Havana City hop-on hop-off bus tour

Because Blondine and I wanted to see Havana in a grander scale, we succumbed to doing the touristy Havana Bus Tour. It does not cost a lot anyway (CUC$5 per person for a whole day access to the bus) and it would be interesting to see Havana from a different viewing point—on top of a moving bus.

The Capitol and National Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in Havana Centro. The locals refer to this grand piece of architecture as Capitolyo. Unfortunately, no one can be admitted inside unless you have official business to conduct with the ministry.

The Havana hop-on hop-off tour buses leave at Parque Central in front of the Inglaterra Hotel (beside the Capitolyo) but because this is Cuba, we had to wait for a long time. Like I said in my last entry, time does not only stand still in Cuba, it does not almost exist.

There are 2 routes; it used to be 3 routes they say. The first route is the Havana route and the other goes to the playas (beaches). We did both but for this entry I will only post the pictures of the bus tour in Havana City. The Havana route covers Havana Vieja (Old Havana) and Havana Centro (Central Havana).

Because we have partly seen Havana on foot, we were quite disappointed with this bus tour. We saw the same thing and there weren’t new places in the tour that were introduced to us. What I really wanted to see was Havana Centro. We didn’t get to see much of this area except for passing through a couple times.

Here are the pictures I took during the bus tour in parts of Old Havana and Central Havana:

Cars are parked in the middle of the street. This one is between Parque Central and Hotel Inglaterra.

This is probably the loveliest avenue in Havana, Prado y San Lázaro or popularly known as Paseo del Prado. It reminds me a bit of Las Ramblas in Barcelona and Andrassy Avenue in Budapest. In this avenue you can find many stunning colonial buildings, but sadly they are left to ruins. If only they will be renovated, Havana will be a world-class city.

An old theater building on Prado y San Lazaro swarmed with ants.

The Malecon boulevard. We noticed that its a favourite place for the locals to hang out during sunset.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza. We were eyeing at visiting this fort castle because its near our hotel but we never made it here.

Plaza San Francisco.

Saw a couple to be wed. I like the hair of the dark-haired girl in black and boots.

The Marina building in Havana: Terminal Sierra Maestra San Francisco or in other words, Terminal de Cruceros.

The Paula Church on the oldest promenade of Havana, the Alameda de Paula.

Still on the waterfront, on the Terminal de Cruceros. This is a loooong building on the marina.

I think these are warehouses... I like them.

A souvenir shot of us in the bus.

A statue on the Malecon.

Many people fish along the Malecon as well.

Grand Theater of Havana (beside the Capitolyo) where we waited for the bus tour.

Parque Central.

So should we recommend the bus tour? Well, I have mixed emotions. Yes and no. Yes if you have the time, at least an hour or two because it’s cheap anyway. No, if you do not have the time, it’s better to get a map and walk from plaza to plaza or to a big monument or historical building and you will see more.

Pictures are a bit gloomy because this was after the rain.

Travel Period: May 2012
Destination: Havana, Cuba

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