Cuba in November

Old Aug 17th, 2016, 03:20 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cuba in November

I'm heading to Cuba for about two weeks in early November. While I'll be joining a group, we will be heading into the countryside and far from Havana for most of our trip. There will be scuba diving, horseback riding, snorkeling involved.

For those of you experienced with Cuba, your thoughts are much appreciated. I've been asked to bring and drop off American magazines at random, casually, at cafes and various places. Any other tips of this kind would be welcomed.

My Spanish is passable but not very good. I can get by. As a journalist I'm interested in learning about the culture, but am also well aware of the limitations. Europeans who travel here regularly, or those who have been recently, what are your suggestions and ideas?
Thanks to all in advance.

I'll be providing a trip report.
jhubbel is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2016, 06:09 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Who recommended that you bring American magazines? I don't think that's a good idea. Cuba is still a country that censors the press. If you are going to do this, stick with innocuous publications. No Time. No Economist. No anything that would raise eyebrows. My advice would be no magazines, period.

Don't publicly identify yourself as a journalist, unless you've gone to the trouble to get a journalism visa from the Cubans. They're suspicious of such things.
Jeff_Costa_Rica is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2016, 02:20 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
We has some fashion mags that I picked up at Gatwick on the way out and I left them behind at our Casa in Havana just because I thought that our hostess or the girls who did the cleaning might like them! Certainly nothing political like Jeff says.

and I definitely wouldn't go leaving anything behind in a cafe - they will simply think that you've left it behind by mistake and run after you!

Stumped for something to take with us [and very glad we didn't take clothes as there seems to be no shortage to judge by the fashions being worn] we took sweets and biscuits, which were very well received by our hosts. but actually the biggest gift you can give is your time to chat to the people you meet an stay with. My Spanish was execrable but they were very forgiving.

your trip sounds a lot of fun but I hope you get the chance to have a good look round too. when you say that you're going to be far from Havana, where are you going?
annhig is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2016, 08:43 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,137
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
<I've been asked to bring and drop off American magazines at random, casually, at cafes and various places.>

Why are you doing that? Who "asked" you to?
suze is online now  
Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 12:44 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I find these responses highly instructive which is precisely why I passed this advice along. The Cuban husband of a high school friend offered me this advise. Mind you he lives in Miami, goes to Cuba often and has no love for the current regime. In fact he was so toxic I had to excuse myself from the conversation as I don't much care to have my first impressions of a brand new country ruined.

My typical magazines, when I travel, are pure fluff. Stuff like Vogue or Bazaar. I write about travel, that kind of journalism, as there are many, many kinds of writers. Not all journalists are hacks.

From what I can recall of the itinerary (I don't have it in front of me at the moment) it's a big circular route, aimed at getting us out to dive, horseback ride, and explore, staying in people's houses. This sounded perfect to me. It will all be very controlled, natch, but still.

I'm a rider, a diver and writer- and adventure traveler. This is a soft trip in that regard. My interest is in seeing the country before too many American hotels are built. That will happen soon enough. Thanks for your responses.
jhubbel is offline  
Old Aug 22nd, 2016, 02:18 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
jhubbel, I would just leave them behind in the houses you stay in, rather than in random cafes or bars.

sounds like a fun trip. I'm sure you will enjoy meeting your hosts - for us being able to chat to the casa owners we stayed with was one of the highlights of the trip as was talking to the other travellers we met who came from over 20 countries.
annhig is offline  
Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 07:23 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Would love to here about your trip and look forward to reading your report. I would be careful if not weary about dropping off magazines at certain points ...


Other than that it sounds like you're in for a nice trip .
Delishbajansauce is offline  
Old Aug 26th, 2016, 07:19 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can't wait and thanks all again. I"ll be very circumspect.
jhubbel is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 07:18 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Anyone have any suggestions on best items to bring back for a non drinker and non smoker?
jhubbel is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 11:20 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Hi jhubbel,

we did bring back cigars [a life-time's supply for DH] and rum [ditto for both of us!].

but we also brought back the following:

coffee beans from the Cafe El Escorial in the Plaza Vieja - the beans are sold from a counter just inside the left-hand entrance to the cafe as you look at from the square; you may have to queue but you can have a coffee while you wait! This is where our casa owner said he bought his and there were many locals in the queue with us. We didn't buy enough, [only 2 kgs]; we should have bought twice the amount as it was very good and we've not found anywhere in the UK where we can get it.

chocolate from the museo del Chocolate in Old Havana [corner of Mercaderes and Amargura [very cheap and good, go early or late to avoid the queues] Again, buy twice as much as you think you want.

musical instruments [most markets will have a selection] - they are very light to pack, though perhaps a little bulky.

A painting [it cost more to frame than to buy, but oh well]. They rolled it up to ensure it wasn't damaged and it survived the trip very well.

Jewellery - from the craft market at the Centrale end of Obrapia [in Havana] - there is a stall where a girl makes jewellery out of old cutlery which is very stylish and original.

A handbag made out of the ring-pulls from the local beer cans from DD - we only saw these in Trinidad. There was also some lovely lace there but we didn't buy any - we weren't sure whether it was chinese or not! [you do need to check that the things you are buying are actually made in Cuba!]

A very nice top for me, and another for DD - not cheap but unique - bought from another shop along Mercaderes.

A couple of CDs by bands we listening to - one was pretty good, the other is rubbish.

Overall souvenirs were very cheap and fun to get - I would advise getting them when you see them as what you see in one place may not be available somewhere else, which is of course part of their charm. And you feel that you are contributing to the local economy.

Good luck!
annhig is offline  
Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 09:12 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"My interest is in seeing the country before too many American hotels are built. That will happen soon enough."
It might take another 10 years. IMO there's plenty of time to see things.
There is currently a lot of new construction of hotels in Varadero for example, but it is all at the end of the peninsula where the AI type hotels all exist already, none in the "town" area.
Even if the economy opens up, it might be years before people (esp. those not in tourism; those in tourism are doing OK already) can upgrade their lifestyle enough o change what YOU can see and, say, buy new cars.

Souvenirs in Cuba, besides rum and cigars, mostly had to do with the 1950s cars---paintings of all sizes, toy cars in various materials (wood, clay, old metal beer/soda cans), license plates with paintings of cars, magnets, T-shirts, bags, etc, etc.
There are also crude leather goods (compared to Mexico, Brazil for vastly better quality--in Cuba they use big holes to hold pieces together) and lots of cheap (badly made) jewelry.
The most interesting and striking souvenir I found was in one stall in Varadero (nowhere else). A woman was selling sets of striking Cuban butterflies her friend had caught and elegantly mounted in frames. Surprisingly they survived the trip home in perfect condition and were not tagged by Customs on entry. They are a beautiful addition to my walls at home.
SambaChula is offline  
Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 09:19 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I brought inexpensive knock-off baseball caps from my local (famous)team, which were well received by the men I gave them too, and some cosmetics and earbuds as well. Casa owners and others who deal with tourists have what they need though. Money you spend with them often goes to help poorer relatives.

If you want to bring OTC medical supplies, the main synagogue in Havana (Vedado neighborhood, where you should go look at old mansions anyway) has a distribution project (to all in need, not just those of one faith), and is a reliable drop off point with convenient hours.
SambaChula is offline  
Old Oct 25th, 2016, 04:21 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
GREAT ideas all, and thank you again for your time and ideas. The coffee sounds like a terrific idea. I have two dedicated coffee drinkers in my life who are addicted, and they have become quite spoiled by my spoils. Each time I come from some Third World country I am usually packed to the gills with a few pounds of local beans.

I can think of several folks who would love something reminiscent of the orphan cars (New Zealand has its share of those, too, but not like Cuba)and that's a great idea. Chocolate and coffee? Yum. Can hardly wait. I can practice my salsa steps while standing in line.

Oh- and annhig, the rubbing I brought back from Angkor Wat, perhaps ten bucks? Two hundred dollars to frame. Sigh. But boy is it gorgeous up over the mantel. Story of our lives, right? Not so with the honest to god real deal papyrus I just brought back from Egypt, which was not banana paper, but the stuff made with 24kt gold, crushed rubies, that cost a genuine fortune? Yeah well. That's going to all sit quietly until my sobbing credit card account recovers, and then I will limp back over to the framer and and beg for mercy.

Yes. It's worth it.
jhubbel is offline  
Old Oct 25th, 2016, 11:54 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Salsa was invented in Miami. Rumba is from Cuba, via Africa.
SambaChula is offline  
Old Oct 25th, 2016, 12:10 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
but the memories, jhubbel, are priceless!
annhig is offline  
Old Oct 25th, 2016, 06:14 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
YOU BETCHA!!!

As for origins of any dance steps, SambaChula, I've no clue, and make no claims to know. I simply happen to know a lot of Latin dances, salsa among them, and learned my best salsa steps from a Cuban street dancer. I'm not a dance historian. I just happen to like to dance salsa. And cumbia, and a bunch more. Just pure joyful movement.

Annhig, I'm working on a third book right now that with any luck will be a compilation of best stories. However it's going to require staying home long enough to get some serious writing done. The other ( very attractive) option is to rent a cabin on a storm swept cliff in Ireland.

Man I like that idea.
jhubbel is offline  
Old Oct 26th, 2016, 05:55 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My point is: If I'm traveling to a certain place, it's usually for local atmosphere (YMMV), and I simply like to hear the rhythms native to a particular country, not what's been brought in from outside, what's presented for tourists, or what I can hear everywhere at home. But, yes, local young people may want to keep up with the rest of the world in the music they listen and dance to, so the latter situations are wide spread. I did find that when I expressed a knowledge and appreciation of the unique Cuban rhythms, the people dancing/playing them expressed their pleasure that a non-Cuban visitor valued their traditions.
SambaChula is offline  
Old Oct 26th, 2016, 10:29 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you and your group need a tourist guide. There is a well known group: Nosotros Cubaneamos, they even have a site: http://nosotroscubaneamos.com where they announce every tour guide with prices(really low btw) and you can make previous booking too on the site http://nosotroscubaneamos.com/reservacion/ which is really good.
What I like about Nosotros Cubaneamos is that the guide shows you everything: the cuban culture, the cuban history, something they call: "cubanear", and that's something that is worth. Hope you have an excellent trip!
lbarrosop is offline  
Old Oct 26th, 2016, 11:45 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
jhubbbel - you should not want for opportunities to dance in Cuba if you want to do so. there are loads of dance clubs, casas de musica, and many restaurants have a band that you can dance to. you'll have a ball [literally!]

ibarrosop - I am well disposed towards Cubans and their fight to earn a decent living, but advertising is not permitted here.

Just so as you know.
annhig is offline  
Old Oct 26th, 2016, 12:18 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You should make sure to go to the Callejón de Hamel on a Sunday for rumba. Alexander Michel (Caron), a good English speaker who is usually thereabouts, can guide you around to see the art as well and introduce you to the artist.
SambaChula is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -