Follow Me to Cuba!

Cuba has been on my travel destination list for years. I can’t stroll through Pinterest or Instagram without seeing amazing curated images of the island. So last month after graduating from grad school(yay!), I snuck away to the beautiful island for ten amazing days. The week was spent in Old Havana and then a weekend was spent in Varadero for the lush blue seas. I didn’t think it was possible, but I’ve fallen in love with Cuba. From the historic buildings to the classic cars and mojitos, Cuba is the best of times and the worst of times – a truly magical place.

Havana
Arriving in Havana midday called for food from a popular tourist spot, Art Pub Restaurant not too far from my airbnb. Stepping outside for the first time was rough. Let me explain: As someone who prides herself on being a seasoned traveler, there was a bit of environment shock. Havana is the perfect depiction of beauty and ugliness coexisting in perfect harmony. The buildings, although in need of repair, are so beautiful and charming. There’s so much character in the city. I won’t lie though that it took my eyes some time to get used to the run-down buildings, which were probably equivalent to the Louvre in magnificence. Cuba’s people are just as magnificent, if not more. On a classic car tour in this amazing pink convertible, I found out that, Angel, the driver is 29 years old, a certified mechanical engineer who drives as a side hustle, engaged and loves Te Bote as much as I do. (If you don’t know Te Bote, do yourself a favor and listen to it after you finish reading this post). Oh and that he’s a fantastic photographer — y’all see these bomb pictures?!

Pro tip: Do the classic car tour for at least 2 hours and wear a hat!

After the classic car tour with wonderful Angel, cigar and rum shopping from the official cigar store was the next thing on the agenda. If you’re like me and don’t have time to travel to Viñales, this is the next best thing.
Pro Tip: Do not buy cigars from the street. Most of them are fake. Go to the official cigar store.

In essence, Havana days were filled with endless walking, museum hopping, bottomless mojitos, eating along Obispo street and Plaza Vieja, cafe con leche & cigars.
Occasionally afternoons included venturing inside Hotel Inglaterra or a nearby WiFi park to check emails. It was so nice being disconnected from Pres Cheetos latest tweets and “self-made” billionaires.

Pro Tip: The 1 hour WiFi cards are 2 CUC! The 5 hour cards are 8 CUC! Don’t be like me and buy the 1 hour card for 5 CUC.

One of my favorite part of Cuban culture is the prominence of art. Street art was everywhere. From an art gallery showcasing the work of local Cubans near Plaza Vieja to street graffiti, the artwork was so vibrant. I literally wanted to buy everything.

You can’t go to Cuba without going to Fabrica de Arte Cubano aka FAC. FAC is an art gallery turned dance club, restaurant with outside rooftop seating. Honestly, this place is huge. It has a very young hip vibe – a good blend of Western and Cuban influences. I highly recommend going there for a fun night out.

Pro Tip: A taxi to FAC from Old Havana is between 6-8 CUC, not 15 CUC. Thanks Jon & Alessandra for the pro tip!
Varadero
Unlike Havana, Varadero is super touristy and there isn’t much to do besides the beach. The demographic is also very different from Havana. Let’s just say there’s a lot less diversity. Discrimination is very real in Varadero and in those moments, I remembered why black travelers are necessary – representation matters.

The last day and a half back in Cuba was spent in Havana, grabbing a bite at La Vitrola in Plaza Vieja & meeting up with a Cuban couple we met at a WiFi park a week before. Jon & Alessandra are the sweetest human beings I’ve ever met, and spending the night dancing salsa in their living room while Jon made some bomb cocktails. It was an amazing night with new friends to end the trip.