Malecon, seawall

　　Roughly translated, Malecon means seawall. And in Habana, or Havana, it stretches for a little over 4 miles, providing a fascinating glimpse into the city’s history, culture, architecture and the indomitable spirit of its people. The blue waters of the Caribbean are a wonderful backdrop to the architectural gems that line the route.
Habana is a vibrant place that’s full of contradictions and a walk along the Malecon allows you wonderful insights and should definitely be a part of your holiday travel in Cuba. 50 years of communism have led to a ruined economy but have also led to tremendous innovation from a people grappling with economic hardships. Art, music and dance have flourished and remained distinctive because of Cuba’s relative isolation from the rest of the world.
As you stroll along the Malecon, which is also a kind of social hub for the Habaneros (residents of Habana), you will feel the pulse of the city. There’s always something happening here, by day and by night. You will see children jumping into the sea, people fishing, lovers kissing, musicians playing and tourists taking pictures. People watching can easily keep you engrossed for a long time. In the winter months, very high sea waves crash along the seawall, drenching pedestrians and providing entertainment for children who duck and play with the fury of the waves.
It’s also an incredible sight to see Cadillacs, Russian Ladas and other cars from the 1940s and 50s still gliding, or occasionally sputtering, down the wide avenue. Camel buses and Coco taxis are the other forms of transport. If you are not up to walking the 4-mile stretch, flag down a horse carriage and enjoy a leisurely ride along the Malecon.
There are three main sections that you will pass as you make your way along the Malecon. At the entrance of the bay of Havana in the east, is the Vieja Habana where many colonial buildings have been beautifully restored. Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta and the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro are the main sights along the Vieja Habana section of the Malecon. As you head west, you will pass Centro Habana where the crumbling facades of pastel-hued neoclassical and neo-Moorish buildings and apartments present an intriguing picture of the city’s, and also Cuba’s, past glory and current economic woes. At sunset, the buildings look particularly beautiful, so if possible arrive here to watch the play of light as the sun goes down. In the northwest and beyond Centro Habana is the relatively modern-looking Vedado with high rises, a lot of them Russian inspired. Vedado is where you will find a lot of nightclubs, restaurants and art galleries and it is considered to be the trendier suburb.
Sitting on the seawall and gazing at the fading grandeur of Havana, it’s hard to imagine that Miami is just 90 miles across the ocean.
Havana Carnival
The colourful Carnival takes place on each weekend of July and August. Parades and floats with costumed dancers and musicians make their way along the Malecon to the accompaniment of salsa music. Cuban rum flows freely and thousands throng the malecon and take part in the singing and dancing. A lot of international tourists time their Cuba holidays to coincide with the Carnival.

Introduction to Cuba

What draws people to the Caribbean island of Cuba is much more than beaches and sun, though there are plenty of both. Soothing timba beats, Ché Guevara posters and 1950s-era Chevrolets pervade the crumbling capital Havana, where life happens outside, in the streets. Juggle the Communist country's two different currencies while haggling for tropical fruit at street-corner markets. In sleepy Trinidad, pastel-colored buildings line cobbled streets, where cigar-smoking locals draw you into conversations about economics, or turn up the music and invite you to dance.

Beaches
Playa Ancón's ivory-white sand and sparkling sea, minutes from colonial treasure Trinidad, is known for its adrenalin-inducing water sports. Broad expanses of glistening, white sand make Playa Paraíso and Playa Sirena, on the protected western end of the island, worth seeking. To find a secluded beach, drive to the small rocky coves, transparent sea and palm tree-lined beaches of the Bay of Pigs. Amble with locals along Havana's sea-hugging Malecón (boardwalk), situated between crashing waves and colonial buildings.
Things to Do
Beautifully restored Old Havana is home to the propaganda-heavy Museum of the Revolution, the perfect introduction to Cuba's contradictions. Venture into the gently-sloping emerald hills of Valle de los Ingenios to spot the rusting metal structures of closed sugar mills, rows of thriving tobacco plantations and billboards covered with Ché Guevara's most famous quotes. The lack of signage outside of the capital is more than compensated for by roadside wanderers eager to provide directions in exchange for a ride home.
Nightlife and Entertainment
After dark, head to Havana's swanky Vedado district for jazz accentuated by the lingering smell of cigar smoke. The Buena Vista Social Club's world-famous tunes, and those of its imitators, blare from windows in every town across the island. You might want to brush up on your salsa skills before your Cuban trip, as visitors are guaranteed to be offered a dance. The impressive, thriving Cuban National Ballet performs at Gran Teatro de la Habana.
Eating and Drinking
Try Cuban staple ropa vieja (stewed shredded beef) in a ramshackle restaurant almost anywhere on the island, or ceviche (lime-marinated raw fish) that would make a French chef's mouth water in smart La Guarida's romantically dilapidated colonial palace. The best place to drink Cuba's finest drink -- the rum-based minty mojito -- and admire the sea view from the rooftop terrace is Hotel Ambos Mundos. It's also where Hemingway started writing For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Cuba Travel Guide

With countless pristine beaches, mountainous forests and vibrant cities all waiting to be explored, Cuba is much more than a generic Caribbean island getaway. The cocktails may surpass the food, and being the largest island in the Caribbean, getting around might be slightly more difficult, but what it lacks in polish it more than makes up for in captivating history, laid back charm and swinging salsa rhythms.

Time warped by its revolution, it feels like this is a sunny isle of contrasts. Historic Havana and Trinidad have undergone painstaking restoration and preservation; walking around them is like a trip back in time. At night, these and other cities like Santiago de Cuba, explode into a music- and rum-fuelled fiesta. Staying at a casa particular (a private home with rooms to rent) gives the traveller a glimpse at life for the average Cubano, and opens up parts of the country (but more importantly the local psyche) that were once off-limits.
Pure island indulgence lies at many of the gleaming resorts punctuating Cuba's glorious coastline, and, across the island, party-hungry travellers can delve head first into the music, dance and cocktails for which the country is internationally renowned.