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All about Cuba
Official Name: Republic of Cuba
Capital City: Havana
Gross Domestic Product per Inhabitant: 1327
Total Area (Km2): 110 992
Highest mountain (m): Pico Real del Turquino.1974
Longest River (Km): Cauto.370
Relative Humedity (%): 81
Mean Temperature (celcius): 25
Health Regulations:
Visitors from countries with endemic yellow fever and cholera are required to present the International Certificate of Vaccination. The import of natural products of animal or plant origin is prohibited unless provided the corresponding sanitary documents.
Customs Regulations:
Tourists don't have to fill in the customs statement form. Cuba prohibits the import of narcotics and all types of pornographic material; Cuban coins, except for those coming from countries which have concluded bilateral agreements in such field; firearms, except for those who came for game hunting and receive the corresponding Cuba import permit upon arrival.
When the traveler purchases durable goods or other items at any shop during his or her stay in Cuba, he or she must always ask for the corresponding invoice so as to produce it to customs officers upon request when leaving the country. Visitors are allowed to import duty-free their accompanying personal effects in reasonable amounts.
It is prohibited to export items considered to belong to the national wealth, such as precious metals, sea shells, antiques and certain types of animals and plants.
Visa:
Every foreigner intending to visit Cuba must have a visa issued by the Cuban consulate in is or her respective country. If the foreigner is to stay in Cuba beyond the period covered by his or her issued visa, he or she can extend it in the main hotels.
Mailing Services:
Tele-post office work at most tourist centers and principal cities. Travelers may also use national post service national network.
The special mailing agencies are:
-Cubanacan Express s.a.: Phone: 204-2331
-Cubapost: Phone: 204-1578
-Cubapack Internactional s.a.: Phone: 204-2134
Buy and Export of Works of Art:
Works of art can be purchased at art galleries and specialized shops that will also provide customers with the necessary information. However, to take it out of the cuntry travelers must provide the corresponding documentation on the items they bougth, that he or she can obtain upon request. For further information, please contact:
Registro Nacional de Bienes Cuturales
17St No. 1009 between 10 and 12 Streets, Vedado, Havana.
Phones: 831-3362 and 823-9658
You can also contact the Provintial Registration Offices in all capital cities and in Isle of Youth.
Telephone calls:
Visitors can make internactional telephone calls from TELECORREOS or an international telephone number. Upon arrival, you can also make use of CUBACEL service (Phone: 880 2222) in order to rent a cellular hone or use your own by setting it to the 711 service.
Calling from abroad:
For direct dialing from abroad, you must first dial Cuba´s code (53), followed by the code of the city or town and then the desired number.
Province, city or town:
-Isle of Youth.46
-Pinar del Rio.82
-Havana.7
-Matanzas.45
-Varadero.45
-Cienfuegos.432
-Villa Clara.42
-Sancti Spíritus.41
-Trinidad.419
-Topes de Collantes.42
-Ciego de Ávila.33v
-Camaguey.32
-Las Tunas.31
-Holguín.24
-Granma.23
-Santiago de Cuba.22
-Guantánamo.21
Economy:
Cane sugar industry continues to be one Cuba´s major industries. Other products like tobacco, citrus, coffee are also important economic entries and so are rum, bee honey. Nickel production keeps growing and other mineral production is going up too. In recent years pharmaceuticals and biotechnology have reached significant development. The thrust of the tourism industry is remarkable.
National Flag:
The Cuban flag was first flown in 1850. It combines three colors: red, blue, and white. The three blue stripes stand for the three departments in which the Island divided into then; the two white stripes represent the power of independence ideals; a red triangle represents equality, fraternity, freedom, and de blood shed during the independence struggle; and the white, lone star symbolizes absolute freedom among peoples.
National Coat of Arms:
Cuba´s coat of arms has an ojival, heart-shaped form and is divided into three sections. Its upper horizontal section features a golden key and rising sun above the sea, which symbolize the geographic position of Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico, between North and South America and the emergence of a new State respectively. The white and blue stripes stand for the departmental status of the Island back in the colonial days, and they cover the whole left section. The right section depicts a royal palm in its center, representing the unyielding nature of Cuban people.
National Anthem:
Cuban poet and patriot Pedro Figuredo composed the melody of the national anthem in 1867 and added the words a year later in the heat of the so-called Ten Year War. The national anthem, initially known as the Bayamo Hymn was sung in public fot the first time in the city of Bayamo on October 20, 1868.
Handicraft:
Diverse and rich the production of handicraft is another element that defines Cuban culture and identity. Handicrafts are made in precious woods, metal, leather, coconut fiber, sea shells, seeds, and palm fiber.
Religion:
Cuba is a lay country with freedom of religion and beliefs as enacted by the Coinstitution of the Republic. The most widespread eligion is Catholicism. Its numerous churches provide all corresponding religious national of local festivities. Protestantism has spread during the last few year above all outside the capital. Afro-Cuban religions- resulting from the merging of African religions and Catholicism as practiced by the Spanish colonizers- are deeply rooted in the Cuban population. From this religiuous syncretism two main cults emerged: "Regla de Ocha" or "Santería" and "Regla de Palo Monte". Virgin Caridad del Cobre -Cuba´s patroness- is called Ochún by the Santería denomination.
Flora and Fauna:
One feature of Cuba´s fauna is the lack of poisonous or the other species harmful to human health. With its diverse and bright colors, the polymita is a mollusc that can only be found in the Cuban fauna, just like the zunzún, the smallest species og hummingbird in the world, Canorous birds abound in Cuba fields. It has been considered that the Cuban flora counts more than 8000 species.
National Atribues:
The beautiful white, fragant mariposa (jazmin butterfly) -Cuba´s national flower was the symbol of the uprising movement during the wars for independence, the tocororo -a bird of quetzal origin, whose feathers depict the colors of the Cuban flag is the national bird and the tall, unyielding -as the Cuban spirit- royal palm tree is the national tree.
Cuban cuisine:
Cuban cuisine is rich, varied and complex. If often goes far beyond so -called true Cuban dishes. The Cuban ajiaco (a sort of heavy soup with roots, vegetables and meat stewed together) that is prepared in too many different ways is Cuba´s national dish. Congrí (white rice cooked together with red beans) and arroz moro (also known as moros y cristianos consisting of white rice and black beans) are called the glory of the Cuban cuisine. Picadillo a la Habanera (Mincemeat prepared the Havana way) has become an institution.
The following might serve as an example of a typical Cuban meal:
-Season fuits or malanga fritters
-White rice
-Black beans
-Cisppy fragant fried pork meat
-Casaba dressed with sour orange juice and garlic
-Vegetable salad dressed with oil, vinegar and salt
-Guava halves with white cheese
-Cuban coffee
Cocktails:
Yet mojito, saoco, Cuba Libre and above all daiquirí -one of the world´s ten greatest cocktails- are the most famous Cuban drinks.
The Cuban Nature:
Cubans are cheerful, jesting, open-minded, loving, tender, uninterested, hospitable people, but also joking, hyperbolic and exagerating. Cubans are also enthusiastic people for whom any problem has is its solution although such a solution migth cause a new problem. They are finally honorable, patriotic and ful of human dignity people.