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March 27, 2017

Girl's Guide to Cuba

Close-up of two women: left in a white hood with pearl drop earring, right in red with hand on her forehead showing a ring

 

Fresh off a trip to Cuba's capital, Olivia La Roche and Alexes Bowyer of Petra von Kant (one of our favorite online-only vintage stores) are a gold mine of info for navigating Havana.  Read on to check out their guide to the historic city, complete with wardrobe essentials and must-read tips.

 

Side-by-side portraits of a woman: left in a red tank top with dangling pearl earrings, right in a white lace-up top with a gold choker, photographed against tropical foliage

Close-up of hand wearing three silver sculptural rings resting on a large green monstera leaf

Woman peeking through bird-of-paradise flowers wearing rings, beside a silver organic necklace on wet leaves

Where To Stay 


"We booked a place through AirBnB and later found out that the Cuban government had recently banned the website, so our host was not able to check their reservations. We ended up calling them directly and working everything out, but we would suggest a hotel reservation for anxiety free booking. Hotel Florida is classic Old Havana with a boutique twist, and Hotel Inglaterra was a favorite hangout of ours with its late 1800's Moroccan inspired decor and breezy outdoor patio with live music."

 

Decorative folding fan mounted above a bed with white pillows in a simple guestroom

Person rinsing long hair with a handheld shower head in a tiled shower, overhead view showing wet back and rings on their fingers

What To Pack


Wardrobe

O: Mostly vintage cotton knits and linen dresses, worn-in 501's and light shirts. I had fun with jewelry and sunglasses and kept the rest simple." 

Woman in a tied white shirt wearing a bolo necklace holding a drink and a close-up of a hand with a silver ring on a blanket


A: Cool cotton layers, durable sandals, sneakers, rings, bathing suit, and a hair tie. 


Woman sitting on a seawall looking toward the ocean with a painted-face T-shirt, Havana coastline and lighthouse in the background

Woman sitting barefoot on a red upholstered armchair wearing a blue gingham dress in a pink-walled room

 

Reading List

O: On Beauty by Zadie Smith  

The Stranger Beside Me (Ted Bundy, The Shocking Inside Story) by Ann Rule 


A: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

 

Overhead of a tabletop with a glass, small bottle, wrapped candies, a cactus cup of cocktail picks, and a magazine 

Essentials

A: Portable Speaker, Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm, Sanoflore Gelee Magnifica Face Wash, Burn-Out SPF 35


O: Egyptian Magic, RMS Un-Cover Up, Simplers Lavender Oil, Weleda Wild Rose Body Lotion, and my favorite baking soda toothpaste.

 

Blue striped beach tote and beige strappy heeled sandals resting on sunlit sand beside a seated person

Woman in brown bikini and sunglasses on a sunny Cuban beach; coconuts and a bucket on sand with turquoise sea

Miscellaneous: Watercolors and painting supplies. Dried figs, cherries, mango, and cashews. Journals, cameras, and tons of film!

 

Woman sitting on a striped towel on a sandy beach painting with a small watercolor palette

Woman seated on a sandy beach sketching in a notebook next to a red striped bag and a black backpack


Where To Shop

O: "Shopping isn't really a thing in Cuba being that it is still a communist country. I did develop a fascination with all the regulation-esq sleepwear on display but didn't bite the bullet and snag myself a set. Wish I had.”

A: "Cold beer is more or less acceptable any time of the day in Havana,; treat yourself to one while roaming the city on foot or find a nice spot on the shoreline with a book."

  

Two sundresses hanging in a storefront window with reflections, a blue floral two-piece set and a yellow slip dress

 

Where To Eat


"Eating is a very mixed bag in Havana. Rationing is still somewhat in place and trade is limited, so even though traditional Cuban fare is delicious, we didn't find much of it. The best advice I can give is to bring your own food to supplement the local offerings. Also, many items westerners are used to eating every day are impossible to find in Cuba, so stocking up on snacks to share is a good idea. We did come across a lovely little cafe on Boulevard San Rafael called Cafe Ballerina that had fresh fruit and omelets for breakfast, and the beach cafes in Santa Maria serve fresh seafood." 


 

What To Do


"Walk down the Malecon at night and check out all the kissing couples and musicians hanging out on the sea wall. The ocean breeze is warm and surprisingly gentle, and it feels like the whole city is there walking or lounging along the coast. Cross the esplanade to check out the outdoor night clubs or movie theaters. The films playing were very old and odd, and you won't see any American movies."

 

Woman crouching on a sidewalk at night wearing light jeans and white sandals, carrying a red striped tote bag

"Take a taxi (make sure to grab a classic car) about 20 minutes outside the center of Havana to Santa Maria, a beach known for its locals only vibe and clean shoreline. Grab a fresh coconut and a dulce treat from one of the mellow vendors who walk up and down the beach."

 

Red vintage car driving past a palm lined park in Havana, motion blurred street view

Man holding a machete and a coconut on a sandy beach with turquoise ocean and blue sky

 

"Walk the city and get lost. It's easy to navigate, safe. Follow the sound of live music, to grab a drink and dance for a moment before continuing your wander." 

 

People walking and children playing on a sunlit narrow street lined with weathered colorful buildings in Havana, Cuba

Two-story pink and turquoise colonial buildings in Havana under a clear blue sky

 

"Stand and drink a coffee served from the doorway or window of someone's home. The sweet instant espresso is served in cups fashioned from glass bottles cut in half." 

 

Overhead of a tea set on a turquoise plate with a passport beside a woman's bare legs on a worn tiled floor

Good to Know Before You Go


"US credit and ATM cards do not work in Cuba, not even to withdraw money. You will have to bring cash and exchange once you land. Skip the airport's insanely long line at arrivals and head upstairs to the exchange office in departures. Once in Havana, you can easily exchange at a hotel but don't try the banks, or you'll be in line all day (we made this mistake!)."


"Don't plan on using your phone or computer much. Wifi is limited to specific public locations and has to be purchased in one or two-hour increments. Even if you snag some cards, they won't necessarily work." 

 

Woman in pink slip dress holding a cup seated against a yellow wall beside a Cuban room with a blue fan and a portrait

 

Green vintage car parked on a tree-lined Havana street beside a pink colonial building

 

Favorites


O: "Most cars are from the 1940's and 50's, and as someone who would trade their little toe for the ability to time travel, this was a big fave of mine. Also, I was constantly stopping in front of buildings and just getting totally lost in the beauty of the architecture. It's crumbling, but that makes it even more jaw dropping because the splendor sneaks up on you. 

 

Man driving a vintage red car, view from the back seat with bright sunlight streaming through the windowsPedestrians crossing a Havana street with moving vintage red and yellow cars in front of weathered colonial buildings
A: "Heading out to the beach for a midnight swim, calm waves and lots of stars. Reading on the shoreline in the afternoon." 

 

Photography by Olivia La Roche and Alexes Bowyer. 

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