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October 26Jan 14, 2009
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| The next day we moved to the Accor-owned Hotel Sevilla Habana. In quality terms, if the Parque Central was an 8 out of 10, the Sevilla was a 4. Many things, from the plumbing in the bathroom to lights in the tiny bedroom, were absent or simply didn't work. However, being just a two minute walk from the Parque Central, we were still in the area we wanted to be. We spent the next few days exploring on our own. Spending hours at the Museum of the Revolution, acquainting ourselves with a few local bars soaking up the atmosphere and alcohol, walking, walking, walking, eating, drinking, enjoying. The buildings here may look as if they are about to collapse but clearly the government is more concerned with people's health, education and welfare -- the substance -- of the community than the style. And Havana is a delight to walk around, through,in; it always felt safe although some pretty severe pot-holes in the streets worried me. And you can believe what is said about music being everywhere here: it's true. Every little bar, even several hole-in-the-wall types had at least a singer and many a four- or five-piece band. Unfortunately, no trance music that we could find! We paid an visit to Hemingway's favourite Bodeguita del Medio for a few daquiris as well as the roof-top bar at Hotel Ambos Mundos, another of Hemingways haunts for a piss-up. On our final day, towards the end of another aimless but fascinating walk, we found another paladar, the "Bellamar" which was literally in the front room of someone's house that opened up on to the street. It was so small that despite the sign outside we weren't sure it was extant. However, as I popped my head through the front door to sneak a peek, the owner motioned for us to enter. Yee-ha! What a find. Again, service with a smile (as we found throughout our all-too-short stay in Havana.) The menu here was much more limited than at La Guarida; simpler more home-style than world-class but very tasty and washed down with a few bottles of Bucanero, the whole meal for the two of us including drinks and tip was less than $20. |
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