Day two in Havana began with a fabulous breakfast at the Hotel Parque Central, where the buffet is not to be believed. The array of fresh fruits, baked goods, cheeses and egg dishes is unparalleled in Havana. Following breakfast, I rallied the troops for a trip to Ernest Hemingway’s Finca Vigia Villa on the outskirts of Havana. The villa is set in a village about 20 minutes outside of Havana and is an enjoyable distance from the hustle and bustle of the city. Everyone seemed to look forward to peeking into the life of the iconic writer, whose life was a study in drama. His villa was left exactly as it was when he took his own life, in 1961. The bar was still set up for cocktails and dining room table set for guests. The writer was obsessed with his weight and documented his daily battle of the bulge on his bathroom wall with an ink pen. We alighted a staircase to his writing perch, specially constructed with an unobstructed view of Havana. Although legend states that he didn’t enjoy that space for writing, it is difficult to believe that this legend cou
ld be true. It seems to be one of the most magical places to quietly write and contemplate the many complexities of life. Following our visit to the villa, we drove to Cojimar, the fishing village where Hemingway launched his famous boat, The Pilar. We stopped for lunch at a beautiful Paladar, where we enjoyed fresh fish and cold Cuban beer. It was a lovely spot to enjoy a rest and a walk along the shore before returning to our hotel for an afternoon siesta.
Dinner that evening was a thing of beauty in an historic building in Habana Centro. La Guarida was the setting for the famous Cuban film Strawberries & Chocolate and was the perfect backdrop for our group photo. The food is fabulous and the setting can’t be beat! There is a rooftop bar which was recently opened and from where you can see the entire city of Havana illuminated.
We ended the evening at two nightclubs: one with a DJ spinning Latin techno music,The Tropical; and one with a live band performing 50’s tunes. After a night of eating, drinking and dancing, it was time to say goodnight. What a day!!!