Havana, CUBA
Airing Date: Feb 3rd, 2003
Everything in Havana has a history.
Many of the city's features date back to the 1950s during the Castro revolution - including the taxis.
A fifteen minute ride around central Havana in an old Chevy, Cadillac or Chrysler is the perfect way to see the tourist highlights like the Cathedral Square, an old fort on the Plaza del Armas, and the Capitol, which looks similar to the one in Washington but just a little bit bigger.
If you're looking for some local guidance, pay a visit to a santera, or traditional psychic. Cubans are quite superstitious and it's common practise to shell out a few dollars and have a yarn with the local fortune teller.
It seems you hear Cuba's favourite song, Guantanamera, on every corner in Havana but Cuba is famous for far more than just making music.
Cuban cigars are a famous export. To see how a traditional Cuban cigar is made join a tour at Corona. As the biggest and oldest cigar factory in the country, workers at Corona turn out about 200 cigars a day, making the owners some of the wealthiest businessmen in the country.
When it's time to eat, look no further than one of Cuba's many unique private family home restaurants. Run by the home's occupants, a spread of roast pork, fried bananas and rice is the typical menu.
For dessert head to Coppelia to sample some of the best and cheapest ice cream in Havana. Coppelia is the biggest ice creamery in the world and people queue by the thousands for up to three hours to sample the creamy produce. After the massive wait it isn't surprising that most people opt for a double serving!
If there's one thing that Havana does better than anything else, it's the nightlife. Come nightfall Cubans head to legendary old-time cabarets like the Tropicana and fifties bars like Caf Taberna to salsa the night away.
The Mamba, Rhumba and the Cha Cha Cha are all Cuban inventions. The trick to dancing the night away in such an energetic fashion is drinking plenty of mojitos. These potent little concoctions are a mixture of sugar, mint, lime, bitters and Cuban rum - and it's said that three of these can have you dancing without the music.
The facts:
Air New Zealand flies to Los Angeles daily. Prices start from $1684 from Sydney, $1779 from Brisbane/Melbourne and $2477 from Perth. Prices include charges, levies and taxes.
Air New Zealand
Tel: 13 24 76
Air Mexicana have frequent connections to Havana via Cancun. Return prices start from $1440.
Air Mexicana
Tel: 1300 737 177
Adventure World offer 4 day 3 night Havana packages including accommodation and tours from $474 per person twin share.
Adventure World
Tel: 1300 363 055
A fifteen minute ride around central Havana by taxi costs around $5.
A typical meal in a private home restaurant costs around $20 per person.
Icecream from Coppelia costs a few cents per serving.
Tours of the Corona cigar factory cost $5.
