Despite the fact that the previous day was nothing but rain, the sun was in full force on Day 3/4 which means BEACH DAY! There are some extremely amazing and beautiful beaches in Cuba. Not many people know this, as Cuba has been a taboo destination and the myriad of Caribbean islands near Cuba. Varadero is the most famous beach in Cuba and for a reason. It’s about a three hour car ride away from Havana so better if you can spend more than one day there then try and do a day trip. However there are days trips from Havana.
Unfortunately, we did not make it to Varadero, just wasn’t enough time to visit. However, we did make it to a beach – Playa del Este! Playas del Este may not be Varadero, but it was exactly what we needed and we could not ask for better weather. PdE is a 20-30 minute drive from Havana and spans about 4 miles. We hopped in an old cab to get there, which you can pick up on the streets of Havana. While it may be lined with ugly soviet-inspired hotels, the beaches are clean and the water is blue. (Although not as clear as Varadero) Also, it had a man who would bring us coconut drinks (pina coladas!!!) whenever we needed – who can complain?!
Despite the fact we were on the Caribbean, because of the rain the day before it was kind of cool when it was windy. I was fine with just sitting on our lounge chairs, soaking in the sun and drinks. I only got in the water once, which is unlike me, and I was perfectly content. After a few hours in the sun, we ordered lunch and then headed back to Havana to get ready for our dinner at the famous…
La Guarida! La Guarida is probably one of the most lavish restaurants in all of Havana (maybe Cuba!) with a slew of famous people having eaten here during their trips to Cuba. Natalie Portman, for one graces the front page of La Guarida’s website! It became famous thanks to a movie called Fresa y Chocolate which was filmed here. Opened in 1996 in a dilapidated several-story home, the entrance is so inconspicuous you could walk right past it. I was blown away by the foyer itself, with a grand marble staircase leading up to the restaurant. Up you go to the third floor, where a hallway lined with pictures of celebrities dining at La Guarida greet you. Reservations are a must here and if not interested in food, they have a rooftop bar as well.
La Guarida boasts being la nueva cocina Cubana – new Cuban cooking (more or less). They take traditional Cuban dishes and give it a new flair or create new dishes and give it a Cuban touch. It will be like visiting a fancy place in the US with smaller portions, beautiful plating, and $$. We started off with an octopus dish, kind of like an octopus carpaccio ceviche. I, of course, ordered steak three ways for my main because when I see steak on the menu, I cannot resist. It came with three different sauces, a bearnaise-type sauce, a peppercorn (if my memory serves me, and a chocolate sauce. It was delicious and just what I needed! Not that we needed it, we decided to split some deserts as well, and we got a creme brûlée type cake with ice cream. Whenever I see anything that hints at creme brûlée I have to order it. So sue me. I lived in France! And I ended the meal with a Cuban with sweetened condensed milk. We had a long night ahead of us, so why not?
After our delicious meal, we headed up to the rooftop bar that was actually quite busy, and small. I think when it is warmer, they open more sections. It was nice to relax, see the city, and is a great place to grab a drink pre- or post-meal. It is also a good stop if you want to experience La Guarida but don’t want to pay for the pricey meal.
Ending at La Guarida was a perfect way to finish the trip. I learned so much during my time in Cuba and it is definitely a country I would go back to. There are many things I would want to do, like learn Spanish, so I can communicate with the locals more and not rely on my friends. I would like to read up more on the history of Cuba, more so than I did before. Cuba has a bad reputation, but when you get into the nitty-gritty and actually meet the people and see the country, it isn’t like what you hear. The people are warm and willing to share their stories. I never felt unsafe while there (just overwhelmed at times) nor did we have any issues being “American”. I hope everyone gets a chance to experience Cuba at some time, it was a life changing experience!
