Getting married in Cuba....any tips?

bingo_bango

Hi,
my OH has finally worn me down, and we've booked a beach wedding in Cuba next March. Will be in Havana for the first three nights, then up to Varadero for the rest of the fortnight. Anyone got a list of places to go, and things to see?

Especially interested in Music, food, architecture, rum and history. Not necessarily in that order.

Cheers.

Saint_Chris

Hi and how nice for you.

get yourself over to tripadvisor and join there forum there, as you will get lots of advice.

gustav

Saint_Chris wrote: »

Hi and how nice for you.

get yourself over to tripadvisor and join there forum there, as you will get lots of advice.

Bit frosty aren't we?

pboae

Music - I don't know if you can fit it in, but if you can, then go down to Baracoa. The Casa de Trova there is the best music club on the Island. There are flights from Havana twice a week, it's too far to travel by coach or car.

Food - Forget it, in the all inclusives you'll get typical 'international' (i.e. hotel) food. Outside of the resorts you'll get what you're given. (Don't be surprised to be given a 10 page menu, only to find they only actually have bread, eggs or rice available, don't forget the locals still have ration books). There's a few restaurants around in Havana, El Patio was beautiful but the food and service dire. El Aljibe was much better, but it is a fair way out, and although the food was some of the best we had there, that's still not saying much. There's a great Paladar on Jovellar, between Infanta and San Francisco. I think it might only be open on weekends, I can't remember the name but it has a sign, and it is the only one there (on the left walking down from Infanta). Tip well in restaurants, the staff in the state run ones need it to supplement their wages, and the paladars need it to help with the huge taxes they have to pay. Don't even go to a restaurant or paladar with a hustler (jintero) in tow. You'll pay an extra $5 CUC to cover his fee.

Architecture - it's everywhere, you can take walking tours around the city too, or just look around you.

Rum - The Rum museum at the Club Havana building is good fun, the tour is pretty short but it's interesting to see, and they have a reasonable shop at the end.

History - The Museum of the Revolution and Gramma are interesting, if you don't speak any Spanish you'll have to skip through some of it, but there's loads of photos and memorabilia as well. Plus the building is beautiful.