Location
Havana Province, Cuba.

Dialling code
53.

Population
2.5 million.

Time zone
GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second or third Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

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

Average January temperatures
24°C (75°F).

Average July temperatures
28°C (83°F).

Annual rainfall
1,320mm (52 inches).

Language
Introduction
Spanish is the official language.

Phrases

Yes - Sí
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:

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 (CUC$1) = 28.62 Cuban Pesos = £0.72; US$1.08; C$1.28; A$1.49; €0.79
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Cubadanza
January
Winter festival of Cuban dance by the country’s top notch modern troupe.
Teatro Mella, Danza Contemporánea de Cuba.

Feria del Libro (International Book Fair)
February
Gigantic week-long book fair with accompanying cultural events.
San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress
Website: www.cubaliteraria.com/evento/filh/2007/inicio.htm

World Workers Day
May
Millions pack the Plaza de la Revolución to celebrate workers rights.

Habanos Festival
February
World´s greatest annual cigar festival.
Palacio de Convenciones
Website: www.habanos.com 

Havana International Guitar Festival
May, every other year
Guitar greats and up and comers flaunt their licks.
Various venues

Carnaval de la Habana (Havana Carnival)
July-August
Huge street party with drunken crowds and dancing.
Throughout the city

Havana International Ballet Festival
October, every other year
Multiple ballets performed daily by Cuba’s world-renowned company and international guests.
Gran Teatro de la Habana, Teatro Mella, and elsewhere.

Bienal de La Habana
November, every other year
Cuba’s most important fine arts event with participants from all over the country and the world.
Galleries and museums throughout the city
Website: www.bienalhabana.cult.cu

Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano (Festival of New Latin American Cinema)
December
Super popular international film festival.
Various cinemas throughout the city
Website: www.habanafilmfestival.com

International Jazz Festival
December, every other year
Best of Cuban and international jazz musicians.
Various venues throughout the city.
Website: www.festivaljazzplaza.icm.cu


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