All about CubaInteresting facts about Cuba

by Ventura de Jesús

VARADERO. — Cuba’s top beach resort has received more than 700,000 tourists to date and the conditions exist for the year to end with a total of one million visitors for the first time in the history of tourism in that province.

“Varadero has been strengthening its position as a destination,” emphasized Amado Acosta Hernández, Ministry of Tourism delegate in Matanzas province. “We have maintained progressive growth since the second semester of 2007 and, specifically this year, we are seeing the best results in overall indicators, although we know we can be still more efficient.”

Varadero has a total of 17,300 hotel rooms, and according to experts, it is highly likely that in February and March, the peak of the high season, the daily rate of tourists will exceed 30,000, a record set last season.

Acosta Hernández explained to Granma that damages from the recent hurricanes are insignificant; they were localized in the structures of several hotels, above all windows and roofs, along with landscaping and gardens. “We are now completely back to normal and preparing for the high season,” he said.

Leading up to the winter period, some of the most important actions include beefing up beaches with sand, with a current accumulation of 35,000 cubic meters.

The process of restoring facilities is particularly comprehensive at the Breezes Varadero, Tuxpan and Las Morlas hotels.

Acosta Hernández added that work is underway to improve roads, street signs and lighting. Because of the competition in this industry, a greater emphasis should be placed on service quality, he commented.

Translated by Granma International

Científicos alemanes

excavaron 50 metros bajo tierra y descubrieron pequeños hilos de cobre. Después de estudiar esos trozos de hilo por mucho tiempo, Alemania llegó a la conclusión de que los antiguos germánicos tenían una red nacional de teléfono
hace ya 2,500 años.

Científicos Rusos

Por supuesto, al estado Ruso no le pareció nada del otro mundo. Les pidieron a sus propios científicos que excavaran más hondo. A 100 metros bajo tierra encontraron pequeños hilos de cristal que, según ellos, formaban parte del sistema de fibra óptica nacional que tenían los antiguos Rusos hace 3,500 años.

Científicos cubanos no se dejaron impresionar.
Excavaron 150 metros bajo tierra y no encontraron nada, excavaron a 200 metros y aun nada. Entonces excavaron hasta 250 metros y total que no encontraron ni hilos de cobre o cristal. Entonces llegaron a la conclusión (y con toda razón) de que los antiguos Cubanos hace más de 5,000 años ya tenían teléfonos celulares.

¡Que viva Cuba carajo!

Un cubano hacía tanto que no tenía sexo que ya no aguanta más, busca una negra linda y le pregunta:
- ¿Cuánto cobra, mi negra?
- 100.
- ¿Queee?… es de oro, negra?….. Ma baraaato, mi neeeegra…
- Bueeno: 50.
- ¿Ta loca, negra? Mira, namá tengo 12.
- Po 12 no me dejo agarrá ni po Bra Pit.
- Tonce 12 y el celular.
La negra lo piensa un poco y dice: – Bueno, dale!
Se enfiesta el negro, y luego de unos aullidos recíprocos, el negro termina, se viste, le da los 12, y comienza a irse.
- Oye negro: ¿y el celular?
- Coge ahi, apunta : 952-6575

In the narrow alleys of Old Havana, The los Frailes Hotel raises just few steps away from the majestic convent of san Francisco de Asis and the populous Old Square.

The former mansion of the fourth Marquis and Captain of the French Navy Don Pedro Claudio Duquesne is today Los Frailes Hotel. Once visited by the finest and most prominent personalities and renowned artists the Hotel Los Frailes is the prefect place to enjoy the voice of the silence and meditation in the pleasant afternoons of the Old Town.

Right at the entrance a sculpture made of cooper resembling a monk welcomes visitors inviting them into the imaginary trip to a medieval abbey.

Its lobby bar, comfortable rooms and quiet courtyard, decorated with outstanding works of art, its enigmatic and intimate atmosphere combined with the suggestive sound of a water fountain invite to contemplation and meditation in this exclusive hotel.

Facilities:

22 rooms (18 standard rooms and 4 mini-suites) all with air conditioning, private bathroom, satellite T, min bar, national and international telephone access in the room, safe box and lobby bar.

Address:
Los Frailes Hotel
Calle Teniente Rey No 8 entre Mercaderes y Oficios, La Habana Vieja
Telephones: (00 53 7) 629383/(00 53 7) 629510

The Hostal San Miguel is located very near to Havana`s Harbour, witness of the non grata presence of filibusters, whose visits to this city brought in the construction of colossal fortresses: La Cabana, El Morro and La Punta.

The building was acquired and modified towards 1923 by Antonio San Miguel y Segala, outstanding man of letters, altruist and promoter of Cuban culture. He was the director of La Lucha newspaper, a very important one during the war of Independence in 1895. Later on, he became a distinguished businessman.

This elegant architecture ensemble is distinguished by the disposition and good taste of its compartments, which show the life style of well consolidated high class of Havana in the 1920’s.

Its comfortable ten rooms, the Grand Saloon, designed with pompous filigree to hold protocol banquets as in the 20ies, its attractive lobby bar and a captivating terrace with and excellent panoramic view make this place a concurrent stop for travellers who enjoy exquisiteness and good appearance.

The Terrace: The lookout point offers a fascinating view of the Harbour and its fortresses. Excellent spot for breakfast lunch or dinner overlooking the best of Havana’s architecture.

Facilities at Palacio San Miguel:
Ten air conditioning moms, private bathrooms, safe box, minibar, satellite TV, room service, national and international telephone lines, laundry, snack bar on the terrace, rent of Grand Saloon, e-mail, fax, photocopy, specialized shop, parking, luggage storage room.

Address:
Hotel San Miguel
Calle Cuba N0. 52 esquina s Peña Pobre,
La Habana Vieja, Cuba
Telephones: (0053 7) 627656, (0053 7) 634029 Fax: (0053 7) 634088

The real Cuban fiesta is everywhere: at unimagined corners, hidden behind any bend in the road. This is the opinion of some European travelers that have seen and lived a lot in Cuba, place where they return to in order to spend vacations again.
Cubans are deeply proud of this idea. They welcome visitors with their best smile, wherever they come from.
Nevertheless, one of the most distinctive marks of this philosophy has to be unquestionably related with accommodations. Certainly, Havana –the Cuban capital- is plenty of good examples; the same happens with the rest of the Island.
Many travelers prefer those places full of history; others, huge buildings exuding light and brightness through and through.
However, those who bet for small places have always the opportunity of taking advantages of higher intimacy and a more personalized attention from employees who soon become long-lasting friends.
This is the case of a very interesting hotel that also has a worthy-to-take-note history that can be kept as well as the good memories and pictures of the family in the place they spend vacations.
In addition, this place is located at one of Havana’s busiest corners, very closed to the Paseo del Prado.
That is why, this distinguished Hotel Telégrafo, located in the previously mentioned city, attracts thousands of European travelers due to its relations with arts and intimacy although being so close to hurly-burly of city life.
Featuring an average of more than 85 per cent of occupation and many years of management; it has undergone a complete repair and constitutes a much demanded place for tourists run by Habaguanex S.A.
It is located between two very crowded streets: Neptuno and Galiano. It has a beautiful façade and it is even more attractive inside. In addition, the Telégrafo holds many stories of the city.
Opened in 1860, it was located few blocks away from Amistad Street, near the place it occupies today. Around 1888, it was moved into the populous current site; and in 1911 it was fully rebuilt, representing the key reason for today’s recovery.

The Telégrafo has 63 rooms and the privileges of modern tourism services, as well as an excellent location within the Cuban capital. That is the reason why it receives many visitors who come repeated times from all over the world.
Elegance is its distinctive mark as well as a very intimate style remarked by its employees´ top-quality service that is mentioned by some surveyed guests.

Habaguanex S.A. -name of a native cacique of the region- represents a paramount tourism group for the oldest part of Havana and it is in charge of some other hotels with plenty of intimacy and charm.
This renewed hotel keeps stories of each outstanding person and celebrated happening surrounding this area of old Havana, still in time, an architectural landscape with plenty of anecdotes.
Those places are increasingly much demanded by, mainly, Europeans that come to Cuba, and specifically to Havana, who have historical and cultural interests.

HAVANA — The crisis of provisions in the agriculture in Cuba mobilized the Cuban Government to cover the deficit of products with its own reserves, while the first vice president José Ramón Machado Ventura called the population to make it impossible to those who try to be take advantage of the ”special situation” that the country lives.

The Cuban government is sending extra shipments of beans and rice to the markets owned by the State due to the shortage of farm products after the hurricanes Ike and Gustav , as reported last Wednesday by the official press.