Cuba these days is a rather fashionable tourist destination. Tourists head out there, looking to enjoy the beaches, the wonderful weather, the diving and the salsa. And while all of these provide wonderful diversions for Cuba holiday makers, they are also often entirely artificial, created purely for the tourist market that invariably laps it up. For some, this is not enough, but with the tourist industry largely built on these foundations, where can you find the real Cuba on your holidays?
The answer surprisingly lies in the nation’s capital, Havana. Though it is a popular tourist area, the real Cuba lies in its narrow side streets and dusky alleys. The city’s history dates back as far as 1515, and if you’re really serious about seeing the real country you will be prepared to forgo the 5 star resorts touted around the internet in favour of a private house or ‘particular’. This will give you a real sense of living on the island in a style more in line with the locals, and has the added bonus of costing no more than $20 per day for one in a prime city centre position – perfect for the standard Cuba holiday sightseeing.
If you have not been sent running for the Varadero beaches by the experience, it’s time to continue living the Cuban life with a lesson in gastronomy – a “paladar” will provide this. Some years ago, citizens of Havana won the right to open a restaurant (serving no more than 12 people at a time) in their homes, restricted to serving only chicken and beef dishes. Locating one of these will not only give you an insight into how Cuban people live in the capital, but will give you a taste of the real Cuban cuisine rather than the tourist equivalent.
Being a guest in a Havana citizen’s caf