Cuba......part deux

[Zigatoh]

'tired of the beach' ? what is this 'tired of the beach' which you speak of??

[Bad-Yeti]

LMAO I just realised, how the hell do you put suncream on your back on your own :S

[Zigatoh]

Just bathe in it before going out

[Ryan]

Thanks for the tips Ryan, great write up.

The reason I was looking to go to Varadero as it's all inclusive and It's going to get pricey in Havana and I am on a bit of a burget, unless Havana is cheap that is?

I will certainly look into the places you mention, they sound great.

Looking forward to getting a glass top box of Cohibas Actually they're probably better than the real ones.

Reference the girls I take it you are talking the "working" type or is it just a fact that Cuban women have a penchant for English guys

Really looking forward to this, might do 4 nights in Havana then 4 in Varadero.

Many thanks

If it was me, I'd certainly go for more nights in Havana. Cuban people are really nice and very friendly.
Given the state of the country, many will be looking to make something from you but, as often as not, they are simply happy to talk to a foreigner and hear a little of the outside world.
As for "working girls" or not, it depends on how good your spanish is, it's very handy to have some though you don't really need any, you'll get by with people who have some english. Even the "working girls" can be very nice and great fun, I don't (nor anyone I travel with) go for anything more than a chat, I have a wife who would be a little upset if I did, to say the least. I suppose the thing to remember is, they're people.
Cubans often have, let's say, a more liberal attitude towards sexual relationships than most Europeans or North Americans.
Having said all that, no harm in meeting someone and taking them out to dinner if you like, they'll be very happy for the meal and you, for the price of a dinner, and maybe their taxi, will find out more about the country and the people than you would from any guide book or cigar magazine. They won't spike your drink or take you up the mountains and rape you.
If the hustle and bustle/language/people ever get too much for you, you can always retire to the air-conditioned calm of the Saratoga or the hotel Parque Central lobby, very edible burger in the Parque central by the way. Always ask for it well done.
Many guys in the street in daytime and most at nightime in Havana Vieja will offer you "cigars, Cohiba, chica", 99% of the time a simple "no, gracias" puts an end to it.
I misspelled "Bar Monserrate" in my last post by the way.
Restaurants in Havana worth checking out, El Aljibe, well known for the chicken, all you can eat for 12.50 cucs. El Palenque, similar but pork rather than chicken. El Templete/La Barca in the harbour, very good seafood and very edible steaks.
My favourite at the moment, El Guajirito on Zulueta in Havana Vieja, spanish/tex mex stlye decor, very good cuban food, very nice waitresses and in the space next door there are flamenco classes every evening from 5-8pm which are lovely to watch.
Vistamar in Miramar does Cuban and decent Asian in a converted modernist house with a pool right on the edge of the sea, very nice.
La Moraleja in Vedado, right around the corner from the Havana Libre hotel (cigar shop well worth a look in that hotel by the way, roller in the lobby rolling panetelas that are some of my favourite cigars ever, 1.50cuc each). Moraleja, great food, trying new things and mostly succeeeding, free cigar at the end of the meal. Discovered thanks to Nino in November, I'll be there again in a few weeks.
Bring a pocket sized notepad with you, you'll get tips, info, directions, recommendations and phone numbers all the time that will be handy. If you bring pens, bring black biros, black ink, for whatever reason, is in short supply in Cuba at the moment.

[Fratton]

An hour or two at the rooftop of Ambos Mundos chilling is a must. We stayed in Varadero and did a two day in Havana/Pinar Del Rio - the other half fell in love with the place. There was some bitching on TripAdvisor about mossies at the far end of Varadero but, to be honest, we never had any issue. Beach is great but gets a little windy late PM. Poeple are the best I've come across, never had any issues at all and had a great (under the counter) diving experience in the Bay of Pigs that will never be topped (thresher shark encounter). We cant wait to get back but NHS pay cuts make this unlikely at present ....