Just days before we left for Cuba we met a couple for lunch. He’s a close friend and his wife lived in the same neighborhood as I.

Last year when we told them we might visit Cuba, he went off describing how awful/backwards the country was and she told us he was being a little hard on the country. They both told us when they drove to different parts of the country visiting his family, good food (or just food) was hard to find.

When we met them recently and told them we were leaving soon for a long weekend holiday she did come out and warn us,………drink bottled water and you might consider bringing health/snack bars with you.

Their last visit was during the 90’s (?) when Cuba was going through some tough times.

Some of the meals we ate,…….







There is some good and bad about the pictures above. Food was great,….and maybe some of the best Cuban food I have ever tasted,……….But as we were told, the food you see above is out of reach for most Cuban families. Even though fishing is still regulated by the government (some government sponsored fishing boats) a lot of suppliers will sell (black market) to the restaurants that service tourists (Not just Americans). Those restaurants will pay more for the catch than what they can get from Cubans.

One of the nicest restaurants (and most popular in Havana) we had a chance to visit was El Cocinero. Trendy as of this date and the food was excellent. It was a dilapidated cooking oil plant before they converted it over to a restaurant (51% owned by the government – 49% owned privately,.a handful of Cuban artists). Their food is not pictured above.



Oh and before I go any further,…El Cocinero restaurant reminded me. The first night I was there I saw a young one. Friggin’ drop dead gorgeous! She wasn’t only stop traffic beautiful,…….she was cause accident beautiful. I thought to myself if the “now” girlfriend ever pushed me out the door, I’m heading for Cuba and not leaving until that young one came with me. During the full second day of visiting the island I saw better looking ones than during the first evening and even more the next evening at El Cocinero.

OK enough about pretty women and food. There is more than enough in Cuba.

Our accommodations were so much more than I had expected. We stayed at the Saratoga while in Havana. At one time the lower floor used to be a tobacco factory. We did see a few other very nice hotels in the area and were told they might be just as nice or nicer than the Saratoga.





Since I referenced tobacco to the hotel we stayed at I should mention Cuban cigars. I purchased two boxes for 60.00 US each from the Cuban girl with us for a few guys that I know who enjoy smoking them when given the opportunity. I’ve been old they are the best.





While in Havana we spent a lot of time visiting historical sites. There were a few places that caught my attention. The quality of the workmanship of the refurbishing/renovations which I was aware of were outstanding.

The Capital Building was one,…..



Across the street from the Capital Building stood the refurbished Alicia Alonso Grand Theater (aka Havana Grand Theater) which was recently re-opened. Day and night shots,........





Monserrate Street. It was partially built (those stones you see in the center of the roadway) from the wall that used to encircle old Havana





Top floor, pink building, corner room is where Ernest Hemingway would stay while visiting,.......



And yes of course we saw old cars (drove in one also). Some in disrepair and some very well kept,.....



For you Americans,........

Being an American I had to visit Cuba under one of the twelve authorized categories. I visited under the People to People category, so I spent a lot of time visiting historical sites in Havana. However, I was given a good amount of free time in our itinerary and took advantage of it. I roamed the streets freely without a guide.

Just a suggestion,...if you want to visit (like most tourists) try to find a licensed Cuban guide (over the net) that will set up an itinerary for you (something the Cuban authorities would have no problem with, as a full schedule of events). You should be able to enter the country with that. From there,.visit the guide once or twice and do as you wish while on the island.

I spoke to our licensed Cuban guide and asked her if she would accommodate us the next time we visited bypassing her agency and she didn’t have any problem with it.

El Cocinero: elcocinerocuba.com/en/imagenes

Saratoga: www.hotel-saratoga.com/

It is unique, but our tourist dollars (in the long run) might help (in many ways) more Cubans. I got that from a Cuban while on the island.