Cárdenas supplies part of Varadero in labor. It boasts nice examples of neo-classic architectura (superb patios, high windows, detailed motifs) some dating to the town's founding in 1828 and it's a short one-day excursion for the tourists who rent motorbikes in Varadero.
During our Cardenas dog day afternoon, we saw half-drunk, red faced, bare pot-bellied, 9cuc-per-hour scooter buzzing jimbos looking for their way out of hotter than hell streets.
Seriously, Cuba's flag was raised here for the first time in 1850. The first electric tramways started here. Second only to Bacardi, one of Cuba's largest rum distillery Ron Arrechabala (founded 1878) was established here. Other town firsts include the first electric power plant and the first gynaecological clinic.
Its owner created the Havana Club brand which infamous Bacardi claimed was theirs but after a years-long legal battle in Europe and the US, Pernod-Ricard in partnership with Cuba got rightful ownership of the brand.
The sleepy town used to live off two sugar mills (José Smith Comas and Humberto Alvarez) in the area but now, there's only nearby Varadero's tourist industry and a few of the fishermen's catches.
Its citizens use the horse-drawn taxis to get around. Most ride bikes. Hasta la bicicleta siempre !
DISTANCES (km)
Cienfuegos, 165
Colon, 60
Corralillo, 74
Jagüey Grande, 66
Jovellanos, 29
Las Morlas, 34
La Habana, 138
Matanzas, 43
Máximo Gomez, 26
Playa Girón, 163
San Miguel de los Baños, 25
Santa Clara, 165
Trinidad, 243
Varadero (entry bridge), 8
POPULATION 107,085 (2007) in Cardenas Municipio (regional township)
SEE.KNOW.DO • Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion (stained glass with Cristobal Colon still standing in front, overlooking his namesake Parque since 1862) • Hotel La Dominica (National monument where the city was founded) was planned to be renovated to be the city's first hotel but the deal fell through with Spanish investors late 2008 • Museo a la Batalla de Ideas (superb views, odd statue of boy throwing a Superman doll... Elian ?); avenida 6, e/11 y 12 • Museo Casa Natal José Antonio Echevarria (student killed by Batista's henchmen in 1957) • Museo Óscar María de Rojas (natural history and geology : a curious if not totally strange arrangement of fleas, fossils, a horsetail and a rarity, guides who know their stuff) on Plaza Echevarria, avenida 4 este, corner calle 12 • Plaza Echevarría with statue of José Antonio Echevarria • Plaza Malacoff (50-foot high dome, metal-framed building) now a fruit and vegetable market as it was meant to be in 1859 • Fabrica de Ron Arrechabala (first home of Havana Club rum; tours 3 cuc) • Galeria de Arte Salon Massaguner on avenida Cespédes features paintings from provincial artists • San Miguel de los Baños, 25 (swimming pool, Loma de Jacán) • Libreria La Concha de Venus, Cespedes 551, esquina calle 12
PLAYAS
All those of Peninsula de Hicacos, where Varadero spreads its resorts over 17 km. Playa Larga nearby. Varadero - The beginning of the Peninsula de Hicacos is at Santa Maria (bridge), or 7 km from Cardenas (3cuc by taxi from downtown, which goes no further 'cause it's not allowed to go further).
Varadero Las Morlas, the very end of Hicacos is 34 km away
RESTAURANTS/PALADARES Top choices : Casa D'espriu (calle 12, e/4 y6), El Viajero (esquina 13 y 13, in moneda nacional), Casa de las Infusiones, Cafeteria La Cubanita on Plaza Malacoff, El Rapido, Los Almendros, Las Palmas, Pizzeria La Bolognesa Paladares La Barra 1470 (calle 13 e/ 6 y 7)
Ciné Cardenas. Postcard from the Fifties •}• Same perspective today
GoogleEarth map of the region : click
SERVICES
• Hourly buses to Varadero (6cuc) ; three dailies from La Habana ; regular service for Jaguey Grande (junction with the trans-island autopista), Jovellanos, Matanzas, Santa Clara (10cuc), Trinidad (18cuc) • Local train between Cardenas, Jovellanos and Colon. • Horse-drawn collective taxis available most everywhere.
BOOK BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by 45 for Cardenas or 7 if cellular).
• From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by 45 for Cardenas or 7 if cellular).
BOOK BY EMAIL : Click on logo to open a message addressed to that casa in your email application; or right-click to copy address showing at bottom of browser window. Spanish vocabulary here.
SUGGESTED CASAS V = suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by the webmaestro. • Try to reserve at least one week ahead; you must reconfirm by phone 24 hours before arrival. Otherwise, your reservation may be cancelled. • Children 16 and under may share parents' bedroom at no charge only if there is an additional bed available. Mention the age of your children when making the reservation.
Comments and suggestionswebmaster @cubacasas.net
HOSTAL EL ITALIANO Manuel Barbero Aguilera Lanza Playa Larga #61, outside of town, 12 km from Varadero after turnoff of Arrechabala rum factory. Tel. (45) 52-1879 or Cell (5) 892-9498
Like the card says "Oasis en la playa" with a large garden. Meals served.
NIURKA MARIA ALEMAN VAREDA Calle Velazquez 812, e/ Palma y Estero. Yellow and red casa, small patio in front. Tel. (45) 52-4435 Cell (5) 290-1344
Seemed all right and clean and nice but the paranoid maid did not want us to take pictures as the owner was absent. Owner missed his 15 seconds of fame.
JULIO OSCAR ROSETE FIOL Calle Obispo 861, e/ Estero y Arroyo. Tel. (45) 52-1733 Cell (5) 890-9534
Not visited in 05 but reconfirmed with new phone numbers in Sept. 08.
AIDA PASTORA GOMEZ ZERQUEIRA Calle Calvo 422, e/ Obispo y Princesa. Near Parque Central and Hotel Dominica. No fone.
Señora Pastora has died since our visit in 2005. Casa now run by her daughter who should eventually come back from Spain where she was mid-September 2008.
Tiny bedroom in the back with private bathroom. Behind a medium-sized patio.
