Hershey train, seafood restaurants Havana and Best places for music.

Hi Elaine,

Thanks for the questions. I have some answers for you.

1. As for seafood, I recently gave a pretty good answer at this link (https://bestcubaguide.com/forums/topic/questions-about-havana/#post-14970). Basically, seafood is expensive in Havana, and Cuba in general. It’s because, despite being an island surrounded by tons of fish, there is no real supply chain to get the seafood from the water into restaurants. Most of the fisherman are independent and just fish by casting lines off the Havana seawall. Large fishing boats are not legal. Basically, if you want fresh fish, you have to know a fisherman. But there are some restaurants, as outlined in the above link which have contracts with local fishermen and get fish and lobsters daily. But as mentioned before, they are expensive. If you are staying in Playas del Este, there are more fisherman in that area and many casa owners can organize to cook you a lobster dinner for about 12cuc per person. But you would have to directly ask the casa owners. Also, sometimes if you are just walking around Playas del este, you will be approached by people offering to cook you a lobster dinner (if you look like a tourist). It will always be about 12cuc per person, but generally the meals are good. In a nutshell, for good seafood, either you go to a good restaurant and pay up, or you get lucky and your casa owner or a local just offer to make you some lobster… and you pay up. Honestly, i don’t think you will have problems finding seafood. If you tell a casa owner that you want seafood, they will get the word out and bring you some offers.
2. A few of the best dance/music places are: Club 1830. It is very popular and located on the Malecon. They have salsa nights where you can dance outside just beside the ocean. It’s a bit upscale and you will find tourists there. But it’s popular with locals too. Also, the most popular place for live music is currently Club El Diablo Tun Tun. Go to it on a Thursday at about 6pm and the place will be packed with people and there will be live music. It’s a locals place but tourists have learned about it. The most popular day is Thursday and the shows start at about 6pm. Another great place is Casa de la Musica. They have live shows there. There are usually matinees starting at 5pm and late shows starting at 10pm. You would have to pass in front and check the marquee for details.
3. For the Hershey train, I have some more info at this link : https://bestcubaguide.com/how-to-take-the-electric-hershey-train-in-havana-cuba/ I will be honest, and I mentioned this in the book. The train is a mess. Some days it does not come at all. And once you are in the town of Hershey, there is no guarantee that it will come back as scheduled to pick you up. Always have a bit of cash on you in case you have to use a taxi to get back to Havana. As long as you intend to use the train for fun, and have an open mind, it will be a fun adventure. If you wanted to use the train for actual travel and hope to get to a place and back on a schedule, it would be a disaster. In the post I linked to above, I show a photo of the train schedule the last time I was at the station. Here is the image again…

As you can see the schedule is just hand written. They change it sometimes. According to this schedule, it is as you say…. “it shows the 12.20pm dep from Havana arrives at the Hershey stop at 1.55pm. The departures from Hershey show at 1.55pm or at 6.10pm which would mean either staying for no time at all or waiting for 4 hours.” You are not missing anything… That’s just how the train is. In fact, that’s how Cuba is in general. haha. And remember.. that’s if the train actually comes.. Anyway, perhaps now the schedule is different. Perhaps somebody has improved the schedule so that it can actually be useful. But i doubt it. And if you want to know “what can i do in Hershey for 4 hours?” well… there is not a whole lot to do. It’s a cute little town and it’s off the beaten track. And if you have the stamina to walk around and explore then it will be fun. It’s a farm town and the people are very nice. But 4 hours is a lot of time, especially on a very hot day.  Last time I was there, there was road work on the highway and traffic was being diverted through the town. It was a zoo. I am not sure if this has changed since. Apparently they are repairing a bridge in the area and it is a long term project.

Anyway, as long as you keep an open mind, Cuba will be a fun adventure. I am sure you will have a great time. If you have more questions, just ask me.

take care,

Mario

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Mario.
• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Mario.