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 "A sleepy uninteresting town", Guantanamo is also described by Carlo Gebler [Driving through Cuba, Simon & Schuster, 1990] as "depressing with miserable one-storey houses". For others, the mixed origins of its population whose majority descend from Jamaican settlers (lots here speak English) and Haitian immigrants (called franceses) make this Cuban town a place truly apart. The remains of the so-called "economy" relies largely on the 100-year old US Base which "rents" (for $4,085 annually) some 30,000 acres (121 sq. kms) from the Cuban government in the huge (400 sq km) bay. Payments which Fidel Castro has always refused to cash (except the first one, during the first year of the Revolución in 1959). The military compound with its 7,000 soldiers (turned into a prison for alleged Al-Qaeda terrorists and Taliban fighters in 2002), has deprived the region of any opening it had on the sea. It supposedly has a golf course, five cinemas and a McDonald's. That figures. The one-sided arrangement signed by US President Roosevelt in 1903 was changed in 1934 by another Roosevelt President (Franklin D.) to a 99-year lease reverting to Cuba's sovereignty in 2033. It's from this base (GTMO in code, "Gitmo" for army savvies) that in 1898, the USA (which posted some 17,000 men at its Santiago base at the height of the Spanish-American war) went on to conquer Puerto Rico with 500 men, taking over the sovereignty of yet another independent country. The US still calls this type of hypocritical takeover as "democrisy".
POPULATION 215,000 SEE Parque Marti where you'll find Iglesia Santa Catalina; Plaza del Mercado and its neoclassic pink market building; Parque Zoologico, kind of rundown; Museo Municipal and its pre-Colombian artefacts. PLAYAS Guess what, they're all on the US Naval Base. Join the Army, fight terrorism, defend the benefits of "Market Economy" and enjoy a suntan on a Cuban beach ! Duh. EXCURSIONS Caimanera, a bustling town before the Revolucion, supplying workers (and prostitutes : some say 1,200) for the US Base, had visitors from all over Cuba and Jamaica. Since 1991, it boasts a 20-room Islazul Hotel but no more than 400 visitors per year. RESTOS/PALADARES Café Sol and Cafe Americana, Parque Marti ; Restaurant Caribe ; the Hotel Guantanamo restaurant is usually to be avoided. Maybe it's improved. Go check : calle 13 Norte. EVENINGS Irie influence, mon, at the British West Indian Welfare Centre, calle Serafin Sanchez ; Haitian at Tumba Francesa; Cuban at Casa de la Cultura on Parque Marti . Also, a roughriders place, Club Nevada. A moviehouse on Parque Marti. Cuban radio stations : Rebelde AM550, Progreso AM810, Reloj AM960. US radio stations ? Turn that dial, you may hear some Marilyn Manson. TRANSPORT • Air Mariana Grajales Aeropuerto, (21) 32-4782 (4 weekly flights to/from La Habana) • Bus Daily 9-hour bus ride from La Habana; daily departures to Santiago and Baracoa : station is 5 km from centre on ave Camilo Cienfuegos • Trains Daily trains from Santiago, a four-hour ride; to/from La Habana every 2nd day : station is on calle Pedro Perez, 400m north of Parque Marti • Car rentals Transtur, calle 13 Norte in Hotel Guantanamo (21) 35-5900 OUR RECOMMENDATIONS V = suggested by travellers. Check by phone. 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 reservation. Comments and suggestions webmaster @cubacasas.net |
 Depressing ? © sogestour •|• Casa de la Musica © sogestour  100 years young © sogestour •|• Noble pobre © sogestour  Ciclistas © sogestour •|• School's out © sogestour  Sierra del Maquey runs eastward. The province is 75% covered with mountains © sogestour  If you can't get in the base ... © BBC  Caimanera's train station, a long time ago. |
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| TO MAKE A RESERVATION BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 21). • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 21). |
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LA FOSTER Lissett Foster Lara Calle Pedro A. Pérez #761, e/ Jesús del Sol y Prado, in the heart of town. Tel. (21) 32-5970 A blue facade for this 1940's era casa. Lissett offers three modern, well-appointed aircon bedrooms to choose from in the back, each with its own bathroom. The view of the city from the balcony is nice and you can suntan or eat dinner on the roof, the terrace, the patio or inside. Rates : 20cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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VILLA REVES Ramón Revé Durand Pedro Perez #670A, entre Paseo y Narciso Lopez, close to Parque central. Tel. (21) 32-2159  Ramon, now a sports doctor, was once a "changüi" singer known as Mongui Reve y su Changüi. With wife Elisabel, he runs this large colonial casa. They rent two aircon bedrooms (one with twins, the other a double), each with its private bathroom and fridge. Laid-back and friendly musical (?) atmosphere. Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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MANUEL y TATICA Manuel Campos y su esposa Tatica Calixto Garcia 718 e/ Jesús del Sol y Narciso Lopez. Tel. (21) 32-7720 Very close to the preceding two casas, albeit more modest in size but colonial nonetheless (get on with it!), Manuel and spouse Tatica rent one aircon bedroom with double and single beds (occupied when we visited) with a private bathroom. The lady next door told us she's 100 years old. Say hello, when you go by... Rates : 20cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.); typico chicken meal, 5cuc; 6-7cuc for more specialities from Tatica. |
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RAFAEL RAMOS DIAZ V San Gregorio #753, entre Prado y Jesús del Sol. Tel. (21) 32-5632 Choice of four air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms. Lovely patio, impeccable hospitality, TV, fridge, garage. Rate : 20-30cuc per bedroom per night (2 pers. max.) Only 2 bedrooms may be rented per night.) From Paco Verdu, Mula, España 07.05.01 |
AURORA DIAZ V Prado 408D, third floor (Tercero Piso), Apto 4, entre Marti y Pedro A.Perez, steps from Parque Central. Tel. (21) 32-5632 (Shared with brother Rafael, left) Rather plain but clients are well treated and it's less expensive than the local hotel. Safe, clean and convenient. Laundry, double bedroom with ventilation. Listed in Petit Futé 2007-08 |
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CASA DE LOS ENSUEÑOS V Ahogado Esq. a 15 Norte, Reparto Caribe. Tel. (21) 32-6304 Three a-c bedrooms with color TV, radio, fridge, shower and minibar. Managed by a chain, it's not a true particular but if you're looking for comfort and feel rich. Make your day, hombre. |
OSMAIDA BLANCO CASTILLO V Pedro Perez #665, one block from Parque central. Tel. (21) 32-5193 Air con bedrooms with private bathrooms. |
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