HAVANA

CUBA North America

Cuba is unlike anywhere else on Earth.
In the capital, Havana, visitors feel like
they’ve taken a time machine back to
the 1950s. Vintage cars chug along
streets lined with beautiful, crumbling
old buildings, while simple pleasures
like salsa dancing and dominoes are
the favourite ways to have fun.

COMMUNIST CUBA

Cuba is a communist country, which means that
life here is very different to most other places in
the world. Communists believe that everyone
should be equal and have the same amount. In
Havana, wages are low and until 2011 people
were not allowed to own their own homes – if
they wanted to move
they had to swap
properties. After 50
years, the country is
starting to relax some
of its strictest rules
however, so life in
the city could
soon change.

CHEAP EATS

In Havana everyone has a ration book, enabling them to buy foods
and groceries at a very cheap price. Essentials like rice, beans and
sugar are bought from the nearby bodega (local store). As the
average Cuban salary works out at only US$20 per month, people
don’t have much money to spend on eating out. Luckily in Havana
the streets are filled with food vendors selling cheap and tasty
treats from stands, wheelbarrows, baskets and windows.

HEALTHY
HAVANA

Feeling sick? Havana
may be one of the
best places in the
world to be poorly.
There are more
doctors per person
here than anywhere
else on the planet!
People in Cuba also
live longer than in
many other North
and South American
countries.

CLASSIC CARS

Havana’s streets are like a living classic car museum.
Vintage rides are the norm because for five decades
only an elite group of people were allowed to buy
new vehicles. This meant that everyone else was
stuck with cars from the 1950s! The law has recently
changed and people are now allowed to purchase
new vehicles if they want to. The cars cost so much
however, very few can actually afford them.

DANCING THE
NIGHT AWAY

Two of the world’s
most famous dances
began in Havana.
Sultry salsa and
lively mambo
both started life
in the city’s streets
before spreading their
infectious rhythms to
the rest of the globe.

FIDEL CASTRO

In July 1959, Fidel Castro became the leader of
Cuba and turned it into a communist nation. He
ruled for nearly 50 years before passing the reins
of power to his brother, Raúl Castro. Fidel is known
for banning everything American from Cuba. This
means that you won’t find McDonalds, Coca Cola
or other big US brands in Havana.