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 Laguna de la Leche, 5km from town and its restaurant, La Atarraya. The lake is the largest freshwater reservoir in Cuba and one of its favorite fishing haunts. |
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| In the province of Ciego de Avila, the first settlers coming from Andalucia in the middle of th 16th century gave the city its cock-a-doodle-doo symbol. They nick-named "Town of the young rooster". The gallo (guy-yo) still sings twice daily from atop a monument at Hotel Moron. The word moron either means a nice view or a mound or is a reminder of a namesake village near Sevilla in Spain. First bullfights in 1851, first public school and first newspaper in 1855, first firefighters in 1868. In 1871 started the building of a huge defense line (la Trocha) made of low wood-built towers which crossed the island from the south coast at Jucaro to here in Moron on the north coast, the idea being to block the separatists' troops from going west to La Havana. Also plying the same route were military locomotives turned into killing machines which bore names like La Júcaro, La Ciego, La Amparo, La Chiva, La Cuenca and the most famous, El Almirante. One was named la Carneceria, the butcher. Ernest Hemingway lauded the numerous cayos of the Cuban tourist area called Jardines del Rey, (Gardens of the King) half a century ago describing with knowledge and affection both Coco and Guillermo keys (cayos) in Islands in the Stream. Today, although it remains a popular hunting and fishing location for Cubans besides having many colonial and cultural sites of interest, most tourists just pass through (morons...) on their way to the keys or cayos. These keys cover some 500 sq km, a kind of nirvana of scuba divers (in cayos Media Luna and Los Felipes : four centres with 22 dive sites), of beachcombers (21 km of white sand), as well as bird watchers looking for some of its 158 species, which, surprisingly enough have not left following the building boom which saw rise some 3,000 hotel rooms. Cayo Coco, Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Romano make up the 785 sq km Buenavista protected reserve where hunting is a no-no : iguanas, stags and some 30,000 pink roseate flamingos live there in relative peace. The keys are reached by a causeway or pedraplen (a huge three-year long project completed in 1980) on the bay of Perros (dogs) and extending some 90 km, a 50-minute drive to the end. More on (Moron, get it ? ; ) this below.
POPULATION 62,869 (2007) RESTAURANTS & PALADARES • Las Fuentes, calle Marti 169, Cuban and international : best in town • Las Delicias is across the street from preceding • Doña Neli, snack-bar 24/7 and bakery • San Fernando, 24/7 rooms for rent SEE.KNOW.DO • The superb train station (1924) : stained glass ceiling, original phone booth, etc. An annual steam locomotive festival is held here in December • Casa Parroquial • Galeria del Arte • La Trocha de Jucaro • Loma de Cunagua • Museo de Arqueologia y Historia • Museo Municipal (Precolombian Art) • Around Parque Ignacio Agramonte, one will find the Iglesia Católica (Catholic church) which was a prison; as well, the structure of the never-completed Teatro Reguero EVENINGS, FESTIVALS Casa de la Cultura • Casa de Trovadores : Casa de la Trova Pablo Bernal, Calle Libertad 74, e/Marti y Narciso Lopez • Feria Internacional del Libro, the annual Book Fair with sales and leterary presentations; each March. • Festival internacional del Bolero dedicated each year to a different famous bolero singer; first forthnight in June • Carnaval acuatico on nearby lake Laguna de la Leche with a parade of decorated boats from all over Cuba; each September. |
 Parque Balinga is open during the day only and only for children. Facing it, casa de Maite and Idolka's © sogestour  Parque Marti refreshingly shadowy © Maite Valor Morales •}• Parque del Ferrocaril, the park in front of the train station © Maite Valor Morales Cayo Coco © Killermart - Flickr  Click to enlarge.  Park with outstanding train station © •}• Los Balcones © Elo, flickr.com  Laguna de la Leche, 5km from town, Cuba's largest freshwater reservoir and mecca for sport fishing © Maite Valor •}• Farmacia Comunitaria Especial © Sabrina Pezzoli  Hotel Perla del Norte, yesteryear's hotspot © Marc - Picasa •}• Lying by the largest sand dunes in the Caribbean, some 13 meters deep and 30 dive sites off its shore, Playa Pilar on Cayo Guillermo is a great beach and part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve © Maite Valor 100 YEARS OF CULTURA LOCAL When Moron changed status from "villa" (town) to that of ciudad (city), it already boasted the second largest bookstore in Cuba, La Moderna Poesía, the cinema cum theater venue, the Apolo as well as a music orchestra (Banda de Música), the stage theater Niza, the social club la Colonia Española and the first public library in the area • The local train yards Los Talleres Ferroviarios de Morón strated operating and employing a large part of the local workers as of 1922 and the actual fishing and hunting club La Casona is located on the original grounds. • Every year, the water festival is held on "milk lake" Laguna de la leche. It's called El Carnaval Acuático and dates from the 50's with coloufully-decorated boats parading. |
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 Parque Balinga, whose caretaker is Idolka, owner of the casa overlooking this lovely children's park © sogestour |
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RENDEZ-VOUS
• El centro de Caza y Pesca (La Casona de Moron), on Cristobal Colon, (7 bedrooms, bar, grill, swimming pool), rendez-vous of hunters and fishermen. Tel.(33) 50-45-63 Closed until Spring 2010 for renovations. • La Batanga Disco Located right by the La Casona shouts infernal loud music which keeps everybody within hearing distance awake till 2 a.m. • Hotel Moron, avenida Tarafa, 144 rooms, pool, bar, disco; hunters also like the place. Tel. (33) 50-22-30 |
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| EXCURSIONS About 65km from town : Cayo Coco and its natural sites : Sitio La Guira (village), Cueva del Jabali, Playa Prohibida at the end of the key. A trail leads to a 15-meter high sand dune, Loma del Puerto • On horseback to Campismo Boquéron from Florencia to the dam, naturel decor (cliff, river swimming) and the hill where Camilo Cienfuegos battled in 1958. Horseback also in Florencia, hq of regional rodeos • Hunting in Aguachales de Falla reserve, a lagoon surrounded by lakes where abound pigeons, doves, ducks and fowl below some 24 position towers. Season 15 jul. to 15 march. Rate 85cuc/day, info at Hotel Moron • Turiguano (island) developed by Comandante Fajardo after the Revolucion : he built schools, a Dutch-style village, brought electricity and was first promoter of Cayo Coco's potential. Among its attractions, you'll enjoy Playa la Tinaja in Manati, the closest great beach to Moron, 25k away. There's the huge Laguna de la Leche (66 sq km), largest fresh water reserve in Cuba where fish (tilapia, carp and tarpon) are waiting to be caught and its famous flamingos (rowboat rentals) are waiting to be watched. You can also fish on lake La Redonda some 11km2, largest concentration of perch and bass in Cuba. Rates 36-65cuc including guide, boat, lunch and morning and afternoon fishing trips ; info at Hotel Moron • Laguna de la Leche 5 k away from centre, a 66 km2 lake for fishing (tilapia, carp and tarpon) and its famous flamingos (rowboat rentals). |
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 At the very end of Cayo Guillermo, this is Playa Pilar (named after Hemingway's boat) of which many say is the most beautiful on the island — as yet unspoiled by any resort There's just a diving centre and a beach restaurant; the cayo's resort guests get here by a rather long cab ride. On the horizon, Cayo Media Luna, an attractive scuba diving spot © sogestour Go before it changes and becomes like everywhere else. |
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PLAYAS • Closest is in Manati (on Turiguano), via San Rafael, before the pedraplen and it's called La Tinaja • Cayo Guillermo : Colorada, Flamencos, La Jaula, Uva Caleta. Some say Playa Pilar is nicest on the island (photo above). Check it out, bro • Cayo Coco : El Peso, del Medio, Larga, Las Conchas with its thalassotherapy center or the last one at the end of the 100k road (langosta and beer by the beach, sailboat rentals); other free and deserted beaches are Flamingo, Prohibida and Las Coloradas • On Cayo Romano, playa Los Pinos, is for fishermen looking to catch jurele (pale yellow salmon) attracted by your best fly, guy. |
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 HEED THE HINTS IN THIS FINE PRINT ::: Make sure that in your first email or phone call you specify that you want to book a room in that particular casa and that you will reconfirm your booking on arrival in Cuba. Unless you only want a room in any house which may be of the same quality, not the specific casa you booked through photos on these websites ::: So as to not abandon expecting owners with empty rooms, reconfirm (or call ahead to cancel) your booking by phone as soon as you can after arriving in Cuba ::: Please write or phone a casa owner to cancel a booking. As late as it may seem, it allows them a chance to rebook. ::: Children under the age of 16 may share a bedroom with adults for free. Specify the child's age when booking. ::: Since October 2010, maximum bedroom capacity is not limited to two adults ::: Also, large casas are not limited to renting only two bedrooms per night. ::: At the end of the casa name, the V signals the casa was suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by the website staff. If you try it and like it, write us about it. ::: Unless otherwise mentioned, the average room rates and service prices are : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night [up to 40+ for 4 in a room]; breakfasts 3-5cuc, dinners 7-10cuc. ::: Note : monthly taxes have increased 15-50% for owners; this may be reflected on the aforementioned rates. ::: Any casa particular anywhere in Cuba must have a hot water shower, otherwise it cannot have a permit to rent. ::: On certain occasions in the past year, overbooking may have inadvertently hurt some travellers, some casa owners and some webmasters more than would appear and this prompted this webmaster to overreact by generalizing about individual realities; having hurt most casa owners, this webmaestro's self-righteous attitude [all action, no talk] was uncalled for. Lo siento mucho I am truly sorry and apologies given, Marcos 070112 ::: Please share your Complaints, comments & suggestions webmaster [@]cubacasas.net |
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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, 33) • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 33) HOW TO DIAL A CUBAN PHONE NUMBER HERE  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. Google translate here.  |
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MAITE VALOR MORALES + PALADAR Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, parking Luz Caballero nº 40-B, entre Libertad y Agramonte, about 200m from Casa de la Trova Tel. (33) 50-41-81.  |
HOSTAL VISTA AL PARQUE Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, kitchen Luz Caballero # 49-d (upstairs, "altos"), e Libertad y Agramonte, near Trova and Parque Balinga. Tel. (33) 50-41-81 right in from of neighbour Maité  |
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| FRANK CEPERO FRANCO One aircon bedroom, ensuite, quiet Callejas nº 136, entre Castillo y Luz Caballero about 5 blocks from Etecsa (Internet Cnx) Tél. (33) 50-52-58 cell 05 294-5142  |
DULCE y WALDYS V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, centre Calle Narciso Lopez 319, entre Serafin Sanchez y Sergio Antuna, facing Hechevarria Park, near central Parque Marti. Tel. (33) 50-31-36  |
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| HOSPEDAJE LIBERLUZ V Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, centre Calle Libertad 148 entre Luz Caballero y Padre Cano, close neighbor of Maité Valor Morales, above. Tel. (33) 50-50-54  |
CARMEN GONZALEZ MARTIN V
One aircon bedroom, ensuite, centre General Peraza # 38, entre Felipe Poey y Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, 100m from train station. Tel. (33) 50-45-72  |
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| BELKIS y OSCAR V One aircon bedroom, ensuite, centre Cristobal Colon 38, entre Carretera de Patria y Linea de Ferrocarril Tel. (33) 50-57-63.  |
MAREL y PACHY V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, centre Calle Serafin Sánchez nº 77 entre Marti y Castillo Tel (33) 50-31-86.  |
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| ONAIDA RUIZ FUMERO V One aircon bedroom, ensuite, centre Calle 5ta No. 46, corner of A, between 6ta y 8ta, across town near Hotel Moron closet to Ciego de Avila access Tel. (33) 50-34-09  |
OSKAR MACHADO V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, centre Calle Enrique Verona No. 4, entre 4 y Línea, in the center of town Tel. (33) 50-45-84  |
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| LLEMY y ROSELIA V Calle Libertad # 12, entre Zaya y Avellaneda, one block from the casa de la Trova. Tel. (33) 50-50-73 "Before the centre of Moron. Renovated, it rents one bedroom with own living room with new furniture and television, a small kitchen, bathroom; open air in back of the house. " |
AMARILIS GARCIA BETANCOURT V
Calle 4 nº 37, entre Hnos. Gonzalez y E. Varona. Cell phone (5) 292-9623 "Amarilis and her family rented us a very nice air-conditioned bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The family loves fun and went dancing with us at Hotel Moron and the local disco. " |
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| DOÑA MAGUI V Calle Serafin Sanchez nº 71, entre Martì y Castillo Tel. (33) 50-41-95 @ "A nice hostess who plays violon for a hobby. If you forget your alarm clock, ask her to serenade-awake you... We had a nice stay in the air-con bedroom with ensuite, tv, fridge, fan and VCD player. Meals served, model hospitality. " |
CASA XIOMARA V
Calle 8 (ocho) no 2-C, entre B (Sordo) y C Tél. (33) 50-4236 @ Independent and away from main building, Lisbeth rents one aircon bedroom with ensuite; nice patio with hibiscus fragrance. Owner works in the cayos and knows tourism. |
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Photos & content © sogestour  Updated |
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