Havana

Cuba was one of those places that I had always wanted to visit for many years and in particular I wanted to visit while Castro influence was prevalent on the island as this means it offers a rare experience as it one of only two socialist command economy systems left in operation after the opening up of many other new markets. My concern that once Castro goes the Americans will begin to move in again, not this time with guns and tanks but Starbucks and McDonalds, a far more sinister form of invasion in my opinion. No visit to Cuba is complete without spending time in the time warp that is Havana and this was our first port of call when we landed. We stayed at ...

Havana, capital of Cuba and the largest city in the Carribean, is a city of stark but pleasing contrasts. It is probably best known for its historic quarter which was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in the early 1990s. As beautiful and impressive as "Vieja Habana" is, this is just one aspect of this bustling and energetic city. Havana comprises three main and very distinct areas - Habana Vieja (Old Havana), Centro and Vedado. Using public transport it is possible to move between these areas quickly if your time in the city is limited, but it is far better to devote separate days to each area since Havana's main sites of interest are ...

Spam, ham, chopped pork and tongue; six innocuous words and yet they form a who’s who from the premier league of packed lunch legends. The only omission? Why none other than the prince of processed meats, the one the only and the incomparable, capital c capital b -Corned Beef. Versatile, cheap and packaged in its unique type of tin, this family staple has long been a favourite of mine and yet society shuns it. Indeed society looks down upon it “Argentine muck,” I hear some say “Botulism in a box,” comment others and it makes me sad. But then, day of days, I stare in disbelief. In Havana, in a supermarket, in a gleaming, ...