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 The enchanting and alluring smell of freedom in its pre-revolutionary manifestation attracts many tourists to Cuba. Despite the considerable cost of recreation, the island of freedom is visited by married couples and single people, young people and middle-aged tourists.
The interest of tourists in this country can be explained by beautiful nature, Caribbean exoticism, simplified visa conditions. And most importantly, people are attracted by the opportunity to plunge into the world of communism. A few years ago there was a popular joke that Cuba stands for "Communism off the coast of America." Indeed, residents of the countries of the former USSR have a place to plunge into the past. Patriotism is very developed in Cuba, socialist ideology is still active, there is an ideological enemy in the form of the United States and other attributes of communism. At the same time, the country has a wide network of hotels and restaurants, with a high level of service, many types of recreation for tourists - sailing on a yacht, diving, and other pleasures for vacationers. The most famous elements of Cuba are cigars and rum.
Coming to Cuba, you should be prepared for the fact that the transport system there is rather sluggish. It is not recommended to travel around the city by buses, because they are not tied to a clear timetable, sometimes even a route, and there are no comfort conditions. There is a special, "tourist" taxi, where cars and prices are quite reasonable. Of course, you cannot do without the services of a private carriage, but here cars can be of any degree of deterioration. In the resort of Varadero, for example, shuttle services and tourist buses provide services. By purchasing a ticket for such a bus, you can use its services all day long, regardless of the number of trips and exit points from the transport.
If tourists have their own car, you should be prepared for the fact that it will be difficult to find the right path. There are few cars in Cuba, and therefore the roads are practically not equipped with signs or markings. Along with this, motorists will be "pleased" by a huge number of cyclists.
Cuba's climate is not easy, given the proximity of the ocean, frequent winds and humidity. The average annual temperature is +25 degrees, in January it can drop to +20 degrees. The rainy season is from June to September, and the dry weather lasts from October to May. The climate is difficult to get used to, but high humidity helps to overcome the wind from the ocean.
All beaches in Cuba are state-owned and free of charge. The hotel is adjacent to a part of the beach area, where umbrellas and sun loungers are located. They are free too.
 Given the persistent hostility to the United States, the circulation of dollars is prohibited in Cuba. When visiting Cuba, it is advisable to have euro with you, which can be exchanged at currency exchange offices. In this case, the exchange will be made only at the exchange rate. And if you have to exchange dollars, then you should be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay a commission, which can reach 20%.
You should also be careful with the owners of plastic cards. All world cards are accepted for payment with one exception - the card must not be issued by a US bank. There are two types of money in Cuba - the peso and the convertible peso. The latter are issued to tourists and used in tourist areas.
Catering in Cuba is unique. Restaurants and cafes are available only in major resort cities - Havana and Santiago de Cuba. In other places, only small establishments are available, serving sandwiches and hot dogs. Cuban cuisine offers chicken and pork dishes with lots of spices and different cooking methods. Fruit is loved here, and they are served everywhere, even with hot meat dishes. Drink preferably rum and cocktails based on it.
Cuba has a huge number of places and sights to visit.It can be excursion tours, or independent movement. The various provinces of the island contain natural wonders, museums, temples, cathedrals, memorial sites, national parks, theaters and cigarette and rum factories. Discos on the coast are also popular. As a rule, they are arranged on the territory of hotels, and can be with paid or free admission.
Yarmolenko V.O.
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