Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

120  HA V ANA AREA B Y AREA

q Parque Lenin
Calle 100 y Cortina de la Presa, Arroyo
Naranjo, Havana. Tel 7643 1165.
Open 10am–5pm Wed–Sun. 0 -
S ExpoCuba: Tel 7697 4252 (train
info 7644 2721). Open 9am–5pm
Wed–Sun. & Parque Zoológico
Nacional: Tel 7643 8063. Open
9:30am–3:15pm Wed–Sun. &
Lenin Park, 20 km (12 miles)
south of Central Havana,
occupies an area of 1,840 acres
(745 ha). It was created in the
1970s as an amusement park for
children and an area of greenery The impressive monument to Lenin designed by Lev Korbel
for a city in continuous expansion.
In the same period, thanks to allow passengers to admire the and socio-political life. From
an initiative by Celia Sánchez, scenery. The park is popular with Parque Lenin it is also easy to
Castro’s personal assistant Habaneros, who love to walk reach the 840-acre (340-ha)
during the Revolution, the among the palm, cedar, pine Parque Zoológico Nacional,
Russian architect Lev Korbel and araucaria trees. There is also where animals live freely in
designed the vast monument a freshwater aquarium, stables, various natural habitats, often
honouring the Soviet leader. outdoor cinema, art gallery, without cages. The savannah
The statue of Lenin, which swimming pools, café and the area is populated with zebras,
weighs 1,200 tons and is 9 m Las Ruínas restaurant. The latter hippopotamuses, giraffes and
(30 ft) high, was completed in occupies a 1960s building that antelopes. Another area is the
1982 under the supervision of incor porates the crumbling habitat of lions.
Antonio Quintana Simonetti, walls of an old plantation house.
who also designed the park. w Jardín Botánico
The most enjoyable way of Environs
getting around Parque Lenin is Near the park, among gardens Nacional
to take the narrow-gauge train and tree-lined paths, is the Carretera del Rocío km 3, Calabazar,
which follows a route of 9.5 km largest exhibition centre in Arroyo Naranjo (Havana). Tel 7697
(6 miles) in 45 minutes, making Cuba, ExpoCuba, which stages 9159. Open 9am–4pm daily.
several stops. Call ahead to various exhibitions and shows Closed 1 Jan, 26 Jul, 25 Dec. & 8
check that the train is running. all year round. In autumn the
The train’s old steam engines pavilions are occupied by This enormous 1,500-acre
were used in previous years by the famous Feria Internacional (600-ha) botanical garden,
Cuba’s sugar factories to trans- de La Habana, which offers an set in an area of woods and
port sugar cane. Open carriages overview of Cuba’s economic cultivated fields, contains plants

The tranquil Japanese Garden, part of the Jardín Botánico Nacional
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p258 and p272

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