Get Inspired / Central America / Cuba Havana Good Time! Share on email Print this article Share on Facebook Get Inspired / Central America / Cuba Havana Good Time! story by: Anna Sarjeant Some cities are as raw and transparent as an open-air museum, Havana is one of those cities. Cuba’s diamond in the rough, Havana is an imperfect beauty. It’s a city where history stands still; its turbulent past reading like chapters written across the streets. From architecture that presents a cocktail of beauty and decay, to the 1950s cars robbed of their retirement, Havana offers insight into a country that once prospered, before surrendering to politics, manipulation and power. A juxtaposition of incredible wealth fractured by years of instability, the crumbling streets are freckled with cathedrals and palaces, opulent balustrades and grand patios. Art deco theatres nudge neo-gothic churches and hint at a past that was once rich in prosperity. But for every palatial façade there exists a whisper of poverty and the tell-tale signs of decay. Corroding architecture that’s so far from repair you can almost hear it creaking. And skeletons of old colonial buildings; painted brightly but peeling badly. And yet amidst all this confliction there remains an un-dwindling Caribbean optimism; Havana residents are the world’s friendliest receivers of tourists; inherently proud that their city possesses such an irresistible magnetism. From the classic American cars that clutter the streets to the delicious mojitos, iconic cigars and the face of Che Guevara on every postcard, magnet and cigarette lighter within a 50km radius, the people of Havana know - more so than anybody - that their great city, albeit ragged and ram-shackled, is by far one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Viva la Cuba! Click here for all our Central America deals. Enquire Now First name* Last name* Email* Phone How can we help? My preferred House of Travel Store* Select Outlet Auckland Auckland Central: Ellerslie Auckland Central: Newmarket Auckland Central: Parnell Auckland Central: Ponsonby Auckland East: Howick Auckland East: St Heliers Auckland North: Albany Auckland North: Browns Bay Auckland North: Devonport Auckland North: Milford Auckland North: Orewa Auckland North: Takapuna Auckland North: Whangaparaoa Auckland South: Botany Junction Auckland South: Takanini Auckland West: Hobsonville Auckland West: New Lynn Bay of Plenty Mt Maunganui Papamoa Rotorua Taupo Tauranga CBD Tauranga: The Crossing Canterbury Ashburton Timaru Christchurch Barrington Christchurch City Church Corner - Upper Riccarton Ferrymead High St Lanes Hornby Merivale-Shirley Northlink Rangiora Riccarton Hawke's Bay Hastings: Jenny Nilsson Havelock North Manawatu Palmerston Nth: Broadway Palmerston Nth: The Square Nelson / Marlborough Blenheim Motueka Nelson Richmond Northland Kerikeri Whangarei Otago / Southland Alexandra Balclutha Dunedin Lakers Invercargill Wanaka Taranaki New Plymouth Waikato Calder & Lawson: Hamilton East Coromandel: Whangamata Hamilton City: Cnr Bryce & Victoria St Morrinsville Taupo Te Awamutu Wairarapa Masterton Wanganui Wanganui Wellington Paraparaumu: Kapiti Coast Wellington Central: Brandon Street CBD Wellington Central: Hunter St CBD Wellington North: Johnsonville Wellington North: Lower Hutt West Coast Greymouth Westport I would like to receive email updates on the latest HOT holiday deals * required fields Your privacy is very important to us. By proceeding, you confirm you have read and agree on behalf of all travellers to our Privacy Policy, and consent to the transfer of personal information to overseas travel providers and other supporting entities for the quote and any travel services to be facilitated and processed (acknowledging that they may not be subject to the same standards of privacy protection as applicable in New Zealand). Done this? Tell your friends about it.
