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The Tropicana offers cabaret lights, sequins, and lots of flavor

abril 26th, 2013 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in DESTINATIONS - (0 Comments)

The Tropicana Casino and Nightclub opened in a lush garden in Havana on December 30, 1939. The 2nd World War swept Europe, “Gone With the Wind” had just been released in the United States and a young rebel named Fidel Castro was 13 years old.

In its early days Celia Cruz, Liberace, Carmen Miranda, Yma Sumac, Paul Robeson and Orfelia Fox came to the stage. On many of nights the guests were equally famous, such as Marlon Brando, Sammy Davis Jr., Greta Garbo and other Hollywood stars. The Tropicana was the place to be and be seen. There was even a Cubana Airlines plane, with live music and a bar, that took clients from Miami every night for the show and brought them back the next morning.

Much has changed over the last 70 years in Cuba, but not the Tropicana show. The Tropicana is a blend of traditional charm and kitsch, sin and sensuality, sequins, feathers, dancers and tropical rhythms: the ingredients that have made it one of the most famous nightclubs in the world.

At 9pm the club opens its doors, and the show starts at 10pm with a wonderful dance featuring 200 dancers offering a spectacle of color, feathers, sequins and sensuality. When the show ends, you have the chance to dance on stage with these goddesses of the “Paradise under the stars”, the nickname of this famous club.

The club can host up to 1,500 people seated, who pay $80 for a show with dinner included. It is by far the most expensive night out in town, but it is money well spent!

Be warned, it is a sin to visit Havana and not attend this unique show at least once!

 

“A few minutes away from the Tropicana Cabaret is the IBEROSTAR Parque Central hotel, a 5 star hotel located in the center of Havana with spectacular views over the city, which can be appreciated from the rooms or spa. The IBEROSTAR Parque Central hotel is considered the best hotel in Havana.”

 

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Fancy basking in the sun this Christmas?

diciembre 11th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in DESTINATIONS - (0 Comments)

Did you know there are more than 5,000 islands in the Caribbean? To find the perfect Caribbean island for your Christmas holiday, you should start by deciding what you’d like to see and do. Although you’ll find sun and sand whichever one you choose, not all Caribbean islands are identical. And the same goes for the countries.

So what springs to your mind when you think of Christmas in the Caribbean? Do you picture a peaceful, relaxing and quite spot, or do you prefer active tourism in a place with lots of things to see and a lively nightlife? Or perhaps all you want to do is enjoy a few gentle strolls, a little retail therapy and discover treasures that you’d never see at home?

It’s worth taking your time to discover your ideal Caribbean destination. And to help you make up your mind, I’ve come up with a few ideas.

You could choose a destination like Cuba, which combines warm sunshine and the endless beaches of Varadero with long strolls around Havana, people-watching and taking in the colourful contrasts, colonial-style architecture and quirky cars that can be seen on the streets.

Or perhaps you’d rather learn to dance bachata and merengue on the vast beaches of the Dominican Republic, try your hand at countless water sports and discover its mouth-watering gastronomy.

If you have a passion for culture, nature and music, but are anxious not to miss out on fabulous beaches and a perfect climate, then Jamaica is just what you need. Its mountain peaks, more than 120 rivers, magnificent waterfalls and fine white sandy beaches form the perfect mix for a unique and thrilling holiday experience.

And if you’d like a combination of nature and history, then get away to Mexico this Christmas. Apart from the fabulous beaches that line the country’s coastline, the Mayan Riviera boasts stunning flora and fauna and one of the most admired ancient cultures, whose buildings are still dotted around the gorgeous Mexican landscape.

 

“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has marvellous hotel complexes in the finest destinations in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico. So where will you be heading this Christmas?”

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Cuba, a perfect winter destination

noviembre 8th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in DESTINATIONS - (0 Comments)

There’s no denying it; Cuba is well worth a visit at any time of year, but in winter, during the months of December, January and February, the temperatures drop just enough to make any activity you may choose on this Caribbean island even more delightful.

Throughout the winter, visitors can continue to enjoy the sun and sand along its 600 km of coasts. The famous bathing spot of Varadero, which boasts no less than 22 km of beaches, is ideal for those that appreciate the multiple hues of the sea that bathes the fine white sands. You can try your hand at any water sport that takes your fancy, because in the Caribbean, the water is always just the right temperature.

Going trekking and discovering close-up nature and biosphere reserves as well as magnificently conserved natural landscapes and protected areas with their unique features is even more delightful in winter. Exploring the bustling streets of Old Havana, visiting its monuments and historical palaces, strolling along the Malecón seafront avenue, taking a welcome break to enjoy a drink in the city’s cafés or a meal in a traditional paladar restaurant, sampling a glass of fine rum, taking in a fabulous show, and especially taking the time to get to know the wonderful local residents are also just a few of the countless things to do in Cuba, even though – or perhaps precisely because – it’s winter!

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has a large number of hotels situated in various areas around the island of Cuba: from the most popular resorts such as Varadero, to areas that are equally attractive, even though they may be off the traditional tourist trail, such as Trinidad or the majestic capital, Havana”.

 

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Havana will win you over

agosto 15th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in DESTINATIONS - (0 Comments)

You’ll be won over by its mojitos, its cigars, its charmingly shabby architecture, the hustle and bustle and its fabulous rhythms. You’ll be enchanted by the district of Old Havana with its Cathedral Square, the Castle of the Royal Force, the Square of Arms, the Paseo del Prado promenade and the Museum of the Revolution.

You won’t be able to resist the charms of the Malecón promenade at dusk, that magical moment when the sun dives into the sea. The Malecón draws crowds of locals, especially when the temperature starts to cool. They gather there to chat, joke, drink and stroll along the 5 kilometre-long avenue, and we know that you’ll just love being able to join them.

You’ll have fun discovering the district of El Vedado and its heart, known as La Rampa. Five blocks packed with discos and live music bars, cinemas and classic hotels such as the Nacional or Habana Libre. Treat yourself to an ice cream at the famous Coppelia ice cream parlour and stroll around the streets admiring the now dilapidated noble houses with their lush tropical gardens and the avenues lined with majestic and aptly-named flamboyant trees

In Central Havana you’ll find the city at its liveliest. Although it has not been treated to the same degree of rehabilitation as Old Havana or El Vedado, here you’ll discover the true essence of the city, pure Havana. One of its greatest landmarks is the Church of El Sagrado Corazón, a Neo-Gothic temple that amazingly does not feature on the traditional tourist trail. Also not to be missed is a tour of the Chinese District in Central Havana. Your eye will inevitably be drawn to intriguing venues such as the so-called Sociedades Chinas de Instrucción y Recreo (Chinese Societies for Instruction and Recreation), which are really small casino-bar-tavern establishments invariably situated on the first floor.

And if you’d like to find out how the well-to-do lived in the Havana of yesteryear, then you should head for the district of Miramar. The layout of this district is practically perfect. Fifth Avenue is lined by magnificent constructions, although some are today in a pitiful state of repair. These disused buildings contrast sharply with those that have been painstakingly restored, giving a clear idea of the district’s former splendour. Miramar is undoubtedly one of the most attractive faces of Havana.

In short, no visit to Havana is complete without taking the time to discover all these attractions. But even more importantly, I recommend you take the time to mingle with the people in order to get to the heart of the real Havana: let them guide you and revel in their happy-go-lucky character. Enjoy a refreshing mojito in El Floridita, but don’t forget to try a Cristal beer in the Chinese District in excellent company. Dine on the famous black beans and rice at La Bodeguita del Medio, but don’t forget to taste the shrimps at a paladar – the city’s family-run restaurants.  Enjoy a night out at the Tropicana cabaret but don’t leave Cuba without listening to its trovas, boleros and jazz or dance some son, salsa and timba at any of the small cafés that are popular with the locals.

“If you’re looking for accommodation options in Havana, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts offers you the IBEROSTAR Parque Central, an elegant 5 star hotel situated right in the city centre. Its Spanish colonial style reflects the culture that can be seen and felt on the streets, and it is considered to be the finest hotel in Havana. The IBEROSTAR Parque Central is an excellent starting point for visitors eager to learn more about Cuba’s history and explore the fascinating spots of the real Havana. A choice that will make your holiday in the Cuban capital with your family or partner a truly unique experience”.

 

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Are Cuban Cigars Truly Still the World’s Best Cigars?

mayo 29th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Snapshots - (0 Comments)


The crew of Christopher Columbus first discovered tobacco on the island of Hispaniola (mostly occupied by today’s Dominican Republic), then encountered it again once they got to Cuba. And over the centuries, Cuba has become famous for cigarmaking, but it’s hardly been limited to Cuba – in fact other countries turn out them out, too, such as the DR, Honduras, Nicaragua, and even the United States (and in some cases in greater numbers).  But especially because of Cuba’s combination of skilled growers and rollers, together with optimum soils and climate – especially in the west of the island where much of the growing is concentrated, Cuban puros (also known as habanos) have long been considered the crème de la crème by many, perhaps most aficionados.

There are a bit over two dozen brands, the most popular of which is called Montecristo; others include Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Quintero, H Upmann, and Cohiba (the last a popular and top-quality brand created in the early 80s; its latest version, added in 2010, is the limited-edition Behike). The westernmost province of Pinar del Río, especially its Vuelta Abajo district, remains the epicenter of the country’s tobacco industry, though there are other areas east of Havana around the center of the island near Trinidad, and out east in Oriente near Santiago de Cuba.

Cigars are an important hard-currency earner as well as a definite point of prestige for the government, and for many visitors they’re a big part of the tourism experience. Every time I go to Havana’s Hotel Nacional I spot foreigners lounging out in the courtyard over stogies and mojitos (the capital also boasts a handsome cigar-themed boutique hotel, the Conde de Villanueva); Havana’s Corona and Partagás cigar factories, little changed in generations, are popular stops on the sightseeing circuit; and the Festival del Habano brings enthusiastic crowds to town every February.

Non-Cuban Cigars Rising, But…

More than a few cigar aficionados assert that Cubans are still the best cigars in the world, but others say that thanks to the post-revolution exodus of generations of Cuban tobacco seeds and cigarmaking talent to places like Honduras, Nicaragua, and especially the Dominican Republic have resulted in quality as good as that and in some cases better than that coming out of Cuba these days. In many cases it boils down to a matter of opinion, and at least some of the reverence for Cuban cigars may be due to longstanding mystique – and at least for Americans, a bit of the “forbidden fruit” factor, since their import is banned by the longstanding U.S. government embargo of Cuba.

Furthermore, more than a few experts have noted that Cuban quality has declined since all manufacturing was seized and consolidated by the revolutionary régime in the early 1960s, causing many brands to go defunct and driving out of the country a lot of those skilled in the craft. Since then, mismanagement, corruption (the latest big round of arrests was in 2010), and periodic crop failures have also taken their toll.

Yet even today, habanos do in fact remain among the world’s best and they’ve certainly held on to their cultlike following. So if you’re a cigar fan and find yourself at one of Cuba’s nine Iberostar properties (Havana, Varadero, Trinidad, Cayo Coco), do stop by your hotel or resort’s cigar shop and check out the “sticks” (as smokers call them), to see what all the fuss is about.

Photo | James Emery

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Cuba in Andy Garcia’s Memories

marzo 13th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Local Characters - (0 Comments)

Andy Garcia, one of the most popular actors in Hollywood, is best known for his portrayal of legendary mobster roles – such as those in Godfather Part III and Oceans Eleven. wonder where he got that cool mobster attitude? The suarve and charming actor has his Cuban heritage to thank.

Born in Cuba, Andy uprooted to the United States with his family when he was five. Due to an illness in high school, he ditched his dreams of playing basketball professionally for a career in acting. He started acting in university and upon graduation, he moved to Hollywood and achieved success rather quickly. Although Andy has never been back in Cuba, he remains proud of his roots.

Once here in Cuba, it’s easy to see why. Cuba is a country rich in tradition, and packed with unexplored beaches, mountains and virgin forests. For first-time visitors, a trip to the Cuban capital, Havana, is essential. Wander through psychedelic Che Guevara murals and see vintage Cadillacs whizz by in old town Habana Vieja; stroll along the beachfront malecón and take in the laidback vibes.

Then continue to Viñales, a quiet town characterized by calm streets and relaxing vibes. This is an excellent place to get a peek of the rural Cuban lifestyle and make a local friend or two.  For some adventure, head on to Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest mountain, to thoroughly soak in the natural beauty of Cuba. Start your trek from Alto del Narango near la Plata until you read Las Cuevas, where you’ll be greeted by the turquoise coastline that hug this mountain.

Finally wind down in Varadero, home to some of the most popular beaches in Cuba. The setting is magnificent and the atmosphere sensual. A stay at the Iberostar Varadero would be the best way to end your journey through Cuba.

Photo | dneuman

Varadero is home to some of the most popular beaches in Cuba.  A stay at the Iberostar Hotels & Resorts hotel would be the best way to start your journey.

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‘Our Man in Havana’: A Most Unlikely Spy

febrero 21st, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

While the Caribbean may have provided a backdrop to the world’s most famous spy, it was also home to one of the most unlikely heroes in the world of fictional espionage. Written in 1958, only a few months before Fidel Castro seized power in the Cuban revolution, Graham Greene’s novel Our Man in Havana presents a damning picture of comical incompetence at the top levels of the British intelligence services.

An Unwilling Spy

Jim Wormwold may not match James Bond for his glamorous life as a secret agent, but Greene’s character makes the most of a difficult situation to become a big player in pre-revolutionary Havana. A modestly successful vacuum cleaner salesman, Wormwold is unwillingly recruited to keep an eye on activities in Cuba for the British government. At first unhappy to get involved, he soon sees the opportunity to provide for his demanding daughter the lifestyle she so craves. When he has nothing to report, he soon lets his imagination go wild and the resulting excitement he creates in London and Havana soon spins out of control.

Havana Bar

Like all good novels by Graham Greene, the main action takes place in a series of seedy bars and involves lead characters whose lives are often dominated by the need for their next drink. As the plot unravels we are taken through many of Havana’s well-known watering holes, including some of the same ones previously frequented by that other famous Havana drinker, Ernest Hemingway (like the Floridita pictured above, birthplace of the daiquiri).

It is remarkable that Greene wrote this story so close to the Cuban revolution. What is yet more surprising is that in 1959 he was given permission by the newly formed Castro regime to make the movie of the book. It was a time of chaos and with the regime not yet aligned with the Soviets, the film producers were given free rein to do as they pleased. As a result, Our Man in Havana remains one of the few outside productions shot freely in communist Cuba.

Cuba Today

Visit Cuba in 2012 and you’ll find plenty of references to Hemingway in the bars of its capital city. You are of course unlikely to find Wormwold’s vacuum cleaner shop, although if you do you might want to speak quietly as you pass by. After all, spies do come in the most unlikely of guises.

Photo | Wagner T. Cassimiro “Aranha”

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Introducing the World to Cuban Music: A Tribute to Celia Cruz

febrero 8th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Local Characters - (0 Comments)

“Ay, no hay que llorar
Que la vida es un carnaval
y es más bello vivir cantando…”

In this, one of her signature songs, the late Celia Cruz sang “No need to cry – life is a carnival, and it’s always more beautiful to live singing.”  It is this positive philosophy in life that won her millions of fans from all over – earning her the title as the most successful and beloved salsa performer of the 20th century. It is also her infectious music and irresistible rhythms that make it all but impossible to keep your feet from tapping – or your hips from wiggling – when you listen to the Queen of Salsa.

Putting Cuba on the Map

With her explosive voice and equally vivacious personality, Cruz earned 23 gold albums and over 100 recognitions and Grammy awards. It was shewho introduced the world to salsa music, causing a wave of salsa trends to hit shores well beyond the Hispanic world. Billboard magazine once wrote in an article, “Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music.”

Cruz spent her childhood and youth in Havana, Cuba – the birthplace of salsa. While growing up in the diverse Cuban musical climate of the 1930s, Cruz was influenced by many musicians along the lights of Pablo Quevedo, Paulina Álvarez, Abelardo Barroso, and Arcaño y sus Maravillas. But she quickly developed her own voice and style, creating music that’s distinctive and uniquely hers.

Cuban Legacy

Cruz started singing in cabarets as a teenager and then moved on to performing in a popular program on Havana’s Radio García-Serra. Her shot at fame came when she replaced the lead singer of a well-known Cuban orchestra, Sonora Matancera. She spent the next 15 years with them, gaining fame all over Latin America, during which she developed a trademark shout, greeting her audience with a loud “azúcar!” (sugar) at each show.

Though Cruz left Cuba for the United States in 1959 and spent the rest of her life there, her heart always belonged in Cuba. Throughout her 50-year singing career, she strongly supported educational, health and cultural issues in Cuba, as well as other Hispanic communities. She also founded the Celia Cruz Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for underprivileged students wishing to study music. Celia left us in 2003, but her legacy will clearly be kept alive for a long time.

Photo | Phillip Pessar

 

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What Is Santería? For Many in Cuba, Way More than Just “Voodoo”

octubre 31st, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Snapshots - (0 Comments)

What to do in Cuba, Santeria, Voodoo

In the Western Hemisphere, the religions brought over by African slaves have been part of the scene for centuries in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and most famously Haiti. But until not many years ago, it was largely condemned by the Roman Catholic church and dismissed as “ignorant” and “low-class” by all but the poor. But I’ve had the chance to observe various aspects of its Cuban form, both on the island and in South Florida, and whether one believes in it or not, it’s undeniably a moving, often beautiful tradition that has in many ways made Cuban music, art, letters and even larger society what they are today. If you visit the island,* chances are you’ll see some reference to santería, whether practitioners dressed in white (above, a lady commonly offering photo ops in Old Havana), shrines, a museum like the one in the nearby town of Guanabacoa, or a folkloric performance including santería dance or music. So I thought a quick introduction might be in order.

Known more properly as “Ifá,” “La Regla Lucumí,” or “La Regla de Ocha,” santería (a Spanish word that could be translated as “saintism”) came over to Cuba starting in the 16th century mostly with Yoruba-speaking West Africans from what is now part of Benin, Senegal, and Nigeria. But because of Catholic condemnation they quickly learned to hide their devotion to the traditional gods by in effect grafting them onto Catholic saints (santos), so that when they appeared to be praying to St. Barbara they were really worshipping Changó, lord of fire, thunder, and lightning; similarly, St. Lazarus masked Babalú-Ayé (patron of the sick; remember the old Desi Arnaz/Ricky Ricardo song?); and  Our Lady of Mercies stood for Obatalá, the creator of humanity. That’s why the religion is referred to as “synchretistic,” meaning a blending of two different religions.

These parallel santos are referred to as orishas (a name adopted by a popular Europe-based Cuban rap group, by the way), and religious practices surrounding them include casting shells for divination; offerings of fruit, rum, and cigars; and bembé ceremonies in which dancing and drumming lead participants to supposedly become possessed and channel the orishas; ritual sacrifice can also be involved (usually of chickens, sometimes of larger animals like goats). Santería priests are called babalaos, and shops selling candles, charms, and other santería supplies are botánicas.

All the above is a vast simplification; like any religion, santería is quite complex. But you shouldn’t visit Cuba* without seeking to learn a bit about this fascinating aspect of its culture, whether it’s the Guanabacoa museum, the dancing and art on Havana’s Callejón de Hamel, or even the watered-down, glammed-up music and costumes in the extravagant Tropicana floor show.

Photo |  Michael Vincent Miller

*Citizens, residents, or anyone subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may only travel to Cuba on special licenses with U.S. government permission.

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Ice Cream in Havana: A Taste for Strawberry and Chocolate

agosto 8th, 2011 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in The View - (0 Comments)

Ice Cream in Havana

Two men meet in Coppelia, the famous Havana ice-cream parlor. One straight and one gay, the plot follows them as their friendship deepens and things get a little complicado. This is 1970s Cuba, after all, where nothing is as, um, “straight”-forward as it seems.

Strawberry and Chocolate

Those who have seen the movie “Strawberry and Chocolate” will no doubt recognize the scene. This Cuban classic set at a time when intolerance of homosexuality in Cuba was still widespread, was perhaps a surprising choice as Cuba’s first submission for a foreign film Oscar. Strawberry and Chocolate won much international acclaim for portraying in a sensitive and intelligent way the complexities of human relationships. For foreign audiences its backdrop also provided a rare insight into the life of ordinary Cuban citizens.

Today’s young Habaneros may not feel too much connection to a movie that was a hit in their parents’ time, but they will certainly know all about Coppelia, the Havana café that played such a starring role in the movie. A renowned institution among both locals and tourists, a visit to Coppelia is a must for any visit to Havana.

Coppelia and the most famous ice cream in Cuba

Where else in the world do people happily wait an hour in line just to be served a few scoops of ice cream? It might not offer the finest of Cuban cuisine but such is the popularity of Coppelia that the lines wrap around the block, and waiting for an ice cream becomes a major social event. Families, friends and strangers will catch up on the latest gossip and conduct their own affairs while waiting patiently to savor this Cuban delight.

To say they wait in line is not strictly accurate. It’s the custom to ask “who’s last?” and then just remember your turn according to this method. It seems to work and the only challenge is eating the ice cream before it melts in the sweltering Cuban heat. Well, that and getting the flavor you want. Despite proclaiming a range, they typically serve only two or three flavors on any one day – usually strawberry and chocolate.

Visiting Coppelia

Foreigners are asked to skip the line and head straight to a separate counter where they pay for their ice cream with their CUCs (Cuban Convertible Pesos), at a higher price of course. You may miss out on the long wait but perhaps you’ll also be missing out on a unique slice of Cuban culture as well.

Photo | Esti-

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