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Havana’s City Walls
Construction of Havana’s fortified city walls began on February 3, 1674. They ran along the western edge of the bay and, on the landward side, stood between today’s Calle Egido, Monserrate, and...
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Centro Habana and The Malecón
Laid out in a near-perfect grid, mostly residential Centro Habana (Central Havana, pop. 175,000) lies west of the Paseo de Martí and south of the Malecón. The 19th-century region evolved following...
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Sights in Barrio Cayo Hueso, Havana
Immediately west of the Plaza Antonio Maceo, a triangular area bordered roughly by the Malecón, San Lázaro, and Calzada de Infanta forms the northwest corner of Centro Habana. Known as Barrio Cayo...
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Which Virgin Island Should You Visit?
Each of the seven Virgin Islands holds its own draw, and depending on what sort of experience you’re looking for during your travels–rest and relaxation, exploring off the beaten path, or a darn good...
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Finding Nightlife and Entertainment in Havana
Yes, the city has lost the Barbary Coast spirit of prerevolutionary days, but habaneros love to paint the town red as much as their budgets allow. Many venues are seedier than they were in the 1950s;...
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Visit Havana’s Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña
The massive Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña (Saint Charles of the Flock Fortress, Carretera de la Cabaña, tel. 07/862-4095, daily 10am-10pm, entrance CUC6 adults, children under 12 free, CUC8 for...
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Sights in Zulueta (Calle Agramonte)
Calle Agramonte, more commonly referred to by its colonial name of Zulueta, parallels the Prado and slopes gently upward from Avenida de los Estudiantes to the northeast side of Parque Central. Traffic...
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Jewish History and Heritage Sites in Cuba
Today, Havana’s Jewish community (La Comunidad Hebrea) numbers only about 1,500, about 5 percent of its prerevolutionary size, when it supported five synagogues and a college. The first Jew in Cuba,...
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Where to Catch Live Music in Puerto Rico
If you want to hear live music in Puerto Rico, you’re in luck. There are festivals nearly every weekend throughout the island, and music is always a major component. On weekends and holidays, parks and...
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Sailing Charters in the Virgin Islands
If your travels include dreaming of sailing on the balmy ocean, consider booking a charter in the Virgin Islands. You’ll have two types to choose from–crewed and bareboat–and no matter which you...
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Discover San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico, is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in the Caribbean. San Juan’s natural beauty is apparent in its miles of sandy beaches, its shady plazas, and its beloved coqui, a tiny tree...
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Havana’s Jazz Scene
If jazz is your scene, Havana has some great locations to check out. Most jams happen during the usual nightlife and supper club hours, but you’ll find a few venues offer afternoons and matinees, too....
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Cuban Colonial Architecture
Cuba boasts the New World’s finest assemblage of colonial buildings. Spanning four centuries, these palaces, mansions, churches, castles, and more simple structures catalog a progression of styles. The...
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Discover St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
For many travelers, St. John is as near to perfection as a Caribbean island can be. More than 60 percent of the 20-square-mile island is national park, so its beaches, vistas, underwater coral gardens,...
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Snorkeling 101: Tips and Tricks
Everyone should try their hand at snorkeling. It is a simple, low-tech, and easy way to explore the wonderland of reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove forests, and sandy bottoms that exist around the coasts...
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Seafood in the Virgin Islands
No food group is as traditional in the islands as seafood. Pot fish, the reef fish caught in fish pots, is ubiquitous in local restaurants and is served grilled, boiled, or fried. Common species are...
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Explore Christiansted National Historic Site
Comprising five historic structures dating to the earliest days of Danish colonization, Christiansted National Historic Site (340/773-1460, 8am-5pm daily, adults $3, children under 16 free) is the...
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Quelbe Music of the Virgin Islands
The traditional music of the Virgin Islands is quelbe, also called scratch or fungi. A quelbe band consists of a banjo, a conga drum, a squash, and a triangle. Other instruments sometimes included are...
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Where to See Tango and Flamenco in Havana
An art as much as a dance, tango and flamenco venues are alive and well in Havana. Here’s where to go to catch a performance or even take a lesson or two yourself. Flamenco in Havana. Photo © Theodor...
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The Virgin Islands’ Best Snorkeling
Good snorkeling is in the eye of the beholder, but most people gravitate to reefs. It’s here, after all, where you will see the greatest diversity of fish, marine life, and coral. But sea grass and...
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