Havana and Varadero, Cuba
August 29, 2010 7:47 pm places to visitI travelled to Cuba on an all-inclusive Thomas Cook holiday. I visited Havana (the capital) and its surrounding areas, and Varadero (on the coast). Cuba was a favoured haunt of Ernest Hemingway and tourists still visit his hangouts (see my photos for more details).
I recommend Thomas Cook as a travel company and if I’m not travelling independently, always choose them for package tours. Click on the image below to check their competitive prices:
Old American car in Havana, Cuba
American cars from the 1950s can be seen everywhere alongside newer cars imported from France.
Traffic surrounding Parque Central
The traffic that circulates around Parque Central is a mixture of old American cars, horses and carriages for tourists, and more recent imports.
Paseo de Marti (Prado), Havana, Cuba
Paseo de Marti leads from Parque Central towards the Capitol building.
Hotel Ambos Mundos, Havana, Cuba
American novelist Ernest Hemingway stayed in Hotel Ambos Mundos and frequented two bars nearby, La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita.
Old city of Havana, Habana Vieja, Cuba
The old city of Havana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Fountain in Plaza de San Francisco, Havana, Cuba
The Fuente de los Leones is modeled on one found in Alhambra, Granada, Spain.
View to port near Old Havana, Cuba
It is a short walk from Habana Viejo (Old Havana) to the port area.
Plaza de Armas, Old Havana, Cuba
This colonial square houses a second-hand book market among tropical vegetation and Baroque buildings.
Plaza de la Catedral, Havana, Cuba
Catedral de San Cristobal is a Baroque cathredral in Old Havana that is a magnet for tourists.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes houses works of art from all over the world in two separate buildings.
Artwork by Roberto Fabelo at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
Ten giant cockroaches with human heads created by Roberto Rabelo climb the exterior of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba. The artwork was created in 2009 and titled "Survival".
Museo de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba
The Museo de la Revolucion is housed in the former presidential palace of the dictator Batista. The grounds show the tank used to attack US ships in the Bay of Pigs in 1961.
Sculpture by Rita Lonja, Cuba
The modernist sculpture of Rita Lonja stands outside the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
Old cars parked in front of Hotel Telegrafo
Parque Central
Parque Central is surrounded by grand hotels and historic buildings.
Old American car, Cuba, Havana
Old American car, Cuba, Havana
Local form of transport in Havana, Cuba
Apartment blocks, Cuba, Havana
View from Hotel Nacional, Havana and Cuban flag
The Cuban flag flies in front of the Hotel Nacional, one of the most famous hotels in Cuba.
