, outside the main tourist sector. Being able to speak Spanish (and well, as Cuban Spanish is hard enough for native and fluent-speakers to understand), helps enormously in your ability to experience real Havana, meet Cubans (both jineteros and non-jineteros) and avoid getting ripped off.

I highly encourage you to stay in "casa particulares" whilst in Cuba as it contributes to the local economy, tends to be a great value and most people find it is a good way to have a better understanding of Cuban life. A good casa owner will also tend to help you arrange trips, give you directions and guidance on where to go, how to act etc. I would recommend staying in CentroHabana or Vedado as this keeps you close to the action but is also residential enough that you are just outside the normal tourist haunts (aka la Habana Vieja or the beach resorts).