Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
El Floridita is a famous bar and restaurant in the center of La Habana, Cuba. I had dinner there on my 30th birthday and enjoyed the drink invented here: the Daiquiri – a cocktail made from rum, sugar and lime. It is the signature drink of the bar founded in 1871, named La Piña de Plata (“silver pineapple”) then. Continue reading “El Floridita”
When it comes to rum, I always prefer Havana Club. Authentic Cuban rum, not that Bacardí stuff from the Bahamas, produced by a company supporting el bloqueo. Therefore it was clear that I had to visit the Museo del Ron Havana Club in the historic city center of La Habana, Cuba. Continue reading “Museo del Ron Havana Club”
Cuba is a paradise for lovers of old US-American cars. Everywhere you can see old Chryslers, Chevrolets and Fords cruise the country. If you call a taxi it might by a trip 60 years into the past. During the Cold War the US created a trade embargo in 1960 and the people kept and repaired their classic cars. Continue reading “Ride a Chevrolet”
Coppelia is the state-owned ice cream parlor in Cuba, offering different flavours of ice cream – highly appreciated on hot days. The store in La Habana, Cuba has 400 employees and serves 35.000 customers a day. Coppelia was created by a project led by Fidel Castro who wanted to introduce dairy products into Cubas daily life. Continue reading “Coppelia”
The Museo de la Revolución is a museum in La Habana, Cuba. It is located in the neo-classic presidential palace, decorated by Tiffany & Co. of New York, United States. The last user of this building was dictator Fulgencio Batista; when the Cuban revolution succeeded it was turned into a museum. Continue reading “Museo de la Revolución”
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba located at the Malecón in La Habana, Cuba is a national institution – and was for me the best location for my 30th birthday. It was opened in 1930, closed after the revolution and only used to host diplomats and government officials until 1991 when Cuba reopened for tourists. Continue reading “Hotel Nacional de Cuba”
The Hotel Los Jazmines in Viñales, Cuba offers the best views of the island. All rooms have balconies with rocking chairs directed towards the mogotes – isolated hills that kept standing when the rest of the karstic area was lowered by water floating underneath. Continue reading “Hotel Los Jazmines”
The Valle de Viñales belongs to the Pinar del Rio region of Cuba and is maybe the most beautiful landscape I’ve seen on the island. I reached my hotel – the Los Jazmines on a hill outside of Viñales – without knowing anything about the area. And the view on the green valley with the mogotes was absolutely stunning. Continue reading “Valle de Viñales”
The Cafetal Buenavista is a ruin of a coffee plantation located 1.5 kilometers away from the eastern entrance of the nature protection park Las Terrazas on Cuba. It was built by French refugees from Haiti in 1801. Continue reading “Cafetal Buenavista”
The Baños del San Juan are a set of natural pools in the nature protection area Las Terrazas, Cuba. From the Hotel Moka you’ll have to go three kilometers to the south on a narrow and unpaved road. Doing this trip is worth the effort as you can swim with locals in wonderful pools created by a river. Continue reading “Baños del San Juan”