The official language of Cuba is Spanish and is widely spoken throughout the caribbean island. Cuba’s official
Name is the Republic of Cuba and the Capital City is Havana.

Also, you must know that Spanish has not only become the chief language of Spain but also of all the Latin
American Republics.

Last but not least, most of Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, Spaniards of all origens are sometimes called gallegos. Keep in mind, not all the population speaks Galego.

Here are some of Cuba, phrases, meanings available below:

Pura {Madre}

Puro {Padre}

Monina {Brother}

¿Qué bolá? {Whats up?}

¿Cómo tú ves el paño? {How are things?}

Socio {a very close friend, woman to man}

Socia {a very close friend, woman to woman}

Consorte {a very close friend {used between guys only I think}

Feb. 13 – 17 > Universidad 2006

Mar. 07 – 12 > 7mo Festival Internacional De Documentales

Mar. 29 – 31 > Mangifera 2006

Apr. 17 – 21 > Congreso Internacional de Información – INFO 2006

Apr. 17 – 21 > CUBASOLAR 2006

Apr. 17 – 23 > Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre 2006

Jun. 01 – 04 > 2 degrees Festival Internacional del Audiovisual para la Niñez y la Adolescencia 2006

Oct. 31 – Nov. 03 > 11th World Sport for All Congress
]]> http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-calendar-of-events/feed/ 0 http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-important-addresses/ http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-important-addresses/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:25:21 +0000 Blogger http://www.ucaribbean.com/blog/?p=232 LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION:

Empresa de Turismo Internacional (Cubatur);
Calle 23;
F157;
Entre Noveda y Calzada;
El Vedado; Havana Cuba
Tel: (7) 244 155 Fax: (7) 243 526/30.

U.S. Embassies and Consulates Abroad:

Note that the Bahamas , Cuba , Haiti , and
Jamaica are on Eastern Time. All others are
one hour ahead. Note: Some (809) area codes
are expected to change. If you are unable to get
through on (809), consult your telephone
directory or the operator.

CUBA
Swiss Embassy (USINT)
Calzada between Land M
Vedado
Havana, CUBA
(537) 33-4401

Cuban Interests Section:
Embassy of Switzerland,
2630 16th Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009,
USA.
Tel: (202) 797-8518;
Fax: (202) 797-8521.

Medical Clinics:

Centro Internacional de Salud La Pradera

Address: 230, entre 15A y 17, Siboney, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-7473
Fax: (53-7) 33-7198

Clinica Central Cira Garcia
Address: 20, No. 4101, Esq. Av. 41, Kolhy, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-2811
Fax: (53-7) 204-2640

Clinica Internacional de Cienfuegos
Address: 37, No. 202, entre 2 y 4, Punta Gorda
City: Cienfuegos , Province: Cienfuegos
Phone: (53-432) 45-1162

Clinica Internacional de Guardalavaca
Address: Calle 2da., Playa Guardalavaca
City: Holguín , Province: Holguin
Phone: (53-24) 3-0291 / (53-24) 3-0312

Clinica Internacional de Santa Lucia
Address: Santa Lucia
City: Camagüey , Province: Camaguey
Phone: (53-32) 36-6203
Fax: (53-32) 36-5300

Clinica Internacional de Santiago de Cuba
Address: Av. Pujoll y Calle 10, Ferreiro
City: Santiago de Cuba , Province: Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (53-226) 64-2589
Fax: (53-226) 68-7001

Clinica Internacional de Varadero
Address: Av. 1ra., y 61
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-5) 66-7013
Fax: (53-5) 66-7012

Cntro Internacional Oftalmologico Camilo Cienfuegos
Address: L No. 151, entre Linea y 13 , Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 32-5554
Fax: (53-7) 33-3536

Complejo Cientifico Ortopedico Internacional Frank Pais

Address: Av. 51, No. 19603, La Lisa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 271-9055
Fax: (53-7) 33-1422

Hospitals:

Hospital Oftalmológico ‘Ramon Pando Ferrer’
- Oculist Hospital Calle 76 No. 3104 e/ 31 y
41, Marianao, La Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, .
Cuba
Tel: 011-537-260-5021

US Naval Hospital (GTMO)
PSC 1005, Box 36, FPO, AE 09593-0136,
Guantanamo Bay.
Cuba
Tel: 011-53-99-72110

Hospital Pediatrico Y Cardiocentro
Infantil “William Soler” Ave. 43 No. 1418
esquina a Calle 18, La Habana, Ciudad de La
Habana, 11900
Cuba
Tel: (537- 2044811
Fax: (537)- 2041330

Hospital Ortopédico ‘Julio Díaz’
Ave. 243 No. 19815, Reparto Fontanar,
Boyeros, La Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, .
Cuba
Tel: 011-537-45-4857

Hospital Ortopédico ‘Julio Díaz’
Ave. 243 No. 19815, Reparto Fontanar, Boyeros, La
Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, .
Cuba
Tel: 011-537-45-4857

Hospital Oftalmológico ‘Ramon Pando Ferrer’
Calle 76 No. 3104 e/ 31 y 41, Marianao,
La Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, .
Cuba
Tel: 011-(537)-26050

Hospital Oftalmológico ‘Ramon Pando Ferrer’ –
Oculist Hospital
Calle 76 No. 3104 e/ 31 y 41, Marianao,
La Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, .
Cuba
Tel: 011-537-260-5021

Pharmacies:

Farmacia Internacional Comodoro
Address: Cale 3 y 84, (Hotel Comodoro), Miramar

City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-5551

Farmacia Internacional Miramar
Address: Av. 5ta. No. 1814, Esq.20, Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-2052

Farmacia Internacional Plaza
Address: Calle Ignacio Agramonte, ( Hotel Plaza)
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 60-8583

Farmacia Internacional Villa Panamericana

Address: Villa Panamericana
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 65-1010

Farmacia Marina Hemingway
Address: Av. 5ta., No. 248, Santa Fe, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-5132

Farmacia Playa Giron

Address: Playa Giron
Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-52) 9-4140

Farmacia Plaza America
Address: Autopista Sur Km. 11,
(Centro de Convenciones Plaza America)
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-5) 66-8181

Farmacia Punta Blanca
Address: Rpto. Kawama y Final
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-5) 61-4470

La International
Address: Ave. 41 y 20, Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 24-2051

Optica Miramar Varadero
Address: Av. 1ra.,No. 4204
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-5) 66-7525

Emergencies Contact Information:

Police: 116

Fire: 115

Ambulance: 114

Emergency Air Ambulance:

Ferry Services:

There is no regular ferries or boats
to Cuba from foreign ports.
Yachters are expected to anchor at
the public marinas …

Automobile Rentals:

Via Rent A Car
Address: Av. Del Puerto, No. 102, Habana Vieja
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 61-4465 / (53-7) 33-9781
Fax: (53-7) 33-1879

Veracuba-Cubacar
Address: Playa Santa Lucia
City: Camagüey , Province: Camaguey
Phone: (53-32) 3-6284
Fax: (53-32) 36-5193

Rent A Car Via
Address: Aeropuerto Int’l. Antonio Maceo
City: Santiago de Cuba , Province: Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (53-226) 68-7018

Transgaviota
Address: Av. Del Puerto No. 102, Habana Vieja
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-9780
Fax: (53-7) 33-0742

Rex Rent a Car & Limousine Service
Address: Havana
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-9160
Fax: (53-7) 33-9159

Taxi Companies:

Aerotaxi
Address: 27 No. 102, Nuevo Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-4064
Fax: (53-7) 53-5348

Cubataxi
Address: 28, entre 1ra. Y 2da.
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-5) 66-7089 / (53-5) 61-3259

Habanataxi
Address: Havana
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 53-9086

Panataxi
Address: Santa Ana y Av. Independencia Nvo. Vdo.
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 55-5464
Fax: (53-7) 55-5455

Taxi Gaviota
Address: 13, entre Av. 2da. Y Avenida 4ta.
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Phone: (53-5) 61-2620
Fax: (53-5) 66-7363

Cruises:

Jolly Roger Catamaran Cruises

Address: Cruiser Marina Chapelin
City: Varadero , Province: Matanzas
Tel: (53-5) 66-7743 / (53-5) 66-7565
Fax: (53-5) 66-7846

Internet Service Providers:

Internet Cafes:

Bar Jaruco
tel: (537) 860-8201

Travel Agents and Bureaus:

Tropical Travel Services

Address: Monserrate, No. 261,
( Edif. Bacardi), Habana Vieja
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-8337

Press Tours
Address: L y 23 Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-3222
Fax: (53-7) 33-4624

Online Tours, S.A.
Address: 72 y 3ra. Av., Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-9576
Fax: (53-7) 204-6727

Havana Tour & Travel
Address: Av. 1ra., ( Edif. Sierra Maestra),
Miramar

City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-7541
Fax: (53-7) 204-2074

All Ways Travel
Address: Hotel Comodoro Bung. 705
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-7428 / (53-7) 204-7429
Fax: (53-7) 204-7430

Airline Companies:

Mexicana

Address: Calle 23 esq. P, Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-3531
Fax: (53-7) 33-3077

Copa Airlines
Address: Calle 23 No. 64, Vedado, Plaza
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-1503
Fax: (53-7) 33-3951

Caraibes Air Cargo Sarl.
Address: 12 No. 110 Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-5306
Fax: (53-7) 204-2062

British Airways
Address: Ave. 23 y Plaza, Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-4949

Aerocaribbean S.A. (Head Office)
Address: Calle 23 No. 64 esq., Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-3621

Banks:

Probanca Servicios Financieros
Address: Avenida 3ra.y78 Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-9573
Fax: (53-7) 204-9575

Carifin Caribbean Finance Investments Ltd.
Address: 22 No.311/ 313 Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 24-4468
Fax: (53-7) 24-4140

Fintur Sucursal Ciudad Habana

Address: 21 No. 1 Vedado
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-3024
Fax: (53-7) 33-4615

National Bank Of Canada

Address: Av. 3ra.y78 Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-3008
Fax: (53-7) 204-5487

Netherlands Caribbean Bank N.V.

Address: Avenida 5ta. 6407 Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-0420
Fax: (53-7) 204-7084

Tourism info centers:

Aistur
Address: Cayo Coco
City: Ciego de Avila , Province: Ciego de Avila
Phone: (53-33) 30-8173
Fax: (53-33) 30-8117

Bufete Internacional
Address: A. Maceo, entre Jose Marti y Frexes
City: Holguín , Province: Holguin
Phone: (53-24) 4-6133
Fax: (53-24) 46-8097

INFOTUR
Address: 5ta. Ave. y 112, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-7036
Fax: (53-7) 204-7036

Oficina de Turismo de la Habana
Address: Calle 28 No. 303 e/ 3ra. Y 5ta. Ave., Miramar
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 24-0624
Fax: (53-7) 246635

Paradiso (Promotora de Tourismo Cultural de Cuba)
Address: Calle 26 # 106
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 32-6928 / (53-7) 32-9538
Fax: (53-7) 33-3921
E-Mail Address: paradis@turcult.get.tur.cu

Tourists’attractions:

Acuario Baconao
Address: Carretera de Baconao, Km.54
City: Santiago de Cuba , Province: Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (53-226) 663-5145
Fax: (53-226) 65-6156

Acuario Nacional
Address: Av. 1ra. No. 4508, Esq. 60, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 203-6401
Fax: (53-3) 204-1442

Arco Iris
Address: Av. 49C y 28A, Rpto. Kohly, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-5161
Fax: (53-7) 204-1008

Complejo Turistico Cultural Dos Gardenias

Address: Av. 7ma. Y 26, Miramar, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-2353 / (53-7) 204-9662

Complejo Turistico La Giraldilla
Address: 222, Esq. 37, La Coronela, La Lisa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-6062
Fax: (53-7) 33-6390

Convento de Santa Clara de Asis
Address: Cuba, entre Sol y Luz, Habana Vieja
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 61-5043
Fax: (53-7) 33-5696

Jardin Botanico Nacional

Address: Carretera Expocuba, Km. 3 1/2
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 54-9160
Fax: (53-7) 54-4184

Topes de Collantes
Address:
City: Sancti Spíritus , Province: Sancti Spiritus
Phone: (53-42) 54-0219
Fax: (53-42) 54-0117

Sightseeing tours:

Casa de la Obrapía
House/Mansion, La Habana Vieja
Address: Calle Obrapía 158, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/861-3097

Acuario Baconao

Address: Carretera de Baconao, Km.54
City: Santiago de Cuba , Province: Santiago de Cuba
Phone: (53-226) 663-5145
Fax: (53-226) 65-6156

Acuario Nacional
Address: Av. 1ra. No. 4508, Esq. 60, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 203-6401
Fax: (53-3) 204-1442

Arco Iris
Address: Av. 49C y 28A, Rpto. Kohly, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-5161
Fax: (53-7) 204-1008

Complejo Turistico Cultural Dos Gardenias
Address: Av. 7ma. Y 26, Miramar, Playa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 204-2353 / (53-7) 204-9662

Complejo Turistico La Giraldilla
Address: 222, Esq. 37, La Coronela, La Lisa
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 33-6062
Fax: (53-7) 33-6390

Convento de Santa Clara de Asis

Address: Cuba, entre Sol y Luz, Habana Vieja
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 61-5043
Fax: (53-7) 33-5696

Jardin Botanico Nacional
Address: Carretera Expocuba, Km. 3 1/2
City: Havana , Province: La Habana
Phone: (53-7) 54-9160
Fax: (53-7) 54-4184

Topes de Collantes
Address:
City: Sancti Spíritus , Province: Sancti Spiritus
Phone: (53-42) 54-0219
Fax: (53-42) 54-0117

TOUR OPERATOR REPRESENTATIVES:

CUBAN ADVENTURES INC.
E-mail: info@cubanadventures.com
FAX: 604-542-2251
TOLLFREE: ( Canada and U.S.A. ) 1-877-282-2386
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday – Friday
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
]]> http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-important-addresses/feed/ 0 http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-things-to-do/ http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-things-to-do/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:21:46 +0000 Blogger http://www.ucaribbean.com/blog/?p=230 DAYS III “FAST CAT”
“High Speed Catamaran to Dry Tortugas National Park” At the end of Elizabeth and Greene Streets
Key West, FL 33040
(305)292-6100

JUNGLE TOURS
“A ‘Wild’ Water Adventure through Exotic Mangroves”
US 1 Marina
Mile Marker 4.5 Stock Island
Key West, FL 33040
(305)292-3300

Key West to Cuba
Watersports And Water Tours

Key Cat
“Two Person Catamarans, Tours & Snorkeling, Clothed or Nude”
(305) 294-4515

MV DISCOVERY
“Key West Glass Bottom Boat! Narrated Tours of the Reef and Harbor”
Underwater Viewing Room, Tour Groups Welcome Land’s End Village and Marina
Key West, FL 33040
(305)293-0099 Fax (305) 293-0199

YACHT AMERICA
“Blue Water Cruises into the Gulfstream & Daily Sunset Sails. Watch the Most Famous Sunset in the World from the World’s
Most Famous Sailing Yacht.”
Reservations: 305-292-7787
or 1-800-TOUR-HTA

FLORIDAYS
“The Finest Sailing Yacht in the Florida Keys”
“Key West Snorkeling, Sunset Cruises & Private Charters”
Hyatt Resort Hotel
601 Front Street
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 744-8335 or 1-888-733-5455

SCHOONER WOLF
“Sail Away on the Flagship of the Conch Republic” Schooner Wharf at Historic Key West Seaport Located at Elizabeth & Greene Streets

CUSTOM GAY & LESBIAN CHARTERS
“Dive, Snorkel, Spearfish, Lobster, Fish, Kayak, Secluded Beaches, Gay Owned & Operated; Welcoming Family from All Over the World”
Cat Charters
(305)293-0487 or (305) 678-8982 (Pager)

SUNNY DAYS
“Reef Trips, Sunset Sails!”
Located at the foot of Elizabeth & Greene Streets
Key West, FL 33040
(305)296-5556

YANKEE FLEET
“Day and Sunset Reef Snorkeling”
Land’s End Marina (foot of Margaret Street)
Key West, FL 33040
(305)294-7009 or 1-800-634-0939

VEGAS WEST CASINO CRUISES “Win a Pirate’s Treasure” Where Las Vegas Meets Margaritaville
Key West Hilton Pier
(305) 295-7775

KEY WEST HOLIDAYS
“Expert Activitities and Accommodations Reservation Service by Locals who know Key West the best.”
Call Now: 1-877 546-5814

BITE ME CHARTERS of KEY WEST, LLC.
“Personalized, affordable offshore or backcountry trips. We have what you want!”
305-923-3060

SEAHORSE MARINA
“We Open Early for Your Fuel & Bait Needs!Your Best Spot for Jet Ski Tours and Rentals.”
5001 5th Avenue
Stock Island, FL 33040
(305) 292-9880

SUNSET WATERSPORTS
“Do it all! All Day Watersport Adventure at One Low Price!”
Key West Seaport
(at the end of William Street)
Key West, FL 33040
(305)296-2554

SUNSET WATERSPORTS “Parasailing, Waverunners, Sailboats, Windsurfing, JetSkis, & More!”
Smathers Beach
Key West, FL 33040
(305)296-2554

KEY WEST WATERSPORTS Aaron’s US1 Marina “Rents pontoon boats & powerboats”
U.S.#1, M.M 4.5,
Key West, Fl 33040
(305) 296-0075

NEPTUNE WATERCRAFT “Rents powerboats & waverunners
2319 N. Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 296-7929

TROPICAL SAILBOATS “Rents hobie cats, kayaks, windsurfers”
2 locations -Higgs County Beach / Smathers
Beach
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 294-2696

Nightlife:
Havana Nightlife – Bars in Cuba List

Café Cantante “Mi Habana”

Teatro Nacional de Cuba, Calle Paseo y 39. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-5713

Casa de la Música

Calle Galiano e/ Neptuno y Concordia. Ciudad de La Habana

Casa de la Música

Calle 20 No. 3308 esq. a 35, Miramar. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 204-0447 · 202-614

Chan Chan

Residencial Marina Hemingway. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 204-4698

Club Imágenes

Calle Calzada y C, Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-3606

El Cortijo

Hotel Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-4072

El Tucán

Villa Bacuranao. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 65-7645

Gato Tuerto Café Concert

Calle O e/ 17 y 19, Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 66-2224 · 55-2696

Habana Café

Hotel Meliá Cohiba. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-3636

Jardín de la Terraza

Hotel Lincoln. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-8209

Jazz Café

Calle Paseo y 3ra., Galerías Paseo. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 55-3170 ext. 121

Nightlife:
Havana Nightlife – Bars in Cuba List

Café Cantante “Mi Habana”

Teatro Nacional de Cuba, Calle Paseo y 39. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-5713

Casa de la Música

Calle Galiano e/ Neptuno y Concordia. Ciudad de La Habana

Casa de la Música

Calle 20 No. 3308 esq. a 35, Miramar. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 204-0447 · 202-614

Chan Chan

Residencial Marina Hemingway. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 204-4698

Club Imágenes

Calle Calzada y C, Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-3606

El Cortijo

Hotel Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-4072

El Tucán

La Zorra y el Cuervo Jazz Club

Calle 23 e/ N y O, Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 66-240

Las Bulerías

Calle L e/ 23 y 25, Vedado. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 832-3283

Macumba Habana

Calle 222 e/ 37 y Autopista, Reparto La Coronela. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-6390 · 33-6062

Mirador de Bellomonte

Vía Blanca, Alturas de Marbella. Ciudad de La Habana

Pico Blanco-Rincón del

Hotel St. John´s. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-3740 ext. 143

Ranchón

Hotel Bello Caribe. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 33-9906

Rincón del Bolero

Calle 7ma. y 26, Miramar. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 204-2353

Salón Rosado “Benny Moré”

Jardines de la cervecería “La Tropical”. Ciudad de La Habana

Salsa Caliente

Hotel Mariposa. Ciudad de La Habana
Teléfonos: (53 7) 204-9137

Amanecer

Hotel Sun Beach. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-7490

Arechabala

Calle Sáez No. 767 e/ Minerva Mercedes. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 52-4717

Bar Karaoke

Autopista Sur km. 11 ½, Plaza América. Matanzas

Caribe Mix

Hotel Arenas Doradas. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-6150

Disco-Bar Karaoke Memories
Hotel Arenas Doradas. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-6150

El Jagüey

Calle Luis Cuní, Viaducto Habana-Varadero. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 25-3387

El Kastillito

Ave. Playa e/ 48 y 49. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 61-3888

Fun Pub

Hotel Sol Palmeras. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-7009

Habana Café

Hotel Sol Sirenas-Coral. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-8070

Karaoke 440

Camino del Mar e/ 14 y 15. Matanzas

La Oliva

Hotel Varadero Beach Resort. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-8822

La Patana
Vía Blanca. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 61-9971

Mambo Club

Carretera Las Morlas km. 14. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-8565

Noche Azul

Calle 60 e/ 2da. y 3ra.. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-7415

Tropicuba

Hotel Sol Palmeras. Matanzas
Teléfonos: (53 45) 66-7009

Club El Benny

Ave. 54 No. 2709 e/ 27 y 29. Cienfuegos
Teléfonos: (53 432) 55-1105

Salón Primavera

Calle Máximo Gómez No. 51. Villa Clara
Teléfonos: (53 42) 3-699

Laguna de la Leche

Laguna de la Leche. Ciego de Avila

Rocarena

Cayo Coco. Ciego de Avila
Teléfonos: (53 33) 30-1431

Club Flamingo

Playa Santa Lucía. Camagüey
Teléfonos: (53 32) 3-6145
Sala de Fiestas La Cuba

Calle Independencia No. 208 e/ Martí y Hermanos Agüero. Camagüey
Teléfonos: (53 32) 9-

Bariay

Hotel Sol Río de Luna y Mares. Holguín
Teléfonos: (53 24) 3-0030

Night Club Bar

Hotel Breezes Costa Verde. Holguín
Teléfonos: (53 24) 3-0520

Amor Bayames

Hotel Royalton. Granma
Teléfonos: (53 23) 42-22

Bello Bar

Hotel Meliá Santiago de Cuba. Santiago de Cuba
Teléfonos: (53 22) 687070

Centro Nocturno

Hotel Costa Morena. Santiago de Cuba
Teléfonos: (53 22) 635- 6126

Club 300

Calle Aguilera No. 302 e/ San Pedro y San Félix. Santiago de Cuba
Teléfonos: (53 22) 65-3532

Club Nocturno

Hotel Versalles. Santiago de Cuba
Teléfonos: (53 22) 691-016 · 686-603

El Quijote

Hotel San Juan. Santiago de Cuba
Teléfonos: (53 22) 68-7200
]]> http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-things-to-do/feed/ 0 http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-things-to-know/ http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-things-to-know/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:17:33 +0000 Blogger http://www.ucaribbean.com/blog/?p=228 Time Zone* EST

Summer Sunrise/Sunset: 7:17 AM 7:29 PM

Winter Sunrise/Sunset: 6:03 AM 7:08 PM

Average Temperature Summer: 81 degrees F

Average Temperature Winter: 72 degrees F

Average Rainfall: 50

Rainiest Months: May-October

Water Temperature Summer: 80 degrees F

Water Temperature Winter: 77 degrees F

Average humidity: 75%-95%

Dry Season: August-November

Hurricane season: June-November

There’s boat and ferry service from the Cuban mainland
to several offshore keys. There number of marinas in
the central provinces with mooring space, electricity,
water, diesel, and other services. The largest operation
is Marina Puerto Sol (PHONE: 432/45-1241 in Cienfuegos;
419/6205 in Playa Ancón; 33/30-1737 on Cayo Guillermo).
Marina Marlin (PHONE: 33/30-1322 on Cayo Coco; 32/36404
in Playa Santa Lucía) is another good bet.

By Bus:

Cubans rely a great deal on an unreliable bus system —
one with crowded, badly maintained vehicles (even long-
distance buses, called especiales, are well below North
American and European standards), and slow service. Shuttle
and tour buses that cater to visitors are a better option
than public buses; most can be booked through your hotel or
at local offices of Havanatur (Calle 2, No. 17, e, Av. 1 y
Av. 3, Miramar, PHONE: 7/24-2161) and other state travel
agencies.

If, however, you want to experience Cuba the way Cubans do,
by all means, hop one of Havana’s famous camellos (so-named
for their humped, camel-like shape). Be aware, however, that
lines for these 300-passenger buses, little more than huge
tractor trailers, are often hundreds of people long, folks
are packed onto them like sardines in a can, temperatures
onboard are all but life-threatening, exact change
(10 centimos) is required, and most Cubans tell tales
(no doubt true) of pickpockets and lost watches and jewelry.

By Car:

The Vedado and Miramar districts have a New York City-style
grid plan with numbered and lettered intersecting streets
and avenues.

Car rentals in Cuba are expensive ($500-$600 a week), and
be prepared to leave a deposit of $500 or more. The car you
reserve may or may not be available when you arrive to pick
it up. Before setting out, check the car carefully for defects,
and make sure your car has a jack and spare tire. As roadside
assistance is handled primarily through car rental companies,
be sure to ask your rental agent for the most up-to-date
emergency number.

Reliable rental agencies include: Havanautos (Aeropuerto
Internacional Jose Martí PHONE: 7/33-2891), which has offices
at the airport and major hotels; Panautos (Calle Línea/Calle
7 y Malecón, Vedado, PHONE: 7/55-3298), which has offices all
over Havana; Transautos (Hotel Capri, Calle 21, e/Calle N y
Calle O, Vedado PHONE: 7/24-5532); and Transgaviota (Aeropuerto
Internacional Jose Martí, PHONE: 7/23-7000), which rents cars
with or without a driver.

By Taxi:

Modern, well-maintained tourist taxis, which charge in dollars,
congregate in front of hotels, transportation hubs, and major
sights. Rates are affordable by North American and European
standards. Metered cabs charge about $2 for every 10 km (6 mi)
traveled; verify the rate with the driver before setting off
to avoid any misunderstandings.

You can hire unmetered taxis particulares, private (gypsy) cabs
with yellow plates, for a day of driving around town for about
$25 (be sure to establish the fare before you set off, however).
Many of them are vintage cars — 1958 Chevy Bel-Airs and 1959
Cadillacs — which adds to the fun.

By Train:

Cuba has the Caribbean’s only comprehensive, passenger rail
system. An especial tourist train (with air-conditioning,
comfortable reclining chairs, and a food car) stops at major
cities from Havana to Santiago including: Las Tunas, Camagüey,
Ciego de Avila, Santa Clara, and Matanzas. Fares are reasonable;
the 15-hour, overnight Havana-Santiago train, for example, costs
$40 one way.

Most stations are open 8-4 daily. Although you can buy tickets
at station counters up to an hour before departure, it’s best to
reserve them ahead of time with Ladis (PHONE: 7/62-1770 main
ticket office in Havana).
]]> http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-getting-around/feed/ 0 http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-getting-there/ http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-getting-there/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:07:39 +0000 Blogger http://www.ucaribbean.com/blog/?p=224 There are scheduled flights arriving from Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe. The main gateways for US travellers is Cancun, Nassau and Toronto. There are direct flights available from the USA.
Cubana, Air Canada and Lacsa ( Toronto and Montreal to Havana ). Charters (Air Transat, Skyservice, Air Canada, WestJet).

Direct international scheduled and charter flights arrive at the Aeropuerto Internacional Antonio Maceo (tel. 22/69-1014; airport code SCU). Airlines regularly servicing Santiago include Air Jamaica, Air Transat, Condor Airways, Copa, and Cubana.

Cuba has two distinct seasons, rainy (May-Oct) and dry (Nov-Apr). The dry
season is characterized by consistently sunny and temperate weather, with
daytime temperatures averaging between 75° and 80°F (24°-27°C). However,
temperature swings are greater during this period, and it can actually get
somewhat chilly when cold fronts — or “northers” — creep down the eastern
seaboard of the United States. In contrast, the rainy season is overall a
warmer period in Cuba, with less dramatic intra-day temperature swings.
There’s a small dry spell most years during August, which is also the
hottest month to visit Cuba. The entire Caribbean basin is affected by an
annual hurricane season (June-Oct), with September and October having the

highest number of hurricanes.

Do I need a passport to visit Cuba?

Passport and visa required. For specific requirements, consult the Cuban Interests
Section, 2630 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009 (202/797-8518). AIDS test required
for those staying longer than 90 days. Attention: U.S. citizens need a U.S. Treasury
Department license in order to engage in any transactions related to travel to and
within Cuba (this includes the use of U.S. currency). Before planning any travel to
Cuba, U.S. citizens should contact the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets
Control, U.S. Department of Treasury, (202/622-2480).

Is the water safe to drink?

The water in Cuba is not nearly as bad as in Mexico or the Dominican Republic,
but it is not advisable to drink it. Bottled water costs 75 cents for 2 liters
in dollar stores, but is expensive when bought in hotels and bars.

Do I need electrical adaptors for my hairdryer/radio etc?

Electricity is 60 Hz 110 AC, which is the same as in North America, although
many hotels also have the European 220-volt system. Power surges and outages
are common.

Should I exchange my money for local currency?

Cuban Peso (peso) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of peso100, 50, 20,
10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of peso1, and 20, 5, 2 and 1 centavos. The US
dollar was also introduced as legal tender in 1993 forming a vital part of the
economy. But as of November 8 2004, Cuba has banned the use of US dollars in commercial
transactions – a response to the US’s tighter embargoes, which put caps on the remittances
Cubans living in the US were able to send back to the island. Dollars must now be exchanged
for Cuban pesos where a 10 per cent commission will be charged. In some tourist and large
urban areas, the Euro is also accepted. Hard currency must be used in most transactions.

Currency exchange:
Money should be exchanged at official foreign exchange bureaux, banks or international
air- and seaports, which issue receipts for transactions. ATMs are currently only available
in Varadero and Havana, but cash can be obtained in banks with visa credit or debit cards.

Currency restrictions:
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is
unlimited, subject to declaration of amounts exceeding US$5000 on arrival; export is allowed
up to the amount imported and declared. Generally, a maximum of pesos10 may be reconverted
to foreign currency for re-export at the end of the stay but it may only be reconverted on
presentation of a correctly filled out official exchange record.

Are there any airport fees?

During your visit to Cuba, keep aside $20-$25 US in cash as everyone must pay the airport
tax at the time of departure. It has to be paid after you check in and before you go
through immigration, and must be in cash as no credit cards are accepted (even from
non-U.S. banks).

What is the legal drinking/gambling age?

Thousands of Cubans fled Cuba and settled in Florida. By the late 1960s, …
A bill raising the drinking age from 18 to 19 is passed, however, all military …

Can I get married in Cuba?

Birth Certificate (if the groom -bride- is a Cuban residing in Cuba, he/she does
not require a Birth Certificate, the ID card will be accepted); if both are single,
Affidavits of Single Status; if divorced, Divorce Certificate; if widow(er), Marriage
Certificate and Death Certificate of the deceased spouse.

In the case of foreigners, all documents must be translated into Spanish and legalized
by the Consulate of Cuba to the Country of issue.

Can I bring my pet to Cuba?

Pets are permitted entry with the proper vaccinations and documentation. Contact
your nearest Cuban embassy for more information.

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
In Canada: www.embacuba.ca; Ottawa, (613) 563-0141, cuba@iosphere.net, cuba@embacuba.ca;
Toronto, (416) 234-8181, cubacon@on.aibn.com; Montreal, (514) 843-8897, cubamtl@cedep.com
In the UK: London, (020) 7240 2488, embacuba.lnd@virgin.net

What about fishing?

You can fish throughout the entire island, as a reward you are able to capture coveted
pieces, such as, the Pez Vela, Aguja Blanca, Wahoo, Bonito, Dorado or the incredible Marlin…

Marina Hemingway and its surroundings are one of the best zones to fulfill high and thorough
fishing, for that the prestigious fishing tournament of Hemingway is known internationally.

THE CUBAN CONNECTION INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS CENTER

Now Offering The Following Fishing packages for All of Cuba

SALT WATER FISHING TRIPS

The Cuban Connection and ETXEA Charters rents luxury Yachts, which are situated in the
Marina Hemingway of Habana (Cuba). The association with MARLIN, allows us to offer
different types of Yachts at the most economical prices throughout the whole Caribbean.

They offer an excellent day of fishing on board of one of our Yachts, All the boats
provide for a minimum of four fishing lines, natural and artificial bait, fishing poles
and reels of high quality. Mini cruises are arranged to suite the clients. Special
discounts offered for 7
days or more.

RATES / PRECIOS
BOATS ETXEA II CREOLA II FANTASEA COSTA AZUL
4 HOUR TRIP $420.00 $480.00 $440.00 $360.00
6 HOUR TRIP $580.00 $640.00 $620.00 $500.00
8 HOUR TRIP $700.00 $800.00 $760.00 $560.00
24 HOURS/LIVE ABOARD $900.00 $900.00 $900.00

SANDWICH Y BEBIDAS INCLUIDOS / SANDWICH AND DRINKS INCLUDED

THESE RATES ARE BASE ON 4 PAX PER BOAT, ADDITIONAL PAX $50.00 EACH

FOR RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION CALL:
US/CANADA 1-800-645-1179
ALL OTHERS 941-793-5204
FAX: 941-793-5204
E-MAIL: cubanconnection@yahoo.com

Can I use a metal detector on the beaches?

There are no restrictions on the use of metal detectors.

Where are the “clothing optional” beaches?

You are permitted to go nude on all the beaches on the island, however full nudity
is usually confined to the Beach in front of #7 Villa Capricho (which is the western
most hotel on the island). Approximately 70% of the occupants on the Villa Capricho
beach are nude. The capricho beach is very beautiful, however the last Hurricane has
eaten a lot of that beach, so you are confined to sitting on the rocks because there
is not very much beach left in that area. You can take a very long nude walk several
hours east of Capricho on the beach, but don’t forget to bring a good pair of hiking
shoes because you have to climb over four sets of rocks. During low tide season, more
beach is exposed and you may not have to climb all the rocks. If you love to walk,
then this place is for you.

What is there to see or do in Cuba?

Casa de la Obrapía
House/Mansion, La Habana Vieja
Address: Calle Obrapía 158, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/861-3097

Casa Natal de José Martí
Architectural Site, House/Mansion, Museum/Gallery, La Habana Vieja
Address: Calle Leonor Pérez (Paula) 314, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/861-3778

Castillo de la Real Fuerza
Military Site, Museum/Gallery, La Habana Vieja
Address: Plaza de Armas, e/Calle O’Reilly y Av. del Puerto
(Calle Desamparado/San Pedro), Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/861-6130

Catedral de la Habana
Religious Site, La Habana Vieja
Address: Plaza de la Catedral, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/861-5213

Centro Wifredo Lam
Museum/Gallery, La Habana Vieja
Address: Calle San Ignacio 22, esquina de
Calle Empedrado, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/861-2096

Cine Charles Chaplin
Film, Vedado
Address: Calle 23/La Rampa, e/Calle 10 y Calle 12, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/831-1101

Club Ipanema
Dance Club, Miramar
Address: Hotel Copacabana, Av. 1, e/Calle 44 y Calle 46, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/204-1037

Café Paris
Bar, Music Club, La Habana Vieja
Address: Calle San Ignacio 22, esquina de Calle Obispo, Havana, Cuba
Phone: no phone

Carmen Montilla
Arts Center, La Habana Vieja
Address: Calle de los Oficios 162, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 7/33-8768

Cuba is a great place, can I move there?

Documents showing he/she is required to stay in Ecuador for work related purposes
and that his/her stay will be supported by the company/agency. Labor contract
legalized by an Ecuadorian Labor Court. Technical or specialized professionals or
industrial training personnel need a working permit from the Ministry of Labor.
Managers, legal representatives, or executive officers, with also require a
certificate from the Superintendency of Companies. Validity: According to the
appointment. Fee: $50 US.

What about island hopping?

Moron / Sugar Rail
Learn everything about the Cuban culture visiting a sugar factory,
travelling in an antique train, visiting Moron and a crocodile farm.
Also enjoy a great boat tour through the mangrove at the Redonda Laguna
and a typical Cuban lunch. The perfect day for the whole family.
Price – approx. $65 USD Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Note: Moron Day Tour only on Tuesdays and Thurdays for $30 USD

What about Crime?

Cuba is considered free from any threat of global terrorism, but has an increasing
crime rate. Visitors are warned that theft from baggage during handling is common,
and valuables should not be packed in suitcases. Be wary of pickpockets and bag
snatchers in major tourist sites and on buses or trains. Tourists are warned that
mopeds and three-wheel Coco-Taxis have been involved in serious accidents and
visitors are advised not to use them for travel around Cuba.

Cuba is probably the safest place in the world to walk the streets, but there are
a few desperadoes around who snatch chains and handbags and then run off.

Why are there police on almost every corner?
The police are there to keep the streets safe, prevention being better than cure.
They are not only in tourist areas but also in the community. Cuba is probably the
safest place in the world, largely due to a police presence on the street. You can
safely walk the streets at any hour of the day or night. But still be careful,
exceptions prove the rule.

Can I access the Internet from Cuba?

There are several places where Internet services are provided. They are the
following, among others: Havana: Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Hotel Meliá Cohiba,
Hotel Meliá Habana, Hotel Habana Libre Tryp, Centro Internacional de Restauración
Neurológica (CIREN), Club Habana, Villa Panamericana, Capitolio de La Habana,
Cámara de Comercio de Cuba, Empresa CITMATEL, Hotel El Bosque, Hotel Bello Caribe,
Hotel Telégrafo, Hotel Neptuno-Tritón, Hotel Copacabana, Hotel Riviera, Hotel
Victoria, Hotel Presidente, Hotel Inglaterra, Hotel Plaza, Hotel Sevilla. Varadero
beach: Hotel SuperClubs Puntarena, Hotel Tuxpan, Hotel Kawama, Hotel RIU Las Morlas,
Hotel Iberostar Barlovento, Hotel Varadero Internacional, Hotel Cuatro Palmas,
Villa Cuba, Hotel Arenas Blancas, Hotel Solymar Beach Resort, Hotel Arenas Doradas,
Hotel Iberostar Taínos, Hotel Playa de Oro, Hotel RIU Turquesa. Cayo Largo: Hotel
Sol Club Cayo Largo. Cayo Coco-Cayo Guillermo: Hotel Sol Club Cayo Coco, Hotel Meliá
Cayo Coco, Hotel Sol Club Cayo Guillermo, Hotel Meliá Cayo Guillermo, Villa Cojímar.
Holguin province: Hotel Costa Verde.

Most hotels now have internet services, but it can be pricey. Internet cafes are
becoming common. ETECSA phone centers also provide comfortable and inexpensive
services.

Available at hotels and some Internet cafes. ISPs are limited. The main providers
include Cubaweb (website: www.cubaweb.cu).

Internet Cafes:

Bar Jaruco
tel: (537) 860-8201
Email: cliente_si@yahoo.com

Can I use my cellular telephone in Cuba?

Phones from the UK cannot be used. Cellular handsets can be hired from
Cubacel. Roaming agreements exist with Canada and some European and Latin American
countries, although not with the USA or UK. For further details, check online
(website: www.cubacel.com). GSM 900 network by C_Com has limited coverage.

Most of the island is still on an analog communications system. But for a setup
fee and hefty charge per minute, you can use your cell phone in Cuba.

What is the Dress code in Cuba?

Dress in Cuba is casual. Still, it is unacceptable to wear bathing suits, short shorts,
and short tank tops in public. Light cotton clothing is sufficient although you may want
to dress a little more formally for fine dining and theatre events. Guayaberas, the
straight-bottomed shirts worn untucked by men, are acceptable at formal functions.
You may want to bring a light sweater/jacket for evenings and for use in air-conditioned
facilities.

Do you need a driving License?

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road; speed limits are normally posted
and generally respected. Taxis are available in busy commercial and tourist areas;
radio-dispatched taxis are generally clean and reliable.

You must show your passport and driver’s license in order to rent a car. The
driver must be at least 21 years old; the license could be international or
from your country but at least a year old.

The principal Cuban east-west highways are in good condition but lack lights. Night
driving should be strictly avoided outside urban areas. Secondary rural roads are
narrow, and some are in such bad condition as to be impassable by cars. Due to the
rarity of cars on rural roads, pedestrians, bicycles, and farm equipment operators
wander onto the roads without any regard to possible automobile traffic. Unfenced
livestock constitute another serious road hazard.

You are liable for traffic fines, failure to pay would mean incurring a debt with
the State. We recommend you buy a “Road Guide of Cuba” which is very helpful for
finding your way around on the roads.

Emergencies Contact Information?

In most cases you will want to dial tel. 116 for any emergency. This is technically
the number for the police, but it seems to be gaining acceptance as a national number
for any type of emergency. Alternately, you can dial tel. 114 for an ambulance, and
tel. 115 for the fire department. The three-digit emergency numbers are part of an
ongoing effort to institute a national program for emergency response. However, in
some areas of the country it is still not fully functional. At none of these numbers
can you assume you will find an English-speaking person on the other end. Dial 113.
Operators do not speak English.

Police Nationwide, you can dial tel. 116 for police, although you shouldn’t expect to
find an English-speaking person on the other end of the line. In general, the police
are quite helpful and not to be feared. Bribery and graft are not an issue. In the
event of robbery, the police are your best bet, but for physical emergencies or other
threats of serious danger, you are probably best off contacting your embassy.

Ambulance (PHONE: 40-5093). Fire (PHONE: 81-1115).
Highway assistance (PHONE: 7/33-6558). Police (PHONE: 7/82-0116).

Asistur (Paseo Martí/Prado 254, Centro Habana, PHONE: 7/62-5519)
specializes in helping tourists in trouble. It can handle anything
from insurance claims and lost luggage to repatriation of the
deceased.

Hospital Emergency Rooms

Clinica Central de Atención a Extranjeros Cira García (Calle 20,
No. 4101, Mindanao, PHONE: 7/24-2811), just across the Río Almendares
and in a district near Miramar, is dedicated to medical care for
foreigners. Considered the best hospital in Havana, the clinic handles
emergencies expertly and pleasantly and expects payment in dollars.

Embassies and Consulates

British Embassy (Calle 34, No. 708, Miramar, Havana, PHONE: 7/33-1771).

Canadian Embassy (Calle 30, No. 518, Miramar, Havana, PHONE: 7/33-2516).

U.S. Special Interests Section (c/o Swiss Embassy; Calle Calzada,
e/Calle L y Calle M, Vedado, Havana, PHONE: 7/32-0550 or 7/32-0551).

What are the entry requirements in Cuba?

All visitors must have a valid passport and a tourist card, which can be issued
by travel agents, airlines or the Cuban consulate, as well as an onward or return
ticket and sufficient funds for their stay.

US citizens, before traveling to Cuba, should contact the Licensing Division,
Office of Foreign Assets Control, US Department of Treasury at (202) 622-2480 or www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sanctions/sanctguide-cuba.shtml. Nationals
of other countries may require visas. Consult your nearest Cuban consulate
or embassy.

What is the lanquage in Cuba?

The official language is Spanish. Basic English and some French are spoken in
tourist areas.

What are the store hours in Cuba?

Mon-Sat 0900-1800, Sun 0900-1200.

Cubans love to window shop, and love the idea that there is now something to buy inside.
The most popular are shoe stores. If you want to know if someone has access to dollars,
look at their shoes.

The normal limited collection of duty free shops, bars and restaurants are available on
both sides of the customs and immigration barriers. There are also cigars freshly rolled
available for sale in the departure lounge. There is a small hard currency shopping mall
a five minute walk from the terminal with several small stores it one cannot find their
last minute gifts in the terminal’s stores.

The best place to start is Lambton Quay, which has three linked arcades, and Capital on
Quay, at 250 Lambton Quay (tel. 04/473-8868).

The Markets — James Smith Market, 2nd Floor, 55 Cuba St., at Manners Street
(tel. 04/801-8812), features 25 shops open daily.

Shopping for Souvenirs — The always-popular Great New Zealand Shop, 13 Grey St.
(tel. 04/472-6817), has a huge range of gifts, jewelry, and crafts as well as wool
knitwear, Maori carvings, and America’s Cup souvenirs.

Store hours are usually Monday through Friday from 9am to 5:30pm, Saturday from
9am to 4:30pm, and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

What about tipping?

Tips are very important supplemental income to the low wages most workers earn.
Although some restaurants include a 10 per cent service charge, you may wish to
tip the wait staff an additional five to 10 per cent. In general, tip waiters and
waitresses 10 to 20 per cent (at buffet-style establishments tips $2 to $5); maids
$1 per day; porters $1 per bag; and about $1 for anyone providing a service to you,
such as taxi drivers, guides, restaurant musicians, and so forth.

Can you use credit cards?

MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted at hotels, car-rental agencies, and official
restaurants and shops, with the caveat that they must not be issued by a United States
bank or financial institution. Diners Club is also accepted, although to a much lesser
extent. American Express cards are not accepted anywhere on the island. It is always
best to check with your home bank before traveling to see if your card will work in Cuba.

Most paladares (private-home restaurants), casas particulares (private-home accommodations),
and small businesses do not accept credit cards. In the more remote destinations, you should
count on using cash for most transactions. Moreover, shaky phone connections and other
logistical problems often get in the way of credit card usage. I actually saw some British
travelers unable to use a card at a major hotel because the hotel was out of receipt tape,
and they weren’t sure when they would get more.

If your credit card is lost or stolen while you’re in Cuba, contact Fincimex in the
Tryp Havana Libre hotel on Calle 23 and M, Vedado, Havana (tel. 07/55-4466 or 07/33-4444).

Travellers cheques:
US Dollar, Sterling and other major currencies are accepted, but US Dollar cheques issued
by US banks are not acceptable (including overbranded cheques from other banks worldwide).
The white exchange paper received upon encashment must be retained.

Is there a best time to visit the island?

There isn’t a bad time to visit Cuba. The hot, rainy season runs from May to October
but winter (December to April) is the island’s peak tourist season, when planeloads
of Canadians and Europeans arrive in pursuit of the southern sun. Cubans take their
hols in July and August, so this is when the local beaches are most crowded. Christmas,
Easter and the period around 26 July, when Cubans celebrate the anniversary of the
revolution, are also very busy.

Is there an airport?

Havana (HVA) (José Martí International) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city.
Bus and taxi services to the city are available (travel time: bus – 1 hour; taxi –
20 to 30 minutes). Airport facilities include duty-free shops, bank and bureau de
change, tourist information/hotel reservation, restaurants and bars, and car hire.
There are also international airports at Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo,
Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Manzanillo, Santiago de Cuba and Varadero.

What about Taxes?

When leaving Cuba, every person must pay US$25 departure tax.

What about Banks?

Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1330-1500, Sat 0830-1030. Hours may vary and banks may be
open all day in larger cities.

Cuba has a slowly expanding network of ATMs (automated teller machines)
associated with a string of new banks, like the Banco de Crédito y Comercio and
Banco Financiero Internacional. At present, the machines are still not universally
compatible with international credit and debit cards. No credit or debit cards
issued by U.S.-based companies will work at any of these machines. However, travelers
from other countries have a decent chance of being able to extract convertible pesos
from ATMs at the international airport and most major tourist destinations. As with
credit cards, it is always best to check with your home bank before traveling to see
if your ATM card will work in Cuba.

Convenient Access to Your Money — One option for U.S. citizens wanting to carry
plastic or make wire transfers to Cuba is the Transcard International (tel. 905/660-5558 ).
This Canadian-based company allows you to transfer money into a personal account and then
issues you a PIN-activated debit card that is good at over 4,000 points of sale in Cuba,
and can also access a decent network of ATMs around the island. The company charges a
handling fee for each deposit into your account; if you deposit small amounts, this gets
quite expensive. The fee for a deposit of up to $51 is $10; however, for up to $1,000
it’s $40.

In Cuba, traveler’s checks are accepted at most major hotels, government-run or chain
restaurants, and major attractions, but far less readily than credit cards. The same
prohibition against U.S. bank-issued tender applies for traveler’s checks, although the
Banco Financiero Internacional and some CADECA branches were cashing American Express
and other U.S. bank-issued traveler’s checks at press time. If you are a die-hard fan
of traveler’s checks, Thomas Cook (check www.thomascook.com to find your nearest branch)
and Visa (tel. 800/227-6811, or 0800/89-5078 in the U.K.) traveler’s checks issued outside
of the United States are still your best bet. Most banks, CADECA offices, hotels, and
businesses charge commissions of between 1% and 5% for cashing traveler’s checks.

Calling to and from Cuba?

IDD to Havana only. Country code: 53. Outgoing international code: 119. Phonecards
for both internal and external calls are readily available from shops and kiosks.
Some calls must be made through the international operator, and may be subject to
delays.
]]> http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/cuba-faqs/feed/ 0 http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/about-cuba/ http://ucaribbean.com/blog1/2008/12/26/about-cuba/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:51:00 +0000 Blogger http://www.ucaribbean.com/blog/?p=220 WHY CUBA?
Natural beauty, unique culture…

HISTORY:
Cuba’s first inhabitants were indigenous people who arrived by sea, following the trade winds westward from the coast of Venezuela along the islands of the Caribbean. Little evidence remains of the first indigenous people, the Ciboney (or Guanahacabibe), who began settling the island about 1000 BC. The Ciboney lived along the coast and survived by fishing, hunting, and gathering plant foods. They lived in small, seminomadic clans and left no written record of their society, religions, or languages.

A more warlike group, the Arawak, reached Cuba in two waves, beginning with the sub-Ta?s, who arrived about AD 900, gradually pushing the Ciboney to the western third of the island. The Arawaks lived in thatched houses and were governed by caciques (tribal chiefs). They survived by fishing and collectively working gardens, where they grew cassava, maize (corn), beans, sweet potatoes, yucca, tomatoes, and pineapples. They also grew tobacco, which they used for religious ceremonies and medicinal purposes. A second migratory wave, the Ta?s, swept into the eastern coastal area of Cuba from the neighboring island of Hispaniola in the 15th century, just before the Spanish conquest.

When explorer Christopher Columbus reached the island on October 27, 1492, Cuba’s indigenous population numbered approximately 112,000, with 92,000 sub-Ta?s, 10,000 Ta?s, and 10,000 Ciboney. Columbus claimed the island for Spain, the nation that had sponsored his voyage.

PEOPLE / CULTURE:
The population of the Dominican Republic is predominantly mulatto, and there are small black and white minorities. Few people are descended, even indirectly, from the indigenous Taino peoples, who were largely decimated by disease, warfare, and the effects of forced labour shortly after their first contact with Europeans.

The largest island of the West Indies group (equal in area to Pennsylvania), Cuba is also the westernmost—just west of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 90 mi (145 km) south of Key West, Fla., at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The island is mountainous in the southeast and south-central area (Sierra Maestra). It is flat or rolling elsewhere. Cuba also includes numerous smaller islands, islets, and cays.

The island thus occupies a very important strategic position, commanding, as it does, the entrances to the Gulf of Mexico. It has a length of almost 750 miles from east to west, and its width varies from 100 miles, at the eastern end, to 30 miles in the western portion. Its area is about 45,000 square miles, including the Isle of Pines, which lies immediately south of its western extremity. It is therefore a little less in size than the State of Virginia, and about the size of England. It is divided politically into six provinces in the following order from west to east: Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Puerto Príncipe (Camagüey), and Santiago de Cuba.

Cristofolo Colombo discovered Cuba October 27, 1492, and gives the name of Juana inthe honour of the first-born son of Catholic Kings, in that first trip recognized the east of the island and in its second trip the southern coast traveled advancing a lot toward the occident, however, until its death he believed – or he wanted to believe – that Cuba was not an island but rather it was part of the continent. Sebastián Ocampo is owed the first complete turn-around of the island, carried out in 1509, although already from 1498 it was believed that it was an island as a result of a secret trip attributed to Alonso of Ojeda or Vicente Yañez Pinzón accompanied by Juan de la Cosa. Sebastián Ocampo’s turn-aroud navigation cleared all the doubts about the insularity of Cuba and also clear the mystery halo that wrapped it, according to him -Ocampo – the indigenous population was peaceful, and exist good cultivation lands and good bays like those of Jagua (Cienfuegos) and Havana and this knowledge opened finally the route to the colonization of the island.

The War of Ten Years began October 10, 1868 with the Scream of Yara (Grito de Yara) given by Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, a rich and learned farmer of oriental region, and it extended until May of 1878 when was signed the Pact of the Zanjon among the Cuban and Spanish forces, pact that was refuted by the General Antonio Maceo in the well know “Protesta of Baragua” called himself and not accepted by other heroes of the war like General Calixto García. The war got rid fundamentally obviously in the oriental and central region of the island where the cane plantations and the economy suffered an enormous damage, being practically intact the occident of the country.
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