CUBA AIRGUIDE
Tourist Magazine March 1956
[NOTE:
1. Page numbers begin with the cover.
2. The following is broken into page numbers with links to the advertisements and photographs on each page.
3. This publication had many typographical errors, which only a few were corrected
4. Corrections follow the error in brackets.]
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CUBA AIRGUIDE .. [Cover] [To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
Visit Cuba-Land of Gaiety!
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Hotel Vedado advertisement
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CUBA AIRGUIDE
Vol. 3, MARCH, 1956 No. 3
Publisher: MIGUEL M. FOX
CONTENTS:
Havana Sketches.................5
Visit the Isle of Pines.........12
The Havana Zoo................19
Havana by Night................23
Tourist Supplement............35
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
[people dining]
[two chorus girls]
[drawing of men fishing]
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
OUR COVER
Marta Veliz, Vedette
Published monthly by "Organizacion de Revistas y Publicaciones
Asociadas". Editorial and advertising offices: Avenida 7A No. 663
ent. Ave. de los Oficiales y Calle 1, Buenavista, Marianao, Havana,
Cuba. Telephone: B-8951. Entered as Second Class Matter at
the Post Office at Havana, Cuba. Price per copy: $0.15/
Subscription: $1.50 per year.
THIS IS AN O.R.P.A. PUBLICATION
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El Encanto Ad
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-- [no caption -- Ship entering harbor]
HAVANA SKETCHES
AT first, we had thought about adding on a fictitious ending and making
a story about of it, but finally we decided to pass it on just as we
heard it. We were at an art gallery in the Cathedral Square,
where there is a certain sea-scape that we yearn for, and will some
day–but that is quite a different story. Anyway, we were at this
art gallery, and as is not uncommon, the talk had swung to topics
distantly, if at all, related to art. As a matter of fact, it was
about witchcraft and allied topics that the Uruguayan painter, the
Havana pharmacologist and ourselves were talking. The painter had
just told us about the time in Brazil that a painting of his, on native
cult motifs, almost became an object of veneration by some natives who
saw it through an open window; and the pharmacologist smiled and told
us his story:
"My wife," he began, "has a silver jewel case that I gave her when we
were engaged. It's a beautiful piece of filigree work, and worth
a lot more than what I paid for it, which was $78. She never
heard about how I raised the money for it until well after we were
married, though: I didn't want to have her get a bad impression,
especially since at that time what I most wanted was to impress her
favorably. Young love, you know.
"Anyway, this is how I got the money: On my way to classes at the
University, I used to take a short-cut through the Quinta de los
Molinos, the University of Havana's experimental farm. One day I
saw three cents, three copper pennies, lying on the path.
Naturally, I picked them up and put them in my pocket. The next
day, once again there were the three coins on the path; three more
copper pennies, I mean. Again, I picked them up and pocketed
them, but this time I mentioned the matter to one of my classmates,
saying that it was certainly an unusual coincidence.
"My classmate laughed, and asked me if I really didn't know what the
coins meant. When he saw that I didn't, he told me that it was
part of the Ñañigo rite to make an offering of three
copper coins to one of the rite's deities, and that I had, in effect,
been plundering an altar, since the path obviously had some religious
aura attached; at least, since the Quinta de los Molinos is the only
large tract of wooded land left in the heart of Havana, that was what
seemed most likely, that it was the scene of some Ñañigo
rites. He added that if I were
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Bacardi advertisement
superstitious (not that he was, of course) perhaps I should leave the coins right there.
I didn't take his advice. Instead, I took the three cents every
day. Or rather, I took the three cents every time I found them;
for some days I would find them not only I the morning on my way to
classes, but also in the afternoon, and sometimes, on one of the big
Ñañigo feasts, I suppose, I would find several offerings,
each one consisting of the inevitable three coins. Well, time
went by, and after a while, the box I kept the coins in (for I never
spent them, but just kept chucking them into a box with no fixed
purpose in mind) was a comfortably full. Then one day I
remembered that my fiancee's saint's-day was coming up, and went out
shopping for a present for her. I saw the jewel case in a shop
window, liked it and bought it. I don't think the jeweler had
ever seen so many pennies in his life.
"After we were married I told my wife the story, but it didn't seem to
worry her. Every now and then, though, when she speaks about the
case, she calls it her witch-case."
That was all there was to the story, he insisted in spite of our pleas
for a dramatic ending. As we said before, we had though of adding
an ending to the story, something about their house being broken into
on the eve of some big cult festival, and only the box being taken,
with three copper cents being left in its place, but on thinking it
over, we decided to leave it as he told it. Not only is it true
it seems to make a better story that way too.
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Tasca advertisement
One of the minor mysteries of life in Havana had just been solved for
us, and we pass the solution on to you, in case you were ever puzzled
by the same thing as we were. Every now and then, passing by
certain shops or office buildings downtown, the steady ringing of a
bell caught out attention. It never intrigued us too much, and we
were content to make up spur-of-the-moment explanations
(burglar-alarms, short-circuits in the phone system, calls for
messenger boys, private telegraph systems were some of the less
fanciful ones) and let it go at that. Recently, however, we began
to hear the bell ringing near the spot where a friend has his office,
and we asked him about it. Did he know what it meant?
Certainly; hadn't we noticed that wherever the bell was to be heard,
there was always a coffee stand close by? Well, what the
bell meant was simply that a fresh batch of coffee was being
brewed. So if you ever are downtown and hear what sounds like a
stuck telephone, just step right up and invest three cents (there's
that phrase again) in a delicious cup of pipping hot café solo.
The other day, in the elevator going up to our office our attention was
attracted by two girls, one a doctor, who were animatedly speaking to
each other in fluent French. At least one of them was a Cuban: a
Spanish phrase she used was much too colloquial to have been used by a
foreigner. Intrigued, we started doing some checking up on the
subject of languages in Havana. Well, to begin with, at least
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Grant's Whisky advertisement
two radio stations do most of their transmitting in English; there are
radio programs in Arabic, Yiddish and Chinese to be heard daily.
Newspapers are published in English, Chinese and Yiddish, and several
magazines come out in the various Spanish regional dialects. But
probably the most typical sign of Havana's polyglottism is to be seen
in hundreds of local shops and establishments: grocery, beauty shop,
insurance company, and dozens of others are not exactly Spanish.
So far, no tea shoppe, though.
From the Havana Post: "Beautiful room with lavatory, will rent to
American gentleman, very cool." As the New Yorker might say, only
hep-cats need apply?
It would sem that the tourist trade is one of Havana's oldest
businesses. According to a recently published article, among the
fifty persons or so who made up Havana's population when it was founded
in 1514, fourteen were temporary visitors. To equal that
proportion nowadays, there would have to be some 250,000 tourists in
Havana at any given time.
What does one eat in Havana? (We shall pay no attention to those
of our friends who claim that we subsist almost exclusively on a diet
of hamburgers and coffee: we haven't had a hamburger in two
months). Most visitors to Havana stick pretty much to the
standard standby of steak and potatoes, with occasional excursions into
the field of seafood, especially Morro crabs. This is a pity, for
Havana restaurants feature dozens of dishes
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Club 21 advertisement
which are both typical and delicious. What would we suggest as a
typical Havana-style meal? Well, there's always arroz con pollo
and arroz con mariscos (rice with chicken and rice with seafood) and
lechon asado, roast suckling pig, but these are individual dishes
rather than complete meals, which are what we're interested in. A
quick survey taken among our friends has resulted in a unanimous
difference of opinion: not two agreed on the same meal, but from the
various suggestions they made we have presumed to extract two menus
which are about as typical as anything you can get in Havana, and can
be gotten at just about every restaurant in town, except, possibly the
swankier ones, which are apt to find them perhaps a trifle too
common. Common they may be: delicious they certainly are.
Menu one starts off with ajiaco, a thick vegetable soup that has in
virtually every edible plant and tuber in Cuba; pumpkin, tomato, yam,
sweet potato, and anything else that may be at hand, plus beef, salt
pork and sundry other seasonings; in short, a sort of vegetable
chowder. It may be eaten straight, like soup, or you can add
plain white rice to it and eat it as a kind of stew; almost invariably,
however, it is served with the crisp French-style bread known locally
as pan de flauta–no butter. Next would come congri, which is rice
cooked with black or red beans, eaten with picadillo a la criolla,
which translates out as mincemeat native style, but which tastes
something out of this world, due to the seasoning it contains.
(Note: Cuban food is always highly seasoned, but very seldom, if ever,
hot. The
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Johnny's Dream Club advertisement
seasoning used are relatively mild, to heighten the taste of the food,
not disguise it by burning your tongue into uselessness: thyme, garlic,
oregano, saffron, bay-leaves, are some of the commoner ones). As
a side dish, fried green plantains, which, in the very unlikely event
of your not being familiar with them, are something like oversized
bananas, but never eaten raw, being used instead for boiling or frying,
whether–green or ripe. A simple lettuce, tomato and cucumber
salad, made with salt, vinegar and olive oil, rounds out the
meal. In this menu, two Spanish bean stew, loaded heavily with
pork and Spanish sausage, might be substituted for the ajiaco; their
names are fabada asturiana and caldo gallego. Menu two, and
excellent Lenten meal, would begin with a black bean stew, made without
any meat at all, though you'd never guess it from the taste, and which
is often eaten with rice, and a little olive oil thrown in for extra
flavor. Next would come a parguito frito, a little fried snapper,
or a breaded filet of snapper, or a rueda or slice of sailfish, snapper
or grouper, eaten with fried potatoes or green plantains. To
accompany either of these meals, cold Cuban beer (wine, in Cuba, is for
arroz con pollo, or lechon asado, at Christmas; it is seldom drunk at
mealtimes otherwise) and for desert, of course, cream cheese with guava
sections (cascos de guayaba) or preserved orange or grapefruit
sections. Finish off with a cup of café solo, the strong
black coffee which makes the American demitassee [demitasse] about as
strong as watered coke in comparison.
These were but two of the dozens of combinations that could have been suggested here; we chose them as be-
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
Dorthy [Dorothy] Dandridge visiting the Cuban Art Center, the
famous movie star and singer is being attended by the Director of the
Cuban Art Center, Sepy Dobronyi, famous jeweler and artist. ~ The Cuban
Art Center was inaugurated only a few weeks ago with tremendous success
and has gained the admiration of the visiting American [American]
public.
Cuban Art Center advertisement
ing typical of the meals that ten thousand Cubans eat every day in
hundreds of restaurants in Havana. Anyone wanting to learn some
more can invite us to lunch: we'll be glad to give him all the other
menus he wants. Just one thing though: no seafood for this
writer. We break out in spots and itch all over if we have to eat
it. However we have no objection to your eating it while we eat
something more to our liking. Steak and fried potatoes, say.
Everyone knows, we suppose, that in 1762, after a two month's siege,
the English took Havana and remained in possession of the Capital for
almost a year, until the Treaty of Paris returned Cuba to Spanish
control in 1763. But few people realize that in exchange for the
return of Havana, Span ceded he whole of Florida to England.
Thinking it over carefully, that's what we call a proper sense of
values (Knock, knock).
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FOR A DIFFERENT HOLIDAY
VISIT THE ISLE OF PINES
– Scene near Nueva Gerona
NO theaters, no nightclubs, less taxis–all this adds up to an than half a dozen hotels, few ideal vacation on the Isle of Pines.
This small island off he southern coast of Havana is one of the
loveliest spots in the Caribbean, and in spite of being so easy to get
to, it is almost unknown except by name, even to the inhabitants of
Cuba, to which it belongs.
About seventy miles off-shore, the small island has had a chequered
history. Discovered by Columbus himself on his second voyage in
1494, and named the Isle of the Evangelist by him, Isle of Pines was
virtually abandoned for centuries, inhabited only by a few Indians and
an occasional Spancipal pirate centers of the whole Caribbean, until
the Spanish and British finally succeeded in stamping out piracy in the
West Indies. The Isle of Pines then sank once again into relative
oblivion, until the past century, when its many marble quarries began
to be worked extensively, and many farms were established there.
After Cuba's successful War of Independence ended in 1898, the Isle of
Pines was not included in the Treaty of Paris, which confirmed Cuba's
sovereignty, as part of the naish garrison. But in the
Seventeenth Century, farsighted pirates realized that it would make an
ideal base for their operations, and for many, many years the island
was one of the prin-
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Floridita advertisement
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– A grapefruit grove near Santa Fe
tional territory, and it was generally believed that it would go to the
United States. Hundreds of American settlers moved down, lured by
the glowing advertisements which painted the island as a tropical
paradise. And for once the advertisements did not lie: the island
was all that had been promised. Farms and citrus plantations were
started, and the island prospered as exports mounted. But in 1925
the Hay-Quesada Treaty between the U. S. and Cuba recognized Cuba's
right to the Island, and most of the American settlers returned to the
States, leaving behind a handful of ghost towns, which had existed only
a couple of decades. Once more the Isle of Pines became almost
forgotten, its few thousand inhabitants virtually isolated from their
fellow citizens on the mainland. By this time the California and
Florida citrus boom had made the importation of grapefruit and oranges
from the Isle of Pines unprofitable. During the war, a lot of
low-grade iron ore, which abounds on the island, was shipped out, but
that, too, ceased, with the end of hostilities. Piles of the ore
may still be seen on the wharves at Nueva Gerona where it was dumped to
await transport north.
But recently Isle of Pines has been stirring again. Citrus is being
exported once more, and truck farming is becoming a big business, with
tons of cucumbers and other vegetables being flown out daily to Florida
markets. Cattle raising is on the increase, and there are rumors
that the swampy mid-isle section is going to be used for large scale
rice growing. There are other rumors going about too, rumors that
have stirred up a lot of
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Banana Cordial advertisement
interest in local and foreign circles: reports of the existence of
radioactive minerals, and what is more likely, the therefore more
important, of large tungsten deposits.
It is, however, in the tourist field that the greatest signs of a new
life for the Isle of Pines are to be seen. Many Cubans from the
mainland are building homes here, and it is generally believed that
hotels and motels will be next under construction. On the
southern coast, beyond the swampy central section, a Cuban-American
combine is said to have bought several hundred acres of land and
beach where they intend to develop a tourist resort that will rival
Varadero. The Cuban government has authorized the holding of
bullfights on the island, and various local promoters are actively
interested in this. More and more Cubans and foreigners are
finding out for themselves that the medicinal waters of the island's
many thermal and mineral springs possess remarkable therapeutic
properties, and even more are discovering what certain sportsmen have
known for many years: that for a different, thoroughly restful
vacation, there's no place like the Isle of Pines.
True, there's no nightlife, no bright lights, few shops. But there are many
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Fin de Siglo advertisement
Map Isla de Pinos
other things that make up overwhelmingly for the absence of these
things, which after all are to be found, on a large scale, a few miles
away in Havana.
What is there to attract the visitor to the Island? Well, to begin
with, there's some of the loveliest scenery in all of Cuba,
there. Next–and this is highly important in these days of tension
torn nerves and nervous breakdowns for all–it is one of the quietest,
most peaceful spots on earth. Does this mean that it is a dull
boring place? Well, yes, it does–if you absolutely must have a
nightclub, and the clamorous noises of a city in order to be
entertained. But most people find that there is more than enough
to do on the island.
To begin with, there's the traditional tourist pastime,
sightseeing. The Model Prison, one of the most up-to-date penal
establishments in the world, attracts a lot of visitors, who almost
invariably leave it loaded down with samples of the inmates' excellent
handicrafts. Then there are the citrus plantations, Jones Jungle,
one of the outstanding tropical botanical collections anywhere, the
marble quarries, the deserted towns in the hinterland,
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– An abandoned church on the island 
– Bibijagua Beach
or, if you just like to roam, there are horses and cars available so that you can cover the island to your hart's content.
Hunting is quite good on the Isle of Pines: quail, doves, duck,
pheasant and some wild pig are to be found there. The fishing is,
to put it mildly, very mildly, fabulous. Perhaps one of the
reasons that the island is not be better known, it has been suggested,
is that for years the principal visitors there were fanatical fishermen
who were in no hurry to let others in on the secret of their rich new
fishing grounds. Boats are available on the island, fully
equipped for everything from a couple of hours of looking for snapper
to a week's trip fishing for sharks or sailfish or what have you; and
rare is the fisherman who disembarks empty-handed from one of these
trips. If you are a swimming fan, the island abounds in lovely
beaches, including one, Playa Bibijagua, whose sand is black.
Yes, we know it sounds funny: who ever heard of black sand at a
beach? But the fact remains that the sand at Playa Bibijagua is,
not brown, not gray, but black.
Accommodations? Ample and comfortable. Nueva Gerona, the
capital of the Island, has two hotels; the Isla de Pinos and the
Virginia; a few miles out of town there is guest house, the Rancho
Rockyford, which is open from November through May, and in Santa Fe,
the island's second town, there is a large up-to-date hotel, the Santa
Fe, which has its own thermal spa and swimming pool. Fishing and
hunting trips and sightseeing tours may be arranged through the hotels,
as well as transportation for any trips you may want to make around the
island.
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– [no caption – looks like an open rural café]
– Las Casas, River
Getting to the isle of Pines is easy. From Havana there is a
special train every evening for the port of Batabanó where
connections are made with the ship to Nueva Gerona, which makes the
overnight voyage in around ten hours. Cars may be taken over on
these steamers at a reasonable price. Aerovias Q has two daily
flights to Nueva Gerona, the trip lasting around thirty-five
minutes. Round-trip fares are about the same: $12 for the
train-boat trip ($15 with private cabin) and $12.95 for the
plane. Transportation from the airport to Nueva Gerona costs
about a dolar [dollar], while passengers going to the Santa Fe Hotel
are taken there free by the hotel's station-wagon.
All in all, a vacation on the Isle of Pines will prove, no matter what your tastes are, a truly unforgettable experience.
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Full page advertisement for Banana Cordial
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THE HAVANA ZOO
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Antelopes
– Flamingoes
Have you ever been to our Zoo? We ask this, because for too many
people this outing is mere distraction, apt–as the Film Review Board
says–for children under 12. And too many of these people sneer at
the thought of visiting the Zoo.
The first thing one notices on entering Havana's Zoological Park, as
our zoo is called, is that this is not a classic, formal and orderly
Zoo such as is found in Europe's old cities, or in modern cities
anywhere with pretensions to being great metropolis. Our Zoo is
something different, very Cuban, not at all the official model Zoo.
Our Zoological Park has a lot of Park and little Zoological. It
is a beautiful spot, well-tended, clean and gay, with large and
well-cared-for gardens; with shady nooks for relaxing and chatting;
with toys and open spaces for the children to play and have fun
in. It is the city's breathing place, a site for enjoyment, rest
and innocent pleasure, which in addition has some handsome specimens of
our native fauna, as well as many interesting imported animals.
The wild animals, of course, are foreign. But because it is
expected of us we do have a group of lions, tigers and bears,
children's classic preferences in wild animals, and we fill the rest of
the Zoo with charming little Cuban animals, cute, lovable and
sufficiently strange to the average visitor to make him feel that each
cage contains a rare find.
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– Flamingoes [To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
Gaviria Restaurant advertisement
Birds of the most dazzling hues and thrilling songs are set loose
within enormous cages which contain growing bushes and even trees,
there to live freely, not knowing that they are imprisoned by the
almost invisible wire mesh that surrounds their comfortable abode.
There are the tocororo, the sinsonte, the arriero and the exotic
hummingbird flashing among the slower flocks of parrots parakeets and
tomeguines. Over here are the waterfowl happily splashing and
feeding in their lagoons and winding streams: cranes and king herons,
geese and ducks and venerable pelicans, of the species whose name has
become known all over the U.S. in relation with another kind of tough
bird altogether: the alcatraz.
Those rocky islets are where the simians hang out: monkeys and apes of
all sizes and kinds have their houses–and their trapezes–there.
There are also small meadows where our tiny Cuban deer live, whose
fawns muzzle you searching for tit-bits or peanuts and drink milk
eagerly from bottles brought by children not much bigger than
themselves.
We don't have any rhinoceroses, giraffes nor hippopotami, those African
exports so well-known and expensive, which are the pride of large
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– [no caption] [To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
Matusalem Rum advertisement
Zoos. Nor do we have specimens of our fine native horses, which
we should have, nor our indigenous cattle, nor the jibaro or wild dog
which is dying out, nor the jabali or wild boar. But we do have
any number of jutias congas and the like.
For every Cuban, it is strongly recommended that he visit the Zoo:
previous acquaintance is a virtual necessity against the time when
inevitably he will have a small children clamoring to be taken there
for picnics on Saturday afternoons and sleepy Sunday mornings.
But for the foreign visitor who comes here to see what he doesn't have
at home, a visit to the Havana Zoo will bring him new sights. It
won't call to mind a warehouse, nor a museum; there are no filled
shelves nor streets lined with cages on either side. It is not an
old curiosity shop nor a Noah's Ark. It is a pleasant, charming
spot where one goes for a good time rather than see animals. It
is not a place to teach nor to learn but simply to find distraction,
peace of mind and a quiet sun-drappled happiness.
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Bambu Club adverisement with three photos
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Tropicana Cabaret. ~ A scene from the production "Mexican
Fantasy", in which are seen Leonela Gonzalez and Henry Boyer appearing
on a "ball room lift".
HAVANA BY NIGHT
"It looks as Havana is becoming a branch from Las Vegas"...Those are
the very same words that a movie producer from Hollywood said to us a
few days ago. Just imagine that a few years ago there was only
one place with a gambling casino in the whole island, and up to this
date there are seven of them including the ones at the race tracks and
at Jai Alai game house. Along with the gambling houses the shows
at the nightspots has been increasing with a better spectacle, and now
days they have the luxury of "importing" singers directly from
Hollywood and France. Today is very hard to make up your mind
about visiting a nightspot, because you may tell to yourself that
MONTMARTRE is presenting a top star from France, but instead TROPICANA
is showing another top at-
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– Picture taken diring [during] rehearsal of a production at Montmartre
PHOTO – Entrance to "Louis Candela's Cave", inside of la "Tasca Espanola"
traction from Hollywood, and Sans Souci is showing a marvelous crooner
from the States, etc., and it makes you feel like seeing them all at
once.
For instance lets take a ride over to Sans Souci, and we find that
genius Lefty Clark has on the stage beginning the 6th of this month one
of America's best crooners, Mr. Tony Martin. Also we had the
pleasure of seeing during the last month of February at Sans Souci,
wonderful Dorthy [Dorothy] Dandridge who plays the role of Carmen Jones
in the picture with same name, and also another actress from the screen
Joanne Gilbert. All
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Cabaret Tropicana. ~ Nora Osorio, Ofelia Garcia, Elizabeth,
Alicia Figueroa and Jenny, are seen dancing along with the rythmns
[rhythms] of the French "drums".
La Zaragozana advertisement
this shows presented at the fabulous nightspot have been possible by
the management of Mr. Clark, whom since took over this rustic cabaret
is delighting the crowd with the best of shows.
TROPICANA, well known all over the world as the "Paradise under the
Stars", is presenting on the stage the "hit singer" of the moment, the
men that made of Tenderly's recording sell like "hot bread. Mr.
Nat (King) Cole. This is one of the many attraction that Cuban's
producer Mr. Rodney has in mind in his 230,000 dollars show.
Another of TROPICANA surprise is the showing on the stage of Mr. Rythmn
[Rhythm]... Billy Daniels; whom will appear the 16th of this month in
both Rodney produc-
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Mary, dancing partner of Renny at Bambu
Lucio Iandoli, producer at Bambu
Morro 60 Rent-A-Car advertisement
tions "Mexican Fantasy" and "Tropic Nights". Both of this
productions formed by a group of sixty dancers and Chorous [chorus]
singers have the figures [continues on page 30]
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Miami Restaurant advertisement
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Night and Day Cabaret. ~ If our readers were doubling the
existence of these "superchickens", here you have a small sample.
From left to right: Mary, Marta Guille, Nenita and Aida.
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
PHOTO – Cobaret [Cabaret] Tropicana. ~ The production named "Mexican
Fantasy", has received the unanimous approval from the most demanding
newspaper criticiser [criticizer], since the day of its debut.
Here is one of the many scene, in which our reader may judge the
magnificence of the wardrobe.
– In one scene the production "Tambo" at BAMBU, are seen Mary, Olga Gonzalez and Manteca.
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
-- During the "trip" of production "Carlyle Around the World", we
are now right in the middle of the west in Oklahoma, and how safe we
feel with these cowgirls well armed. From left to right Elenita
Samanich, Gladys Ziscay, Nelsy Vega, Maria, Maribel and Maria Eugenia
– Below. ~ Another scene of the Production at MONTMRTRE
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– SKAL. Members were celebrating at the BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO.
There isn't a better place in the city with the best of our typical
Cuban food.
La Bodeguita del Medio advertisement
[text continued from page 26]
of Cuba's best mambo dancing couple Ana Gloria and Rolando, whom for
their dancing quality have maintain themselves through all Rodney's
productions. Some others Stars at the show are D'Aida Quartet,
Leonela Gonzalez, Xiomara Alfaro, etc. This montecarlo of the
America keeps its shape into the best of shows.
At MONTMARTRE, producer Carlyle is given the best off his little cute
head when presenting on the stage the production titled "Around the
World". The crowd at the only listening of the production's name
has taken over this nightspot every single night since its debut the
15th of January. Carlyle now announce for the 15th of April the
great French man Maurice Chevalieur, and for the coming 4th of May
wonderful songstress Jacqueline Francois, another of
Page 31
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Dario. Rrums [drums] player at Tropicana.
– Sonia Calero. Star in the production at Sans Souci.
France top attraction in this little French corner of the
America. At the production beautiful Chorous [chorus] girls
Gladys Ziscay, Nelsy Vega, Maria, Maribel, Maria Eugenia, and many
others that will help you spend a nice evening.
BAMBU, rustic nightspot at Rancho Boyers [Boyeros] Highway, presents
Italian producer Lucio Iandoli with one of his best production–"Tambo"
which has gathered many of Cuban best dancers, singers and now the
voice of Italian singer Miguel Angel Verso. Also on the stage the
typical dancing couple Mary-Renny, Cuban vedette Mary Esquivel, popular
drums player
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Otelia de Armas. Chorous [chorus] girl at MONTMARTRE.
Castillo de Jagua advertisement
"Manteca", and a cast of thirty Cuban beauties.
Hector del Villar at beautiful NIGHT AND DAY, has just finished setting
up two wonderful production titled "Blue Brick" and "The Moon on
Waikiki". The heading cast of both productions are Cuban
"guaracha" singer Juana Bacallao, Sonia Saavedra and Rudy, and singer
and master of Ceremonies Mexican Victor Manuel. This is another
nightspot on Rancho Boyeros Highway.
LAS VEGAS is one of the many nightspots that has begun the year with a
stage show. This enchanting cabaret on the Vedado section
presents every so often different singers dancers of our very best from
TV and Radio, at the Blue Room
PENNSYLVANIA and PANCHIN presents wonderful shows every night.
These two magnificent cabarets are located on the way to Marianao
Beach. Another nightspot near by Rancho Boyeros highway is
TOPEKA, with an splendid floor show.
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[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
– Minet Cedan.
– Rosa Blanco. Chorous [chorus] girl.
CASINO PARISIEN, the newly opened nightspot at the National Hotel,
presents on the stage the CBS recording star Felicia Sanders, whom now
amuses the crowd with her delightful voice.
As you see, my dear traveler, coming to Havana this season and seeing
the shows will make your trip a worth while one. And when it
comes to dine out, don't forger that there are many places serving food
in every styles: French, American Italian, Spanish, Cuban, etc. such
as: TWENTY ONE CLUB, MONSEIGNEUR, SORRENTO, GAVIDIA, SARAGOZANA, MES
AMIS, BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO, WILLIES, FLORIDITA, PALACIO DE CRYSTAL, etc.
Well my good friend I have to leave you now wishing you that your staying in Havana will be a delightful one. So long.
Page 34
HUMOR
Page 35
TOURIST SUPPLEMENT
PASSPORTS. U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need passports to
enter Cuba as tourists, but they must have bonafide documentary
evidence which will prove to the transportation companies that they are
citizens of those countries. Visitors from other countries must
comply with passport regulations. French and Swiss citizens are
exempt from the visa requirement and British subjects holding U.K. and
Northern Ireland passports may also enter Cuba without visas.
TOURIST CARD. The Tourist Card which visitors to Cuba receive
from the transportation companies, or when they arrive in Cuba, costs
$2.50, and is valid for two years. This Card should be saved as
no duplicates are issued.
CUBAN CUSTOMS REGULATIONS. Tourist are permitted free entry of
regular baggage, including automobiles, trailers, amateur photo and
movie cameras, portable radios and typewriters, 400 cigarettes, fishing
equipment and guns (not rifles) for hunting purposes.
DRIVING IN CUBA. Tourists are authorized to drive automobiles in
Cuba, provided they possess for this purpose legal authorization from
their country of origin, which they are obliged to present to the Cuban
authorities when requested to do so.
AUTOMOBILES FOR SELF-DRIVING. Automobiles are available in Havana for drive-yourself rental.
TOURIST SERVICES IN HAVANA
TOURIST POLICE SECTION.
The National Police Department has a "Tourist Section" dedicated to the
attention and protection of our visitors. Its members can be
easily distinguished by the arm badge marked: "National Police Dept.
Tourist Division".
GUIDES. There is a
well organized corps of authorized English-speaking Guides whose
service can be obtained at a reasonable rate, either by arrangement
with the hotel management or through the offices of the Cuban Tourist
Institute. Both service and fees are officially regulated.
Be sure to see the Guide's license and badge.
INFORMATION. The
Cuban Tourist Institute has an office, located at Carcel No. 109, near
Prado Blvd., Havana, where, without charge of any kind, the visitor
will be given all the information he may desire: and, should he wish,
itineraries for excursions through the interior of the country will
also be gladly prepared. The Cuban Tourist Institute also has an
Information Office in Miami at 336 E. Flagler Street.
MAIL
The postage rate for Aid Mail service between Cuba and the United
States of America, its possessions and Canada is 12 cents for the first
½ oz. Or fraction thereof, and 12 cents for each additional half
ounce. Regular Mail: 4 cents for each ounce or fraction thereof
and 3 cents for post cards.
HAVANA PROVINCE
Although this is the smallest province of the Island it has a
population of 1,544,000, of which over 800,000 are inhabitants of
Havana, Capital of the Island. The Isle of Pines forms part of
this province.
The City of Havana is particularly attractive to visitors because in
the course of its four hundred-odd years of existence it has acquired
the customs and activities of a gay, modern cosmopolitan city through
its contacts with European and American countries–reflected in the
splendid boulevards, gardens, parks and the magnificent buildings of
ultra-modern architecture-while it has yet retained all the interesting
aspects and charms of colonial times found in the primitive city where
the narrow streets, cozy little plazas, forts, ancient churches and
many others places of interest are located.
PRINCIPAL POINTS OF INTEREST IN AND AROUND HAVANA
MORRO CASTLE. Famous fortress guarding the harbor of Havana; its
construction was commenced in 1589 and finished in 1597. Because
of its interesting and often
Page 36
PHOTO – [no caption - possibly Maine Monument]
exciting relics of its past, it is well worth the launch trip across the harbor.
LA CABANA FORTRESS. This fortress, which extends beyond the
Morro, cost $14,000,000. Its construction began in 1765 and
finished in 1774; it was, at that time, considered impregnable.
Today, however it has merely a historical value and is used as a
prison. From this fortress a blank cannon shot is fired at nine
every night according to an ancient tradition.
LA PUNTA FORTRESS. At the Prado. Built in 1598 to
supplement the Morro Castle in the defense of Havana. It guards
the entrance to the harbor.
LA FUERZA CASTLE. Second oldest fortress in the New World, the
construction of which was commenced in 1538 and finished about the year
1544. From its tower De Soto's wife, Isabel de Bobadilla, scanned
the horizon daily for a sight of her husband's ships which never
returned from the discovery of Florida.
ATARES CASTLE. Built in the 18th century. The obelisk on
the side of the hill commemorates the execution of the young Kentuckian
Col. William Crittended and 50 companions who had come with an
expedition under General Narciso Lopez, to fight for Cuba's liberty.
SAN LAZARO TOWER. (Torreón) Small tower on the Malecón
near Maceo Park which in Spanish colonial days was very important as a
lookout for pirates.
PRINCIPE CASTLE. The broad sweep of the Ave. of Independence
(Carlos III) leads to the foot of a hill, crowned by the imposing
Castle of the Prince, today the jail. In the cross-section of the
surrounding cliffs, are the tunnels which in the times of Spain served
as a secret passageway.
CATHEDRAL SQUARE. This has been recently restored to its original
glory. The venerable cathedral is faced by colonial mansions once
housing the nobility of Cuba.
COLUMBUS CATHEDRAL. Ancient structure whose external rugged
grandeur conceals a wealth of beautiful vestments and old silver.
The body of Columbus was interred here for many years.
PLAZA DE ARMAS. Ancient square on which "The Templete", "La
Fuerza Castle", the "Lieutenant Governor's Palace", and the "City
Hall", described below, are located.
THE TEMPLETE. On the very spot where the first mass was celebrated in Havana, under the shade of a great Ceiba tree.
CITY HALL. With its magnificent and ancient colonial patio, it
was once the home of the Spanish Governor-General of the Island.
SAN FRANCISCO CONVENT. This massive edifice, exponent of the
austere Spanish style of the XVI century, devoid of fantasy, seems to
be inspired by the dual spirit of realism and mysticism. The Post
Office Department now occupies these premises which have not lost their
conventual atmosphere.
SECTION OF OLD CITY WALL. Opposite Presidential Palace.
Formerly, Havana was completely surrounded by an old wall locking
Havana in after the nine o'clock curfew. A section facing the
Presidential Palace has been carefully preserved as a relic of the
past. (The cannon shot is still fired at 9:00 p.m.)
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. A handsome and modern structure combining
various architectural styles. The commanding feature of this
palace is glass-tiled dome dominating the neighborhood.
MALECON DRIVE. This beautiful drive is separated from the open sea only by the heavy stone wall which gives it is name.
STUDENTS' MEMORIAL. This monument is at the end of the Prado, and
commemorates the unjust execution of eight medical students in 1871 by
Spanish volunteers.
NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. On Port Avenue. A magnificent marble
structure where, under tropical skies, beautiful public band concerts
are held frequently.
PARQUE MACEO. Beautiful park honoring the great patriot Maceo who
is immortalized by an equestrian statue in the center of the park.
FRONTON JAI-ALAI. At Concordia 556. Games are held at this "fronton" every evening except on Mondays and Fridays.
FRONTON HABANA-MADRID. At Belascoain 903. Games are held every after-
page 37
PHOTO – [looks like Paseo de Marti]
noon at 3:00 p.m. and Mondays & Fridays at 9:00 p.m.
MAINE MONUMENT. Cuba's handsome memorial in honor of the heroes
of the U.S.S. Maine located on the Malecon Drive. The cannons and
chains on the monument were salvaged from the decks of the ill-fated
battleship.
CAPITOL. This majestic palace has no equal as to grandeur or
luxury in Latin America. Costing 28 million dollars, the Capitol
impresses visitors with its sumptuous decorations, its noble
proportions, and rich materials: marble, stone, gilt, bronze and
precious woods.
PARQUE CENTRAL. Flanked by the famous open-air cafes where the
orchestras rival each other in feminine pulchritude and in the quality
of their rumba music, Central Park is the starting point for our
nightlife and the customary promenade down the Prado. In the
center of the park is the statue of Jose Marti, the apostle of Cuban
Liberty.
CENTRO ASTURIANO. Medical aid and cultural society with a
membership of about 70,000. A beautiful ball room, all marble
stairs and famous tiled bar are the architectural high-lights of this
building with so much social significance.
NATIONAL THEATRE AND CENTRO GALLEGO. In this beautiful opera
house the world's greatest singers have appeared. The Centro
Gallego is another medical aid and cultural society similar to the
Centro Asturiano.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. Located on 26th Street at Carretera de Aldecoa, Alturas del Vedado.
SPORTS PALACE. This magnificent building is the scene of very
good boxing matches & other interesting sports events.
Located at the foot of Paseo Blvd., Vedado.
COLON CEMETERY. Twenty-third Street leads to this Cemetery.
Millions have been spent here in marble mausoleums, tombs and general
decorations.
PAN-AMERICAN FRATERNITY TREE AND PARK. Planted in Fraternity Park
in 1928 at time of the Sixth Pan-American Conference held in Havana,
this tree symbolized the fraternal affection of the Americas, springing
as it does from soil gathered from the 21 American countries.
PASEO DE MARTI. (THE PRADO) This sumptuous and historic avenue, called
the Champs Elysees of Havana, extends from Fraternity Park to the water
front.
UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA. This University was founded 210 years ago,
and its modern buildings, thousands of students and collaborating
faculty uphold the tradition of excellence which it has held since its
foundation. Annexed to the University is the Calixto Garcia
Hospital.
QUINTA DE LOS MOLINOS. The University Botanical Garden is today
an interesting tropical garden but was formerly the Country Residence
of the Spanish Governors and was mentioned in "Anthony Adverse".
GRAN STADIUM OF HAVANA. Where Professional and Amateur Base Ball Championships are held every year.
MAXIMO GOMEZ MONUMENT. On Avenida de las Misiones.
USEFUL ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
American Embassy Calzada & M Sts., Vedado FO-3151
Anglo-American Welfare 9 San Juan de Dios St. M-2654
Anglo-American Community Hosp. 352 2nd St., Vedado F-6651
British Embassy Edificio Bolivar, Carcel & Morro Sts. A-2905
Canadian Embassy Ambar Motors Bldg., Infanta & 23rd UO-9457
Cuban Tourist Institute 109 Carcel St. ML-1670
Haitian Legation 68 20th Ave., Miramar B-8377
Mexican Consulate 156 19th St., Vedado F-3903
National Police Headquarters Chacon and Cuba St. M-7100
Tourist Police Department 420 Oficios St. M-8339
Venezuelan Consulate Monserrate & Empedrado Sts. M-8002
Spanish Embassy 161 7th St., Vedado FO-1637
Page 38
La Zaragozana advertisement
HOTELS
ALAMAC, Galiano 308
AMBOS MUNDOS, Obispo 153
ARECES, Prado 106
ATLANTIC. 1ST Ave., Miramar
BIARRITZ, Prado 519
BRISTOL, Amistad 305
BRUZON, Bruzon 217
CARABANCHEL, O'Reilly 360
CARIBBEAN, San Ignacio and Chacon
COLINA. Land 27th Sts., Vedado
COMODORO, 72 and Mar, Miramar
CUANDA'S CLUB. Guanabo
GRAN AMERICA, Industria 502
GRAN HOTEL, Ave. Brasil 557
INGLATERRA, Prado 416
LINCOLN, Galiano 164
MONTSERRAT, Ave., Belgica 401
NACIONAL DE CUBA, 21 and O. Vedado
NUEVA ISLA, Monte 259
OCEAN, Malecon 69
PACKARD, Prado 51
PARKVIEW, Colon 101
PERLA DE CUBA Amistad 548
PLAZA, Central Park
PRESIDENTE, Calzada and G. Vedado
PUERTO PRINCIPE, Playa Cuba, Guanabo.
PUERTO ANTONIO, Guanabo
REGINA, Industria 410
RITZ, Neptuno 514
REGIS, Prado and Colon
ROYAL PALM, Industria 354
SAN CARLOS, Ave. Belgica 507
SAN LUIS, Belascoain 73
SEVILLA-BILTMORE, Prado 255
SIBONEY, Prado 355
SURF, Malecon 31
TOLEDO, 25 No. 202 Vedado
TROTCHA, Calzada 758, Vedado
VEDADO, O. entre 23 y 25
VICTORIA, 19 No. 191 Vedado
APARTMENT HOTEl, 8 and 19 Vedado
RESTAURANTS
ARBOLEDA, National Hotel. O & 21st Sts., Vedado
AMERICA, 269 Italia Avenue.
BAHIA. 56 Puerto Avenue
CARMELO, 515 Calzada Avenue, Vedado
CARMELO, 23rd St. between G & H Sts., Vedado
CASTILLO DE JAGUA, 23rd and G Sts., Vedado
CHEZ MERITO, President's & Calzada Avenues, Vedado
CLUB 21. 21ST and O Streets, Vedado.
THE COLONY. 102 21ST Street, Vedado.
LAS CULEBRINAS. 1263 Calzada Ave., Vedado
EL BATURRO, 661 Egido St.
EL FARO DE SAGUA, 602 F. St., Vedado.
FLORIDITA, 557 Obispo St.
GAVIRIA, 101 Calzada St., Vedado
HONG KONG, 23rd and 26th Sts., Vedado
MIAMI, Prado & Neptuno Sts.
MAR Y TIERRA, 65 Padre Varela St.
MONSEIGNEUR 21 and O
MES AMIS, 7 and 12, Miramar
PALERMO, 252 Amistad St.
PARIS, Cathedral Square
PRADO 86. 264 Prado Boulevard
PUERTO DE SAGUA, 415 Acosta St.
RADIOCENTRO, 23rd & L. Streets, Vedado
SEVILLA, Sevilla Biltmore Hotel
TALLY-HO, 23rd & L Streets, Vedado
LA REGULADORA, 412 Amistad St.
SIGLO XX, 251 Padre Varela & Neptuno Sts.
EL TEMPLETE. 1 Narciso Lopez St.
TERRAZA, 001 17 St., Vedado
VIENES, 402 K Street, Vedado
VEDADO HOTEL, O between 23rd Sts., Vedado
WILLIE'S BAR, (Restaurant) 21 St and N Sts., Vedado
LA ZARAGOZANA, 355 Belgica Avenue
CASA SUAREZ, 10 San Lazaro St.
SORRENTO, Calzada & 20, Vedado
PULLMAN RESTAURANT, 312 Consulado Street
EL PACIFICO, San Nicolas & Zanja Sts.
EL PALACIO DE CRISTAL, San Jose 114
NANKING RESTAURANT, 3 Virtudes St.
LA CONCHA, Marianao Beach
RIO RITA, Guanabo Road
MR. LUCKY, Via Blanca
RIO CRISTAL, Rancho Boyeros Road
SAIGON CLUB, 5th Ave & 44, Miramar
TERRAZA CLUB, Cojimar Road
TOPEKA CLUB, Rancho Boyeros Road.
Page 39
WHERE TO SHOP
EL ENCANTO. (Galiano & San Rafael Sts.) Havana's largest
department store, the accent hare is on quality. Their French
Salon handles dresses by Dior, and the perfume counter has what is
probably the largest stock of perfumes in Cuba.
HERMAN'S STORE. (Prado 256, opposite the Sevilla-Biltmore).
For twenty-five years, Herman's has been a Mecca for tourists.
FIN DE SIGLO. (San Rafael & Aguila Sts.) Another large
department store dealing in quality merchandise, you might say it plays
Saks To El Encanto's Bonwit Teller, or viceversa.
FUSTE SHOP (208 Amistad St.) Heard our Cuban music? Like
it? Want to take some back to play for the folks back home?
Well, here's the place to get your records.
EATING OUT IN HAVANA
CLUB 21 (N & 21st., Vedado) Specializes in seafood and American beef.
MIAMI (Corner of Prado & Neptuno) Spanish, American and Cuban cooking; every kind of local fruit can be bought here.
PALACIO DE CRISTAL (Corner of San Jose & Consulado Sts., across the
way from the Capitol) Recently decorated, or rather, rebuilt.
International cuisine.
FLORIDITA International CUISINE. Cradle of the frozen Daiquiri
CASTILLO DE JAGUA (23rd St. & Avenida de los Presidentes, Vedado)
Like rice? Like seafood? Like them both? Here's an
ideal spot to go to try out two classical dishes: paella valenciana,
and arroz con mariscos. You won't regret it.
EL BATURRO (651 Egido St.) If you've ever wanted to eat real
Spanish food in a real Spanish tavern, this is the place to do it.
RANCHO LUNA (Km. 1, Torrens Highway). This Cuban farm offers
various attractions to the tourist, such as cock-fights; but the local
set consider it a fine place to eat typical Cuban food.
EL CARMELO. (Calzada & D Sts., Vedado) For years this had
been an institution among Havana society. The cooking is
exceptional, and the menu one of the most varied in town, as is the
wine cellar.
LA ZARAGOZANA, (355 Monserrate St.) One of the oldest of Havana's
restaurants. One of the best places in town to get seafood; the
service here is also exceptionally good.
GAVIRIA. (Calzada & M Sts., across from the U.S. Embassy) One
of the newest and at the same time most popular spots in town.
Page 40
UNITED STATES CUSTOMS EXEMPTIONS FOR VISITORS TO CUBA, RETURNING TO THEIR COUNTRY
According to the regulations of the United States Government, each
returning resident of that country may take back with him on his return
from Cuba, free of import duty and revenue tax, 200 dollars worth of
merchandise purchased abroad, for personal use and consumption, or as
gifts provided he has been absent from the territory of the United
States at lest 48 hours, but less than 12 days, and has not taken
advantage of this exemption within a period of 30 days from the last
exemption claimed. In addition, residents who have been away for
more than 12 days, are permitted to take back 300 dollar more in value
of merchandise (excluding distilled spirits, wines, malt liquors and
cigars, which may be included in the 200-dollar exemption), under the
same conditions. This additional exemption shall only apply if
the resident has not taken advantage of it within the six month period
immediately preceding his return to the United States.
It is advisable to obtain a signed receipt whenever merchandise is
purchased, stating the name of the articles and the prices paid for
them, which must be presented to the Customs Inspector on return to the
United States.
Cigars. Only 100 cigars may be included in the above exemption.
Perfumes. Returning residents can apply the entire amount of
their exemption to the purchase of perfumes, but in the case of certain
brands restricted by Section 526 of the U.S. Tariff Act, they should
consult the storekeeper or the Cuban Tourist Commission, who will
supply the information desired in regard to these brands.
Liquor. Returning residents are allowed to take back as part of
their exemption only an aggregate of one gallon of liquor (a gallon is
equal to 23 cubic inches, which is four quarters or five. 4-5th
bottles), although the total of one gallon may be made up of various
kinds of liquors.
CUBA'S VARADERO BEACH THE RIVIERA OF AMERICA
Varadero has long been considered one of the finest beaches in this
Continent because of its size, the color of the sea that has won it the
title of "Rhapsody in Blue" give to it by American writer, its soft
white sand that looks like powdered silver, the mildness of its climate
and the incomparable beauty of its scenery. At all seasons
of the year this beach is the meeting place of fashionable,
cosmopolitan world.
Sports: Swimming, fishing, yachting, bowling, riding, tennis,
etc. Temperature: Summer average: 79° F; Winter
71°F.
Page 41
NIGHT CLUBS
There are a number of high class cabarets and night clubs in Havana and
its suburbs that offer excellent shows with international stars and
typical native music played by the best orchestras in town, to the
delight of the dancers who crowd the floor. Some of them are
given below:
TROPICANA. First class, open-air night club, located on Avenida
Trephine, Buenavista suburb. Excellent music and
entertainment. Two shows nightly. Clubroom.
MONTMARTRE. Luxurious Night Club, situated on 23rd Street, Vedado. Magnificent, shows and orchestra. Club room.
BAMBU CLUB. Rancho Boyeros Road. Typical Cuban music and shows.
JOHNNY'S DREAM CLUB. La Puntilla, Miramar.
EMBASSY. 23 and 26, Vedado.
PALERMO CLUB. Amistad & San Miguel Sts., Havana. Air Conditioned. Good dancing music.
MAXIM'S. 3 & 10 Sts., Vedado. Orchestra. Air Conditioned.
JOHNNY'S 88. 208 O. St., Vedado. Air Conditioned with dancing music.
MULGOBA. Rancho Boyeros Road. Typical night club. Good music.
TOPEKA. Rancho Boyeros Road. Good music and shows.
CLUB 21. 21st and N. Vedado. Music, exotic decor.
TONY'S CLUB. In the heart of Havana, behind the Capitol.
BOULEVARD ROOM. 1st and 54th, Miramar. Right by the sea; music.
PALETE. Central Highway. 2 shows nightly. Dancing.
EL COLMAO. Aramburu and San Rafael, Havana. Typical Spanish atmosphere
ISLES OF PINES
Havana is the gateway to a country overflowing with tourist
attractions. Before taking our visitors through it, however, we
wish to invite them to see the small Isle of Pines, called "Treasure
Island" because it is believed that Stevenson used it as the locale for
his immortal novel. It is qualified as small only in comparison
with the larger island of Cuba, but it is 1180 square miles,
equivalent, for example, to double the island of Guadalupe, three times
that of Martinique and capable of containing the celebrated island of
Malta twelve times. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus
himself, in 1493, who named it "The Isle of the Evangelist". It
is 76 miles from the southern coast, in an extraordinarily peaceful sea
of marvelous colors, and can be reached by boat, and also by daily
airplane, in 35 minutes.
The medicinal springs in the Isle of Pines enjoy wide reputation for
the excellent cures these waters have effected, especially the springs
of Santa Rita, in the town of Santa Fe, where there is a good hotel,
American style, the "Santa Fe Hotel", with the medicinal springs at its
door.
PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE
Bounded on the east by Havana Province, Pinar del Rio occupies the
extreme western end of the Island and has a population of 454,900
inhabitants of which about one fourth reside in its capital that bears
the same name. Through this province, where the greatest number
of natural beauties in the country are to be found, will pass, in the
near future, a section of the Atlantic Caribbean Branch of the Pan
American Highway which will considerably shorten the distance between
the United States and Central America. From one of the ports in
the province a super ferry will leave for the Peninsula of
Yucatán, which will be joined to the Pan-American Highway by a
road leading to San Cristobal, Mexico, near the frontier of Guatemala.
The City of Pinar del Rio, capital of the province, is 109 miles from
Havana to which it is linked by the Central Highway and by railroad,
passing through incomparably beautiful scenes and picturesque
towns. It is the hub from which excursions are made to different
points of exceptional attraction in the surrounding country.
MATANZAS PROVINCE
This Province, adjacent to that of Havana, is a region surprisingly
favored by Nature with landscapes of uncommon beauty and facilities for
the enjoyment of sports, especially fishing. The population of
this Province is 400,000.
MATANZAS CITY. A very pleasant and interesting trip from Havana
is that to Bellamar Caves, the most notable in Cuba, whose wondrous
interior has not yet been fully explored.
There is restaurant service at the caves and also a landing field, nearby, for the use of private planes.
SAN MIGUEL DE LOS BANOS. 91.6 miles from Havana by highway,
nestling in a picturesque region, framed by mountains; it is one of the
most renowned Spas in this hemisphere. The excellence of its
minero-medicinal waters has won for it the name of "Vichy of America".
LAS VILLAS PROVINCE
This province, also known as "Santa Clara", occupies a large area of
exceptionally fertile land, the greater part of which is destined for
the cultivation of sugar-cane. The population numbers
1,032,800. Both the north and south coasts are dotted with fine
natural bathing beaches of white sand, and the adjacent keys together
with the Ocochoa, Primero and Sagua Rivers provide excellent fishing
grounds and beds of delicious oysters for which Sagua is noted.
The hunt is also plentiful–quail and wild pigeon in
Page 42
Raul Lujan's Tours advertisement
particular. This province contains more sugar mills than any
other and large shipments are made through the important sugar ports of
Cienfuegos, on the south coast, and Caibarien on the north. The
countryside is scenic, the San Luis Valley being specially noted for
its beauty–and healthful climate. At one of its highest
points–Topes de Collantes–a magnificent building has been erected for a
Sanatorium.
There are also several thermal springs in this province, such as San
José del Lago, nestling in a picturesque dreamland setting near
Mayajigua, a short distance from the Caibarien fishing zone and, for a
change, the traveler should see the marvelous caves to be found in
various sections of the province, and visit the ancient towns of
historic interest which have lain for centuries, like "sleeping
beauties", untouched by the progress of civilization, and retained all
their pristine charm as, for instance, Trinidad, Sancti-Spiritus and
others.
CAMAGÜEY PROVINCE
The province of Camagüey has a population of 625,300 inhabitants,
and occupies a large area in the central part of the Island whose
unusually fertile pastures have made it an important cattle-raising
center. The benign climate makes the winter season the most
pleasant of the year. The warmer temperature of the summer can be
avoided by going to any of the charming places in the mountains such as
Cubitas, Najasa, etc., where delightful vacations can be spent.
Some of the largest sugar mills in Cuba are located in this province
and may be visited during the grinding season.
ORIENTE PROVINCE
This province occupies the extreme eastern end of the Island and has a
population of 1,813,900, inhabitants. It has the greatest variety
of scenic landscapes in the country and owing to its majestic chain of
mountains has been called "The Switzerland of the Tropics".
The famous El Cobre Sanctuary, about 12 ½ miles away from
Santiago and prominently appearing among the wooded green of the
mountains, is reached by the Central Highway. It is dedicated to
the "Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre", Cuba's Patroness.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
Capital of the province, was settled in 1513 by Don Diego de Velazquez,
and its first Mayor was Hernán Cortés, conqueror of
Mexico. Santiago was the first metropolis of Cuba and is today
one of the oldest cities in America. Enchanting traces of the
colonial epoch are still to be seen: narrow, tortuous streets requiring
steps to make their ascent, houses of seignorial and romantic aspect,
the remains of its celebrated Morro Castle, and that subtle atmosphere
of times long past that fascinatingly contrast with its way of life as
a modern capital.
Page 43
Tropicana advertisement [entire page which is inside back cover]
Page 44
[back cover]
Sans Souci Advertisement .. [with mention of Lefty Clark, a.k.a Willie Bischorf, being new owner]
End of Page
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Cuban Information Archives. All Rights Reserved.
