After our plane landed, it was a relatively easy process navigating the airport. We may have been struck by luck since we made it out through customs within 15 minutes. We avoided the long lines for currency conversion and took our airbnb hosts' offer to take us a local exchange house, where we were in and out within minutes.
Driving into the city, I was in awe of the various shades of people, from pale skinned women with bright gorgeous red hair to dark chocolate men with eyes that danced in sunshine. Despite their apparent differences, they were all united as Cubanos. It was clear as day, that there's a strong sense of unity, pride and order in Cuba. Patriotic billboards and revolutionary slogans of ¡Viva Cuba Libre, decorated the roadways.
We stayed in the posh, modern neighborhood of 'Vedado' which we learned means "Forbidden". The neighborhood was originally a protected agricultural area and it was forbidden to build residential properties. Now it features homes to some of the most affluent members of Cuban society and a budding LGBT community.
Our airbnb was close-by to the Malecón, also known as Havana's largest living-room. Apparently you're not a true 'habanito', if you haven't taken a stroll down this lovely waterfront.
True story, one of my best gal pals just happened to be in Cuba that same weekend! We randomly discovered this one week before our trip. It was a pleasant surprise and was great to explore Havana now with a crew of 4!
On our short weekend getaway, we took a walking tour in Old Havana, rode in a pristine, bright blue classic Chevrolet, devoured fresh coconuts and Cuban Rum on Playa de Santa Martha, enjoyed live music and intimate dinners at local paladares and wanderlustly explored everyday life in Havana.
Our general tips for your next trip to Cuba:
1) Scope out the food scene and get recommendations prior to arrival. Make and confirm reservations in person. This is all harder than you think when you don't reliable wifi. We had poor service experiences at supposedly traveler favorite restaurants, La Guarida and Cafe Escorial. To be completely honest, all the food we had during our trip was at best, mediocre. Better planning may yield a better result but don't go to Cuba expecting a foodie heaven.
2) Get a convertible classic car and let your hair down...Raindrop.
3) Carry tissue paper, band-aids and hand sanitizer everywhere you go. These resources aren't as accessible as you would think. Trust me, you'll thank me later.
4) Bring more cash than you think you might need. There are no ATMs Americans can use nor can you use your credit card. You can always exchange your money at larger hotels, if your pesos get too low. Taxi cab rides can wittle away your budget before you know it.
5) Bring back home Cuban coffee, rum, cigars and chocolates. They make excellent gifts and conversation starters. Pro-tip, if you're a coffee lover and staying at an airbnb with an accessible host, ask them make you coffee in the morning.
6) Immerse yourself in your surrounding, taking in the beautiful architecture, rich history and quality time with your friends! It can seem intimidating to be in a foreign country where few people speak English, without access to your ATM cards, cellphone or WiFi...take advantage of this gift, grow from this experience and enjoy being disconnected from the everyday bustle.
Overall, we enjoyed our 3 days in Havana! It was a cultural melting pot with a beautiful blend of people, history and strength. We look forward to returning to celebrate it's 500th year anniversary and scoping out other parts of the island! I'd encourage you to visit before it completely gets run down by tourists and becomes 'Little Miami'!
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