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 Cárdenas supplies Varadero in labor. It boasts nice examples of neo-classic architectura (superb patios, high windows, detailed motifs) and it's a short one-day excursion for the tourists who rent motorbikes in Varadero. During our Cardenas dog day afternoon, we saw half-drunk, red faced, bare pot-bellied, 9cuc-per-hour scooter buzzing jimbos looking for their way out of hotter than hell streets. Every time we were asked in-English-only for directions, we told those rednecks, in perfect Spanish of course, to get lost but ... they were already ; ) Seriously, Cuba's flag was raised here for the first time in 1850. The first electric tramways started here. Link below. The sleepy town also lives off the little sugar industry still left around and the fishermen's catches. Its citizens use the horse-drawn taxis to get around. Most ride bikes. Hasta la bicicleta siempre ! Main local headaches : there are way too many open air sewers. Phew ! So unlike the rest of the country. Let's get organized, compañeros ! Get a hose, pump some water and wash down those smelly streets. Seamos realistas, pedimos el impossible. Indeed !
POPULATION 87,100 SEE • Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion (stained glass) • Hotel La Dominica (National monument where the city was founded) • Museo a la Batalla de Ideas (superb views, odd statue of boy throwing a Superman doll... Shades of Elian ?) • Museo José Antonio Echevarria • Museo Óscar María de Rojas (oldest on the island), Parque Colón • Parque Echevarría • Plaza Molokoff (covered, metal-framed building) • Fabrica de Ron Arrechabala (first home of Havana Club Rhum; tours 3 cuc) • San Miguel de los Baños, 25 (swimming pool, Loma de Jacán) PLAYAS All those of Peninsula de Hicacos, where Varadero spreads its resorts over 17 km. Playa Larga nearby. Varadero - The beginning of the Peninsula de Hicacos is at Santa Maria (bridge), or 7 km from Cardenas (3cuc by taxi from downtown, which goes no further 'cause it's not allowed to go further). Varadero Las Morlas, the very end of Hicacos is 34k away RESTAURANTS/PALADARES Casa D'esprio, Casa de las Infusiones, Café La Cubanita, El Rapido, Hotel La Dominica, Los Almendros, Las Palmas, Paladar Palmares, Pizzeria La Bolognese SERVICES • Hourly buses to Varadero (6cuc) ; three dailies from La Habana ; regular service for Jaguey Grande (junction with the trans-island autopista), Jovellanos, Matanzas, Santa Clara (10cuc), Trinidad (18cuc) • Local train between Cardenas, Jovellanos and Colon. • Horse-drawn collective taxis available most everywhere. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS V = suggested by webbies and travelers. As of December 2007, there were about 20 casas in town but when we passed by, we were all "casad out" and did not bother to look for them. Children 16 and under may share parents' bedroom at no charge only if there is an additional bed available. Mention the age of your children when making the reservation. Updated in September 2008 Comments and suggestions webmaster @cubacasas.net |
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| BOOK BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by 45 for Cardenas or 7 if cellular). • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by 45 for Cardenas or 7 if cellular). |
 BOOK BY EMAIL : Click on logo to open a message addressed to that casa in your email application; or right-click to copy address showing at bottom of browser window. Spanish vocabulary here.  |
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RICARDO DOMINGUEZ Calle Palma 520, e/ Coronel Verdugo y Industria. Cell phone (5) 289-4431 On a clean bit of street in a quiet area, this nice bungalow, behind which lies a large patio. Lawned area, terrace and chairs, outdoor shower. Two very large aircon bedrooms, each with their own private, large bathrooms. Listed in Petit Futé 2007-2008 |
 Click to see more © sogestour |
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DAISY PENATE Calle Garcia 727, e/ Cristina y Minerva New cellular phone — To be posted here soon. Independent floor for guests. Two bedrooms, kitchen, terrace, patio. |
 Click to see more © sogestour |
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ROLANDO y LIDIA Rolando Valdes Lara y Lidia Rosa Lara Toledo Calle Campina 533, e/ Coronel Verdugo y Calzada. Cell phone (5) 270-3155 Tiny and narrow building, two tiny bedrooms with a tiny shared bath. You never know when you're gonna run out of gas on your rented scooter at 2 in the morning, fellas... |
 Click to come in. © sogestour |
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HOSTAL EL ITALIANO Manuel Barbero Aguilera Lanza Playa Larga #61, outside of town, 12 km from Varadero after turnoff of Arrechabala rum factory. Tel. (45) 52-1879 or Cell (5) 892-9498 Like the card says "Oasis en la playa" with a large garden. Meals served. |
 Getting to Hostal in typical Cardenas fashion © Herman De Bock |
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NIURKA MARIA ALEMAN VAREDA Calle Velazquez 812, e/ Palma y Estero. Yellow and red casa, small patio in front. Tel. (45) 52-4435 Cell (5) 290-1344 Seemed all right and clean and nice but the paranoid maid did not want us to take pictures as the owner was absent. Owner missed his 15 seconds of fame. |
JULIO OSCAR ROSETE FIOL Calle Obispo 861, e/ Estero y Arroyo. Tel. (45) 52-1733 Cell (5) 890-9534 Not visited in 05 but reconfirmed with new phone numbers in Sept. 08. |
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AIDA PASTORA GOMEZ ZERQUEIRA Calle Calvo 422, e/ Obispo y Princesa. Near Parque Central and Hotel Dominica. No fone. Señora Pastora has died since our visit in 2005. Casa now run by her daughter who should eventually come back from Spain where she was mid-September 2008. Tiny bedroom in the back with private bathroom. Behind a medium-sized patio. |
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Content & photos © sogestour  Updated |
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