| Upon the arrival in Cuba, foreigners usually get in the | | | | regulated as well: only chicken or beef dishes can be |
| resort zone, where Cuban economic troubles won't | | | | served in such cafes. But the precious sea inhabitants |
| affect them for sure, at once. They have | | | | are the national heritage; common Cubans have no |
| "smorgasbords" in 5-star hotels, diving, sea outings on | | | | right to catch them. According to the recently issued |
| yachts to coral reefs and lobster lunch here. The | | | | law, if a lobster is found in the refrigerator at a |
| service is excellent, the staff is smiley, the territory is | | | | Cuban's place, the refrigerator will be confiscated. |
| enclosed, and native people are not allowed even to | | | | When you want to communicate with the local |
| bathe in the local sea. However few foreigners can | | | | population, go to famous «Floridita» bar, |
| boast of having seen real Cuba: the tourist zones are | | | | where Hemingway was the frequenter. Hemingway |
| the states within the states that have little to do | | | | represents a peculiar epoch to Cuba. There are a lot |
| with the Island of Freedom... | | | | of places in Havana, where he liked to be; there is his |
| The majority of tourists buy tours to Varadero, a | | | | table, chair, favourite bench in the park, favourite |
| Cuban resort. Varadero was considered to be the | | | | cocktails, with the recipes of which he "entrusted" his |
| best beach in the Caribbean Basin before the local | | | | descendants. And his favourite seat near the |
| revolution. American millionaires had even preferred it | | | | stanchion in the corner of «Floridita» bar, |
| to Jamaica, until the communists came to power. | | | | where a small orchestra with the violoncello, violin and |
| Divers represent a special category of tourists here. | | | | accordion plays songs to the order, and the visitors |
| The matter is that the sea around is the largest | | | | sip "Daiquiri" made of rum, lemon juice, sugar and |
| cemetery of ships in the world. The route to Europe, | | | | maraschino. One more place in Old Havana is |
| along which Spanish galleys exported gold from the | | | | connected with his name as well - «La |
| New World, passed here. The ships often sank | | | | bodeguita del medio», the bar and the |
| because of the overload. According to the scientists' | | | | restaurant. "Mohitos", rum with ice and mint, which is |
| calculations, 400 vessels sank in the port of Havana | | | | a less dainty, but more traditional Cuban drink, is in |
| alone. | | | | vogue in this bar. |
| Small An-26 fly to the other side of Cuba, the island | | | | By the way, if you are a great admirer of rum, go to |
| of Kayo Largo, from the airport of Varadero. | | | | Rum Museum some time. You will be offered to |
| Sometimes it is called "the only Caribbean island that | | | | compare various sorts of the strong drink there, and |
| has preserved the quiet and the charm of the | | | | you will realize the difference between Havana Club, |
| nineteenth century". Playa Esmeralda, the most | | | | which is famous all over the world, and odd |
| beautiful beach of Cuba, Guardalavaca, the famous | | | | Guayabita del Pinar, which is produced nowhere else |
| beach with the magnificent coral reef and Playa | | | | in the world. "Having degusted to your heart |
| Peskero with the extremely beautiful seabed are | | | | content", buy a bottle of seven-year-old rum in order |
| situated here. The sand is wonderfully white there, | | | | to regale the friends at home. It will cost only 7 |
| the sea is never stormy, and the hotels that work | | | | dollars. |
| according to «all inclusive» system are | | | | Of course, one should sip rum holding a cigar in hand. |
| jam-packed with the Europeans. | | | | The best-known Cuban cigars are of |
| But if you want to see real Cuba, go to Havana. The | | | | Воlivаг sort, with the |
| history of the city has been traced from 1515. The | | | | smack of dry earth and spices, of |
| splendid mansions of the Spanish colonization period | | | | Соhiba, La Gloria Cubana sorts and of |
| neighbour upon the socialist buildings here, | | | | noble and expensive Hoyo de Monterrey sort. Cuba |
| ultramodern skyscrapers -upon the ramshackle hovels | | | | even opened a special hotel for experienced smokers |
| of the outskirts. The private houses or the | | | | to spite the Americans, who create hotels for |
| "particular" represent the most exotic and cheap | | | | nonsmokers. It is called "Conde de Villanueva" and is |
| variant of lodging here. It is possible to find such | | | | situated in the marvelous building of the city mansion |
| "private boardinghouse" only if you take a Spanish | | | | of the XVIII-th century in Havana. There are only |
| dictionary with you and pester some local with the | | | | nine rooms of a huge size on two storeys of the |
| question. One can find a "particular" with all | | | | total area of 2,5 thousand square metres. Each of |
| conveniences in the centre of the city for 20 dollars | | | | them has been given its own name, which is |
| per day and a couple of dollars for the "guide". | | | | connected with the concrete sort of cigars, and the |
| In order to follow the style, we advise to eat in | | | | prices for the daily lease here strike imagination. And |
| private institutions called "paladar" as well. Every | | | | a small smiley Cuban sells the same cigars for several |
| resident of Havana acquired the right to open a small | | | | dollars under the hotel window covertly, and it is |
| restaurant consisting of three tables for 12 persons in | | | | more pleasant to smoke them than those that are |
| his/ her own flat as the present from the | | | | sold for dollars in currency shops for foreigners, to |
| government several years ago. The unauthorized | | | | tell the truth... |
| augment of seats is severely punished. The menu is | | | | |