Port of Call: Havana, Cuba

Beautiful architecture and historic cars in Havana. Photo courtesy of mylifesamovie.com.

Mingle with locals and experience a place untouched by time in Havana, Cuba. Immerse yourself in unique opportunities, fascinating culture, and timeless sights.

Hemingway’s Havana

Ernest Hemingway at his Finca Vigia residence – then and now. Photos courtesy of www.hemingwaycuba.com and Tom Cochrun.

Encounter Havana through the eyes of author Ernest Hemingway! Visit Finca Vigia, the novelist’s residence-turned museum immortalizing his 20 years in Havana. Stroll through the village of Cojimar and take a break beneath the monument dedicated to Hemingway. Stop in to La Terraza de Cojimar for a sweet Don Gregorio cocktail or La Floridita for a Hemingway Daiquiri. Finish at the Hotel Ambos Mundos and discover Room 511, Hemingway’s first residence in Cuba.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana. Photo courtesy of www.viajarelcaribe.net.

Explore the world-class art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts. Dedicated to showcasing exclusive Cuban art collections, one can view artwork spanning from colonial-era paintings to Cuban masterpieces to contemporary artwork. Artists to look for include Guillermo Collazo, Rafael Blanco, Raúl Martínez and Wilfredo Lam.

Almacenes San José

The views outside of Almacenes San José are just as sweet as the treats you’ll find inside. Photo courtesy of Trip Advisor.

At Almacenes de San José, Havana’s craftsmen have an ideal place in which to exhibit and sell their creations. Full of excellent souvenirs for loved ones and friends, this bustling market will bring out the “kid in a candy store” in all art lovers.

Plaza de la Revolución and El Capitolio

The Jose Marti memorial at the Plaza de le Revolucion. Photo courtesy of www.planetware.com.

A must see for any history buff, the 11-acre Plaza de la Revolución, or Revolution Square, and El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building, are the administrative focal points of Cuba. Stand on the grounds where some of Cuba’s most important political rallies took place and gaze upon the former seats of the Cuban government before the Revolution in 1959.