American Havana: Cuba's capital is rekindling an old romance with its cold war rivals.
The Company members of dance production Ballet Revolucion all come from the various beautiful provinces of Cuba. They give their top tips for travelling there.
Name: Nadiezdha Valdes Carbonellis From: Centro Havana
"Start your days early and wear comfortable shoes to roam the streets of Old Havana (La Havana Vieja). The capital city is a fascinating and captivating attraction in the Caribbean. Standouts are the various old buildings such as the Cathedral, the Convent of San Fransciso de Asis and la Plaza de las Palomas. Stop by La Floridita or la Bodeguita del Medio for a mojito and listen to some old school Cuban tunes. If walking isn't your thing, hop into an Almendron, which can take you from the Capitol and the Gran Theater down to the Paseo del Prado where you can sit down on the Malecon (Boardwalk) Habanero to mingle with the locals."
Downtown Havana. Photo / 123RF
Name: Barbara Patterson Sanchez From: Originally from the province of Holguin but has since moved to the capital to study at the Ballet School in Havana. She loves her neighbourhood of the Vedado
"You can take a walk to la Plaza de la Revolucion and visit the museum there. The view of the city on top of the Jose Marti monument is outstanding. My favourite dining spot is the Riomar restaurant in Miramar. Fellow company member Glenda Garcia Gomez is also a native of Havana and recommends two restaurants, La Fontana and Cafe Presidente, which provide amazing service."
Name: Yuniet Meneses Solis and Yeleny Aguirre Camacho From: Villa Clara, just a few hours south east of Havana, a land of legends, parties and tradition
"You can find many monuments dedicated to the Revolution and Che Guevara and enjoy the beautiful colonial architecture. If you go to the coast you can enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean in Cayo Santa Maria, a small island in front of the north coast of Cuba. Further east is Cayo Coco, which is known for its white sandy beaches, its coral reef and a native colony of pink flamingos, one of the biggest in America.
Cayo Coco, a tourist destination in Cuba. Photo / 123RF
If you prefer hiking and nature, then head south from Villa Clara to Cienfuegos, stopping along the way at the colonial town of Trinidad, known for its outstanding architecture and its cobble stones streets. The neo-baroque style main square boasts various colonial palaces like the Museo Romantico in the Palacio Brunet. The Nicho Waterfalls are also a highlight of this beautiful region."
Name: Yordi Perez Cardosois From: Cienfuegos, also commonly known as the Pearl of the South
"One of my favourite walks is along the Prado towards the Malecon. The Hotel Jagua is popular for its dining and hospitality. In the centre of the city around the Jose Marti central park you can find some important buildings dear to all the natives, like the Tomas Terry Teatre."
Name: Leandro Tamayo Cruz From: Holguin
"If you have more time on the island and are able to venture further east you can go to Holguin. It is known to be the city of parks, as there are many in the city, but the province is also known for its beaches like Playa Pesquero and Playa Esmeralda. The mirador of Mayabe is renowned for its view and I love to take visitors there to admire the beautiful landscapes. Keep an eye out for Pancho the donkey, who drinks beer!"
The cast of Ballet Revolucion, which returns to Auckland's Civic Theatre on June 1-2. Photo / Sven Creutzmann
