Page 69 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Cuba for Free ❮❮ 67

Plaza de la Revolución
7 TOP 10 MONEY-SAVING TIPS
Although there’s a fee for the
museum beneath the giant monu-
ment to National Hero José Martí, this
massive plaza (see p74) in the heart
of Havana is surrounded by impressive
sights, including the giant steel
mural of Che Guevara that dominates
the Ministerio del Interior. A convert-
ible classic car taxi is the most
atmospheric and stylish way to arrive
in the plaza, but the Havana BusTour
also stops here (see pp120–21).

Casa particular interior
1 Havana BusTour takes in most of
Havana’s top sights for the price of a
single all-day fare. With 41 stops along
the route, it really is a complete
sightseeing experience.
2 Take advantage of the good-value
set cajita lunches that are sold at
roadside stalls.
Steel mural in Plaza de la Revolución
3 Stay at casas particulares, which offer
Free Festivals
8 great value and give you insight into
how Cuban families live.
Fancy mingling with locals at
one of the many annual festivals (see 4 Join the Cubans in line at Coppelia
pp68–9) in Cuba? You can let your hair and pay for your ice cream in pesos,
down in the revelry of Carnaval in rather than standing in the more
Santiago de Cuba; enjoy the thrilling expensive CUC$ line. Most large
cities have a Coppelia outlet.
firework spectacle of Remedios’
year-end parranda; or even show 5 Buy a ticket for both sections of
solidarity during the Día de los the Museo de Bellas Artes, as the
Trabajadores (Day of the Workers). Cuban and International sections
charge more if you pay separately.
Casas de la Cultura
9 6 Rather than taking relatively
expensive taxis, travel by public bus
Meet local artists, musicians,
poets, and writers in community or hop into a colectivo taxi for longer
journeys within cities.
centers known as Casas de la Cultura,
found all over the country (see p61). 7 Comb through the book fair at
Havana’s Plaza de Armas for rare
Enjoy cultural activities such as live posters and other unique retro
performances, music shows, art finds (see p72).
exhibitions, and dance classes –
almost everything they put on is free. 8 When exchanging foreign currency,
avoid using US dollars, which are
Bandstands
0 subject to a 10 percent surcharge.
9 Go gallery-hopping in Trinidad,
Most big towns in Cuba have
a central square with bandstands, where dozens of roadside stores sell
artwork of surprisingly good quality.
where local bands perform for free,
usually on weekend nights. Sit on a 10 Watch for special two-for-one offers
bench or grab someone’s hand and on telephone cards for public phones;
join the locals in these wonderful avoid using expensive hotel phones.
expressions of community spirit.
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