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Location
Havana Province, Cuba.

Dialling code
53.

Population
2.5 million.

Time zone
GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before second Sunday in October).

Electricity
110/120 volts AC, 60Hz; American-style flat two-pin plugs.

Average January temperatures
22°C (73°F).

Average July temperatures
28°C (85°F).

Annual rainfall
1,200mm (47 inches).

Language
Introduction
Spanish is the official language.

Phrases

Yes -
No - No
Hello - Hola
Goodbye - Adiós
Please - Por favor
Thank you - Gracias
My name is ... -
Me llamo ...
How are you? - ¿Qué tal estás?
I’m very well - Estoy muy bien
I feel ill - Me encuentro mal
How much does it cost? - ¿Cuánto es?
Do you speak English? - ¿Habla inglés?
I don’t understand - No entiendo
Where is ...? - ¿Dónde está?
Entrance - Entrada
Exit - Salida
Danger - Peligro
Open - Abierto
Closed - Cerrado
Toilets - Servicios
Doctor - Médico
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurante
Beer - Cerveza
Wine - Vino
Menu - Carta
Today - Hoy
Tomorrow - Mañana
Monday - Lunes
Tuesday - Martes
Wednesday - Miércoles
Thursday - Jueves
Friday - Viernes
Saturday - Sábado
Sunday - Domingo
One - Un / uno / una
Two - Dos
Three - Tres
Four - Cuatro
Five - Cinco
Six - Seis
Seven - Siete
Eight - Ocho
Nine - Nueve
Ten - Diez
Twenty - Veinte
Thirty - Treinta
Forty - Cuarenta
Fifty - Cincuenta
Sixty - Sesenta
Seventy - Setenta
Eighty - Ochenta
Ninety - Noventa
One Hundred - Cien
One Thousand - Mil

Cost of Living:

As of November 2004, US Dollars are no longer accepted in Cuba, and visitors will be charged 20% commission on exchanging them. Traveller’s cheques and/or credit cards drawn on American banks are also not accepted. But Euro or Sterling Traveller’s cheques drawn on UK banks are accepted at Cuban banks and Bureaux de Change.

1 Convertible Peso (CUC1) = 29 Cuban Pesos = £0.55; US$1.09; C$1.26; A$1.34; €0.82
Currency conversion rates as of April 2007

Special Events:

Cuballet de Invierno, Jan, annual winter ballet festival, Pro Danza Center
Cubadanza, Jan, winter festival of Cuban dance, Contemporary Dance Company
International Book Fair, early Feb, San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress
Havana International Guitar Festival, May, every other year, various venues throughout the city
Carnaval de la Habana (Havana Carnival), mid-Jul-mid-Aug, huge street party, throughout the city
Cuballet de Verano, Jul-Aug, annual summer ballet festival, Pro Danza Center
Cubadanza, Jul-Aug, summer festival of Cuban dance, Contemporary Dance Company
Havana Festival of Contemporary Music, early Oct, UNEAC and other venues throughout the city
Havana International Ballet Festival, late Oct, Gran Teatro International
Chorus Festival, late Nov, Convent of San Francisco de Asís and other venues throughout the country
Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano (Festival of New Latin American Cinema), early Dec, popular international film festival, various cinemas throughout the city (website: www.habanafilmfestival.com)
International Jazz Festival, mid-Dec, best of Cuban and international jazz musicians, Casa de la Cultural de Plaza, La Zorra y el Cuervo Jazz Club, Jazz Caffé, and various other venues throughout the city
La Huella de España (Spanish Trail), Apr, festival of Spanish dance, organized by the Spanish Embassy, various venues

For more information on events in Havana and Cuba, visit www.loseventos.cu


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