Miramar Trade Center (Playa, Miramar, Havana) May 2019

                     Shopping in Cuba can be quite the adventure for a tourist. I don't want to tell you what it's like for a local, especially these last few weeks. However, in Havana, as bad as it is, things are much better than in the rest of the country. If you're a frequent traveler to Havana, as I am, and stay in a house, as I do, you may have had to do some form of shopping unless you eat out every day. If I'm there for more than a few days I tend to do a fair bit of shopping and I always keep an eye out for the best places to find what I need. I hate going from store to store trying to find supplies (but end up doing it anyway)....from what I hear locals say and painfully discovered for myself, it's the norm in Cuba. I have the luxury to be able to afford whatever it is that I'm looking for and therefore tend to go where I'm more than likely to find what I need as opposed to where the best price is. From my experience I have found the best stores for general supplies (supermarkets) are in the Miramar district but the best outdoor markets are closer to or within the city. A close distance to the house I stay in are a number of shopping complexes and supermarkets, one of which is the 'Miramar Trade Center'.
                 The 'Miramar Trade Center' is a mix of office and retail space. It's a joint venture between Cuba and a foreign company. The initial plan was to build 180,000 square meters of space in 18 buildings. The existing buildings were constructed between 1999-2006, the first of which were opened in Jan.2000. So far 55,600 square meters have been erected and are in operation. Phase one, 2 buildings with 5 floors and phase 2 were 4 buildings with 4 floors & a total parking for 200 cars....so far. It's the largest shopping center of it's kind in Cuba.
                 Now you would think that with Cubans being so poor you wouldn't see any of them here since most or all the stores and restaurants cater mostly to foreigners but that's not the case. I always see a large amount of Cubans as well as a fair bit of tourists here. Mind you, an Etecsa store (Cuba's Telecommunications Company) selling phone cards & internet time on several computers is located here and there's always a lineup at this location. Several Travel Agencies and Airline Offices also rent space here and it's mostly Cubans that are looking for passage. There's a decent mix of shops which makes this a go-to place for me: pharmacy, restaurants, cafeterias, appliance stores, market, jewelry store, shoe store, gift shops, Cadeca (money exchange) and an Etecsa shop (with computers for internet access...as mentioned previously). My favourite spot is the Amelia Cafeteria where I have breakfast several times during my stays in Havana....they make a pretty good breakfast (sometimes it's better than other times). There are also several Consulates located here.
                 Times were changing for the better after the Obama visit but things have recently gone back to worse, things are no longer as readily available as they had begun to be. I'm not sure if product availability has struck the stores in these buildings but I'm sure it has, there's always something they're short of. Sometimes having money isn't always the answer, if it doesn't exist, you won't find it through any means. The buildings are hard to miss as they take up several blocks between 3rd and 5th Avenues and 76th and 80th streets.




PS.........the Elephants in the center of the complex are made from Inflatable Metal constructed by the famous Cuban Artist JEFF as he's know or Jose Emilio Fuentes Fonseca.
http://cubancigarsculturelifestyle.blogspot.ca/2012/01/jose-emilio-fuentes-fonseca-and-his.html




Cafeteria Amelia (for breakfast)
http://cubancigarsculturelifestyle.blogspot.ca/2013/09/cafeteria-amelia-for-breakfast-miramar.html






Centro de Negocios Miramar' (Miramar Trade Center)
3ra Avenida e/76 y 80
Miramar, Playa, Havana
+53 7 2044437

Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y San Ignacio de Loyola (Havana)

                    This church is located on Avenida Simon Bolivar (Reina), a street that takes you right into Old Havana by the Parque de La Fraternidad that's next to the Capitolio building. You can't miss this church, you see it from a distance with one of the highest bell towers in Havana at 77 meters (253 ft). It was built in the early 20th century by Jesuits, between 1914-1923, the first stone being laid on August 7, 1914. It was consecrated on May 2, 1923. The altarpiece was made in Madrid, by Reverend Granda. It was made of alabaster, wood and bronze, brought in pieces and assembled within the church. The parish also has one of the most elegant organs of Cuba.
             In 1954, a restoration was carried out, with the objective of repairing some damages, however it did not bear fruit, because materials different from those of origin were used. In 1996, a process of capital reparation of the church began, after a long study begun two years before, these tasks led to the closing of the Reina street that passes in front of the construction, the work of rejuvenation, were carried out by the Office of the Historian of Havana, and by Spanish and French companies.
            Upon entering the church you feel like you're in another world, it doesn't feel like you just left a busy street in Havana. Inside it's dark and peaceful. It's well known for it's stained glass windows detailing the life of Christ. It truly is something beautiful to behold. The church is known by two names, the "Parroquia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus y del San Ignacio de Loyola" or simply the "Iglesia de Reina".




Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y San Ignacio de Loyola
Avenida Simon Bolivar (Reina) no.461-463,
e/ Gervasio y Padre Varela (Belascoain),
Centro habana, Havana