Usually Americans and Europeans love colorful and artistic events which are deemed to be normal for locals, but overwhelming or amazing for the visiting guests.  Cuba has two official festivals – one that takes place in December, and another one that takes place in May.  What are these festivals?  These are festivals that fall under the category of Art and Literature, Theater and Film, Culture, Music, Exhibitions, and Entertainment.  What are these festive parties, a.k.a. festivals?

The New Latin American Cinema Festival

This is a yearly festival that is held in December of each year in the wonderful city of Havana. Its history brings you back to 1979 when it was first held.  Its history brings you back to 1979 when it was first held.  Screenings take place in the various Havana cinemas and showcase the very best film from Latin America.  The focus is mostly on new cinema, wherein up-and-coming directors are given a chance to show their movies to a big audience.  If you love movies, if you are an artist, you’ll surely love this!

The Havana International Guitar Festival

This festival is held in May, and in various venues throughout the city of Havana.  The biennial Havana International Guitar Festival invites all players from all over the world to perform at this fun event.  Passionate crowds gather as Cubans, noted for their love for dance, music, and culture, get ready to see the various styles and genres that the international musicians have to offer.  How popular is it?  Very popular indeed!  You don’t believe it?  Well, take this in: because of its raging popularity throughout the city, tickets usually get sold out well in advance of the day!  So if you are a visiting tourist who wants to experience this, you’d better book early; otherwise, you won’t have anything to see, or in this case, to hear, at all.

The Carnival

No one is certain how this started, but this is the main festival of Cuba!  This used to occur every year from June to late August – a date that coincides with the times when schools are on summer holiday!  This festival is said to be practiced to ward off bad spirits.  Now, it is a three-day festival in Havana, and it is celebrated in different times of the year in the different places in Cuba.  This stands to be an important date in every Cuban’s calendar because of their nature of being music lovers and party enthusiasts.

Liberation Day

Although January 1 is celebrated as New Year’s Day around the world, it is not in Cuba.  This day is known to be Liberation Day!  This is the day on which Fidel Castro overthrew the corrupt Cuban regime; a day to be remembered.

So can you party like the Cubans?  Join them and have the fun you have always dreamed of!

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When it comes to food, you may think that with the vast coastlines this country possesses, seafood may be the usual menu.  Sorry, but you’re a bit wrong in that aspect.  Seafood does make its way into the Cuban tables, but most of it is exported to neighboring countries.  Cuban food is actually a fusion of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean cuisine which mostly relies on rice, beans, chicken, and pork.  Although the country does have wide spaces filled with plantations, fresh vegetables are hard to come be.  Flavors are also limited by the lack of available herbs and spices.

Just a tip for the food lover tourist: state-run establishments can have very slow service, and even surly at times.  It isn’t a secret that some of the best cooking in the country can be found in paladares – small, private restaurants.  This is also the place to go to when one is looking for an illegal lobster or two.

So, do you like Cuban food?  Check these out to know: National Specialties include soup made of chicken or black beans, black beans and rice (locally called “Moors and Christians”), chicken or pork with rice (and sometimes French fries), plantains (baked or fried), and omelettes stuffed with meat and/or cheese. National Drinks include Cuban coffee (very strong, by the way), Cuban beer (tasty, but weak), and Rum cocktails (e.g. daiquiri, mojito, cuba libre).

Yum! That sounds mouth-watering.  Usually when dining out, tipping a 10% gratuity is appreciated.  Remember, happy people provide better service, and welcomes people with wider arms.

The night life in Havana is renowned and when tourists stay for just a quick visit, it’s only the tip of the iceberg that they get to see.  Famous places to hit for the nightlife include The Casa de la Musica, an establishment that attracts both tourists and locals; Tropicana, famous nightclub that stages nightly open-air cabarets that are reminiscent of the days before the Revolution; and The Cabaret Parisien, which is located at the Hotel Nacional, this attracts tour groups on “day and night” packages from coastal beach resorts.

It should be noted however, that there is no minimum on the legal drinking age in Cuba; although buyers must at least be 16 years of age to purchase alcohol from stores.  When visiting Cuba, you may distinguish the locals from the tourists with their mesmerizing salsa moves, and their ability to drink vast amounts of Varadero rum.

Another side of Cuba may be its cultural side which includes theatre, ballet, and opera.  These are staged all year round in Havana and are very cheap – which can be a great opportunity for tourists to see a bit of it!  Cinemas, however, although there are cinemas, they show films in Spanish.  So, who’s ready to have a taste of Cuba and relish in it?

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Cuba has a variety of products to offer the tourist shopper, although it may be a disappointment if you want to spend, spend, and spend.  There are a few luxury shops, even in Havana, and the stock is generally dull, boring, or uninspiring.  However, there are some that may be precious finds in Cuba.  You guessed it!  Cigars, rum, and other authentic souvenirs; these are the merchandise that you could be happy about when shopping in Cuba.

Cigars

The world’s finest cigars are made in Cuba.  Of course buying these in retail stores would be quite expensive.  The best place to get these will be in factories where you can get the real thing such as Cohiba, which was Castro’s favorite before he kicked the habit; Montecristo’s, Ché Guevara’s favored brand; Upmans, JFK’s favorite brand – which he actually stocked up on before he put the blockade in place; and Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás, which is a popular brand in the country, and also sells fabulous ornate cigar boxes.  Be cautious about buying these from street vendors as they may be fakes or factory rejects – unless you know the seller has a good reputation, steer clear of them.  Otherwise, you may end up being confiscated at the airport, and you spend for nothing.

Rum

Cuba has also been known for their rum.  Santiago de Cuba was once home to the Bacardi distillery, but there are a few reputable brands of rum which may include Varadero, the brand preferred by connoisseurs, especially the rich seven-year-old variety which is sipped like fine malt, and it’s younger and lighter blends are used for cocktails; Havana Club, it is the famous Cuban rum brand these days and is quite popular everywhere in Cuba.

Souvenirs and other gifts

These include authentic Cuban merchandise, as well as Ché Guevara merchandise which can be found everywhere – really everywhere – around the country.  There are perfumes in fine ceramic and glass bottles which can be found and purchased at Habana 1791.

Shopping hours in Cuba are usually at 9 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the afternoon during Mondays to Saturdays, and 9 o’clock in the morning until 12 o’clock noon during Sundays.

These days, Cuba doesn’t use the US Dollar anymore.  So if tourists come, Euro is accepted, or else you may have it exchanged to the Cuban currency.  However, before leaving the country, tourists must have all local currency exchanged again.  Credit Cards such as MasterCard and Visa are accepted, as long as they are not issued by a US bank, or one that is linked to the US.  However, the use of credit cards does have hefty fees added often.  ATM’s are still not as popular, and Cirrus or Maestro is still not accepted.  Have a good time shopping in wonderful Cuba!

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If only the buildings could talk.  The place is filled with history.  Such as the city’s first building which overlooks the entrance to a protected bay has been there since 1519.  The city became a depository for treasures that Spanish fleets brought to the New World.  It was originally known as La Villa de San Cristóbal de la Habana.  Today, it is known as Havana, and it is the center of the nation’s life – political, scientific, and cultural.  It houses the National Ballet of Cuba, House of the Américas, Foundation of New Latin American Film, and the National Folkloric Dance Group which have won international acclaim.  Havana is a splendid place to visit which remains interesting in both day time and night time.

The places to hit while in Havana would include:

El Templete

An 1828 neoclassical building where the first mass and first town council of San Cristobal de la Habana was, and every November 16 a celebration is held in this place where lots of Habaneros come and join.

Parade Square

This is where major events are held.  Here you can also find the Captain-General’s Palace (City Museum) and El Segundo Cabo.  Atop the building’s tower is the La Giraldilla – a wind vane that has become the symbol of the city.  In 1577, Castillo de la Real Fuerza had an exhibit of the most important pottery art collection in the island.

Cathedral Square

This square is surrounded by mansions!  And this square is the recently restored Plaza Vieja and Francis of Assisi square.  The church and convent that can be found in this area of the same name – one of the convent’s cloisters even houses the Museum of Sacred Art.

Morro-Cabaña Historic Military Park

This military park is marked by two ruins of historical importance: El Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, and the fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña.  Both fortresses now house military museums where cannons are still shot daily to announce that it’s already 9 o’clock in the evening.

Vedado

This is the place that allows easy access to other places of interest such as the University of Havana, Revolution Square and the José Martí Monument, and the Colon Cemetery – one of the largest necropolises.  Malecon, the famous 12-kilometer oceanside road links old Havana to the busy neighborhood of Vedado.

Cojimar

This is about six kilometers east of the city, and this is where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat, the Pilar.  This is the same colorful fishing village where he found material and inspiration for many of his stories.

Aside from these places, there are still wonderful places to visit such as the beaches and coastline where activities such as the seafari and deep-sea fishing take place.  Enjoy Cuba!

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