Page 278 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

276  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPS AND MARKETS

Tourists do most of their shopping in state- for designer outlets. State-run shops offer
run shops, often in the hotels. However, the goods at fixed prices, which tend to be
legalization of limited private enterprise has on the high side, whereas market prices
given a boost to the handicrafts and food are lower and may be negotiable. Cigars
markets (mercados agropecuarios). In the of guaranteed quality are sold only for hard
past there wasn’t much to buy, but now an currency in specialist shops. Be very wary
improving range of souvenirs are available. of buying cigars – or anything else for that
All the same, Cuba is not the place to look matter – on the black market.

Tourist resorts and larger towns
often have shops specializing
in clothes. Tourist tiendas,
especially in hotels, sell T-shirts
printed with Cuban images
including the inevitable
portraits of Che Guevara, as
well as guayaberas, typical
Caribbean cotton shirts.
In the El Rápido chain (see
p265), Tiendas Panamericanas
general stores and at petrol
stations, visitors can buy soft
drinks, rum, biscuits, sweets,
butter and milk, as well as
Handicrafts for sale at La Rampa market in Havana (see p102) small household utensils and
articles normally found in
Opening Hours
be in pesos cubanos). To buy perfume shops.
Opening hours in Cuba are pesos cubanos, go to one Fresh fruit, vegetables and
erratic but as a guideline of the bureaux de change, fresh meat are to be found
tiendas (convertible pesos called CADECA, found in only in the food markets.
shops) are open 9am–7pm most city centres and often
in the summer and 9am– near the entrance to major
6pm in the winter, while small food markets. Specialist Shops
shops open 9am–6pm all Cigars should be purchased
year round. On Sundays, shops Where to Go in the specialist shops, often
close at 1pm. The fruit and known as La Casa del Habano,
vegetable markets are open In the cities and which sell cigars
on Sunday mornings, closed tourist resorts, direct from the
on Mondays, then open tiendas and cigar factories
Tuesday to Friday from 8am supermarkets (and which may,
to around 6pm. Fast food sell everything from in fact, be attached
chain El Rápido (see p265) clothes to tinned The logo of a popular to a factory), and
is open 24 hours a day. food, but do not tiendas chain keep them at the
carry the range right temperature
of items seen in European or and humidity level. Do not
How to Pay North American super markets. buy cigars from people on
Most tourists will not use the
local currency, called the peso
nacional or peso cubano
(see p299), at all during their
stay. Most goods that tourists
want to buy, from rum to
CDs, are only available in
hard currency shops (most
of which accept credit cards).
In the food markets, the locals
use mainly pesos cubanos but
stall holders will happily accept
convertible pesos (change may An outlet of the hard-currency Tiendas Panamericanas chain

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