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