cuba
Out of context: Reply #5
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- paraselene0
no worries. yeah, i should know more than i actually do. i lived there for almost a year.
unfortunately, most of my insider knowledge deals with things like not getting thrown into jail for overstaying your tourist visa and not getting your landlady turned in to the cdr for harbouring illegal foreigners and the like. useful stuff, but not your two-week-stay sort of fare.
the paladar situation changes pretty regularaly. as they're in people's houses, it can be pretty hit and miss, but also quite good. the food situation in cuba is basically dire (at least was when i was there). your best bet is to just try different ones. people will approach you on the street and it's totally safe to agree a price for a meal and follow them to their auntie's house or whatever.
there is hardly any crime at all whatsoever in havana. it's perfectly safe. it's the kind of town where you'll be hustled and tricked out of your money, but there's never any pickpocketing to speak of and certainly no violent crimes against tourists.
the regime is pretty strict about the protection and comfort of its major cash cow, eg: you. so you're very unlikely to get any hassle. you'll get loads of propositions from young prostitutes and that, but if you get caught, for instance, it's the girl who goes to jail for seven years, while you get an official apology from the police. see what i mean?
you can walk along the malecon all night long swigging rum and listening to random musicians playing by the water. it's lovely at night.
have a great time!