The Three Amigo's We're Angelo, Julia and Steve. The three "amigos" who created this website after realizing that not everyone sees Cuba 
the way we do and that everyday in Cuba can be a tasty adventure. Angelo is the proud owner of Hostal Angelo's in Cardenas Cuba....might I add it is rated #1 on Trip-advisor. Me and Steve well what can I say, we are foodies. We went on a holiday once and...We found our passion for the people and the food of Cuba. We've found treasure's around every corner and we will share our secrets, stories, recipes & ideas here! Angelo and I grew up worlds apart in different cultures, different lands and different languages. To be honest we have only known each other for a few short years and over this time we have not had ample opportunity to occupy the same location at the same time very often. But somehow we have managed to bond and become good friends. It is truly amazing how people can be so different and be so much the same. Whether it is our keen sense of entrepreneurship, the love of fine wines, the taste of his mama's cooking, our fearless want to travel or our passion for the love of Cuba. We have found our common ground. We have spent many hours and many bottles of wine talking about this site and how we can make it happen. Steve has listened to many conversations in what I like to call "Spanglish". Angelo and I adore riding in the shiny cars and appreciate the Cuban ingenuity that has kept them on the roads while Steve never ceases to amaze by i.d.ing every car, truck or gua-gua right down the piece of chrome that deciphers a 57 from a 57 and a half!
What we have to offer is not great literature, eloquently spoken or sometimes might not even make sense....but if you keep reading you might find it entertaining or hopefully helpful in your travels. We have the proof on our hips that it will be tasty and hopefully our travels will inspire. We are not asking you to stay with us but we do welcome you....We are not telling you to explore Cuba but we do recommend it. What we are asking is for you to travel often....life is short!
Follow your Bliss and Cuba will open the doors of Beauty to Those Bold enough to Knock!
Old Havana invites you to discover one of the largest collection of antique doors and door knockers that Cuba and perhaps the world has to offer. Many door's have been hand restored by old-world Cuban craftsmen, carefully preserving its architectural integrity. Many have been left to show their beauty as they have aged over the years....Every door, a piece of history.
Havana Vieja was founded by the Spanish settlers in the early 1500. The city was built in baroque and neoclassic style. The architectural backdrop that sets this square apart is the sight of the Havana Cathedral where thousands gathered to say the final good bye to their leader Fidel only last month. The quaint courtyards and narrow streets of this quarter are picturesque as you tour the Cuban capital.
The grand buildings feature forged and cast artwork proudly on their doors and balconies. The oldest date back to the Middle Ages. One of the most popular design was a ring connected to a bronze lion head. Many iron door knockers with delicately forged shields of spanish heritage.
According to historical records,three blacksmiths were brought by Hernán Cortéz as soldiers. Hernán, Hernando and Hernández, left their imprints on many Latin American cities including Mexico in later years. In Cuba, their influence can be detected on balconies, door knockers, keyholes, padlocks and hinges.
We would like to influence everyone visiting this iconic square to pause and look beyond the tourists spot to the beautiful buildings, they have been kissed by the carribean breeze thus growing old with grace. Like the faces of the beautiful Mujeres of Cuba they are adorned in beauty!
But please do not take our word for it....come see for yourself! www.hostalangelos.com
Face Value....not so lucrative
Let's talk about money. In fact let's talk about the face value of money. My first time visiting this Island a very smart cookie once told me that face value is bad.....and this I have always remembered. You see there money is the same greenish bank note both labeled "Banco Central de Cuba". The 5 spots are both labelled Cinco Pesos, now one of them says pesos convertibles but how am I going to remember which is the good one. Well one has a large face of a Latino looking (handsome I might add) fellow on it, the man on 
this bill in fact is named Antonio Maceo. But then I remember face value is bad. All local money has a face and all "tourist money" has monuments. Yes the heads of the monuments might have little faces but they are not just a face. Now down to the gritty of the money....1 local dollar or some like to call them CUP's is worth 25cents of the "tourist money" or most like to call them CUC's. You see the people get paid from the government in CUP's this is what the ration products and local goods are priced in. The government likes to think this is the money that the locals use. This is what always confuses me slightly cause the government is the people. That same government guy stops on his way home from work and buys black market fuel, black market potatoes and maybe even some black market milk for his little one, you know what he pays in? He pays in CUC's. That same "tourist dollar" that you are going to exchange your country dollars for. Without a doubt the islands economy is run on CUC's. They talk about amalgamating the two one-day but in my opinion there will need to be a lot of changes before this happens. So now you know the difference what can you buy with these bank notes.....well here is a few examples.
Tourist Beer like Cristal or Bucanero 1-1.50 CUC
Local Beer my fav is Mayabe 60 cents CUC
Chicken Dinner Tourist Area like Varadero 13-15 CUC
Rib Dinner with all the sides off the beaten path (Cardenas, Santa Clara etc....) 4.25 CUC or 110 CUP
Taxi Ride downtown Varadero 10-15 CUC
Coche Ride in Cardenas anywhere you would like to go 1CUC
If you would like to see more take a peak at a few of the menus in my restaurant section here....
Now a little common sense goes along way, if you walk in a see a cola for $1 it's going to be in CUC's if it's $25 it's going to be in CUP's which unless your a little adventurous your not going to pose
ss. If your not sure ask a local, I am sure that as with any corner of the earth there might be an un honest one but dead honest I have not met one. Bottom line is you must change your money there is no using Canadian, Euros or Yankee dollars on the street. Be smart change your money at a resort, airport, cadeca or bank. Take a few minutes look at it and understand it! And do not even think about using debit or credit cards.