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Cuba here we come! Cuba is one of those places that us, United States abiding citizens, are nervous to venture to or simply have blocked it out of our minds due to the so called never ending embargo!

With all that hype, it just makes this amazing country more and more interesting to me! But what really made the trip a reality is having one of my good friends from Antigua, Guatemala move there with her family!

Planning to me is practically an art form and part of the creation and development of the (Canvas) trip. Especially when you are traveling for a limited period of time and with two kids (7 years old and a one year old). I want to make sure I get the highlights but also don’t overtire my children so that they are miserable and make my trip (and life) miserable as well!

I literally spend hours learning, researching and basically having a blast finding out all the must do’s and the hidden secrets of Cuba.

We have eight days, so my initial amount of stuff that I wanted to do, is virtually impossible!

Better to focus on the main things and get the most of the places.

Where are we going in Cuba:

Havana – this goes without saying. And after ALL the research I did, you can literally spend one year here and still not see everything.

My Bucket List for Havana, Cuba

There is just so much to do and so little time. However, I have narrowed it down to these things, in no particular order:

Havana is split into four parts: Old Havana, Centro Havana, Havana Miramar and Havana Vedado – all of which I intend to visit.

Staying in a Casa Particular – you can stay in a hotel anywhere in the world, but you can only stay in Casa Particulares in Cuba! Basically, what this is are rooms or houses rented out by families. They are usually living there or next door. We chose this Casa – Casa Habana 1932

Eating at a Paladar – This is very similar to a Casa Particular. It’s a family that opens their house and serves meals. This is government regulated, of course, but you get a home cooked meal and the true Cuban experience

Smoke a Cuban Cigar – this kind of goes without saying. When in Rome …

Hang out on the Malecon – Havana Centro – this is the boardwalk that runs along the beach and apparently just walking along this road is an experience in itself

Ride in a classic car – from what I’m told, or have read, this makes up for the majority of the taxis in Havana and all of Cuba

Cigar Factory Tour – I want to see where the infamous cigars are made and are as illegal in the US as marijuana! There are three that I found out about:

1. Partagas Cigar Factory – Old Havana Centro- Calle Industria 524, behind the Capitolio

2. Fabrica de Tabaco H. Upmann – Havana Vedado – Calle Amistad 407 between Calles Barcelona and Dragones

3. Fabrica de Tabaco La Corona – Havana Vedada – Calle Zulueta 106 between Calles Colon and Refugio

Callejon de Hamal – Centro Havana – this is an alleyway that is closed off and now is filled with local artist’s works – Directions: Callejon de Hamel, San Lazaro # 955, E/ Aramburu y Hospital

Coppelia – Cuban’s national ice cream – Havana Vedado – their main headquarters are located:  Calle 23 and L (in the park on the other side of Cinema Yara)

Havana Viejo – Old Havana! This goes without saying.

Plaza De Armas – this is the center plaza of Havana Vieja, and great for people watching which is our favorite thing to do!

El Morro – Fortress - Havana Vieja – This looks like an interesting park and attraction to visit. We’ve been to tons of forts and this would be a good addition to our fortress collection.

Visit a Cuban Market - Havana Centro – this is something I really want to experience!

Hector’s Pizza – located in Havana Centro – it’s said this is the ultimate way to order pizza! You shout up you want pizza to Hector on the rooftop and he lowers it in his basket:  Directions – Corner Infanta at a rooftop of San Rafael – he’s only open 12 – 4 on various days, hope I’m there for one of them!

Museo de Revolucion – The Revolution Museum. I’m not a big museum person, but this certainly seems like a very appropriate thing to do, especially with the little knowledge we get in the US about what really happened. It will be good to see it and hear it from the horse’s mouth.

Drink a real Cuban Mojito - I am a huge Mojito fan, and have been way before they have become a dumb fad that now charges over $15 a drink in any major US city. I want it with Havana Rum!

Artisan Souvenir Shopping – I have to get local art work!

Coco Taxi - again, not really sure what it is, except that it’s nicknamed the Cuban version of a Rickshaw. Sounds interesting to me.

This pretty much sums up what I definitely want to do. The rest will be up to chance and we are open for full-on adventure!!!

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