Page 299 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  297

Another option may be to “e/” (entre = between) and Adelante in Camagüey; Ahora
purchase a local SIM card – the the name of two streets (see in Holguín; Sierra Maestra
electronic chip that links your p122). This is followed by the in Santiago de Cuba; and
phone to a particular network – number of the apartment, if Victoria in Isla de la Juventud.
that can be topped up with it has one, or by “altos” (first Among Cuba’s magazines,
credit and uses the local mobile floor) or “bajos” (ground floor) Bohemia is a well­respected
phone networks. You can if it is a private house, followed cultural weekly. In Havana,
only do this if your handset is by the name of the “reparto” the elusive Cartelera provides
“unlocked” – some operators (quarter) or district, and then information on the latest
lock their phones to specific by the locality. cultural events in English.
networks. However, this is not
particularly cheap in Cuba, Radio and Television
costing CUC$3 a day through
the only provider, Cubacel. There are five main Cuban
Cubacel works with TDMA and television channels. Cubavisión
GSM phones. The cheapest broadcasts soap operas, films,
international calls start at news, music and US drama
CUC$1.40 per minute; series around the clock. Tele
international texts are CUC$1. Rebelde specializes in news
For most travellers this will and sports programmes and
mean using their own phone in airs educational programming
Cuba may work out cheaper. during the day and docu­
mentaries in the evening, as
do Canal Educativo and Most large hotels offer Internet access
Postal Service Canal Educativo 2. Multivisión to foreigners
The Cuban postal service is also screens documentaries. Internet and Fax
slow, but generally no worse Venezuela’s Telesur news
than in any other Latin American channel also broadcasts in Although the use of personal
country. Stamps (sellos) can be Cuba. Each province has its e­mail is restricted for Cubans,
purchased in pesos in hotels or own local channel. it is being used increasingly in
in post offices (oficinas de correo). Hotels have a selection of offices. Surfing the Internet is
Whatever the postage, letters channels such as CNN, now available to most via public
take a long time to arrive; it may Discovery, ESPN, HBO and Wi­Fi zones. There are a limited
help a little to post mail in the The Cartoon Network, all of number of such zones, however,
oficinas de correo postboxes. which are not allowed in the number is increasing. Access is
The safest, and comparatively family homes. via internet scratch cards for
the fastest, way to post doc­ A good radio station is CUC$2 an hour. You can log on
uments, letters or parcels that are Radio Taíno, with music and in many hotels by buying an
important or urgent is via inter­ infor mation in English and ETECSA scratch card for CUC$6
national courier services: DHL or Spanish (1180 AM in Havana per hour. Some hotels provide
Cubapack Internacional SA. and 1100 AM in Varadero). the Wi­Fi separately.
Radio Rebelde has news, music Fax services are available in
and sports; Radio Habana all international post offices in
Cuba broadcasts for an the large cities, as well as in all
overseas audience; and Radio major hotels.
Reloj broadcasts news 24
hours a day. DIRECTORY
Mobile Phones
Newspapers and
Periodicals Cubacel
The only national newspaper ∑ etecsa.cu
in the country is Granma, the
official organ of the Cuban Postal Service
Entrance to a post office (oficina de correo) Communist Party, published in
in Havana Spanish. The party also publishes Cubapack Internacional SA
Calle 22 n. 4115, e/ 41 y 47,
a weekly version for foreigners,
Addresses Playa, Havana.
Granma Internacional, in
In Cuba the house number, multiple languages. There Tel (7) 204 2817, (7) 204 2134.
∑ cubapack.com
preceded by “No.” or “#”, comes are also several provincial
after the name of the street or dailies: Tribuna de La Habana DHL
square, followed by “esq.” in Havana; Guerrillero in Pinar Calle 26, esq. 1, Playa, Havana.
(esquina = corner) and the del Río; Girón in Matanzas; Tel (7) 204 1876.
name of the cross street, or by 5 de Septiembre in Cienfuegos;

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