DISCOVER CONTEMPORARY HAVANA BACKPACKERS EDITION WITH AURORA TOURS

By Myrurgia Hernandez

For most travellers, waking up to beautiful aqua blue seawater and vibrant green trees is like a dream come true. Others prefer peace and quiet no matter where they wake up. But then you have “the backpacking travellers” – for them, waking up at the destination of their dream, in a clean room, surrounded by friendly faces is pretty much all they need. Whatever your travel style, whether fancy, mid-range, or low-income, both Bahamasair and the City of Havana have an option for you.

In recent years, while driving around, I recall viewing non-familiar faces carrying a huge backpack, and, on several occasions, I noticed strange late-hour suitcase rollers. The funny thing is that I thought they were going to the washhouse nearby, and, perhaps, they could not find a ride. Well, my self-explained logic was making sense to me, until a backpacker made it all clear.

In case you haven’t heard about backpacking travel, individuals who enjoy this type of travel appreciate this form of lower cost, independent travel, which often includes staying in inexpensive lodgings, while carrying only necessary possessions in a backpack. In the past, it was viewed as a marginal form of travel, which happened to accommodate necessity; however, it has become a very popular way of doing tourism, even for the wealthy.

While backpacking tourism was initially undertaken by young people, during recent years and especially after the world economy was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, backpacking travel has also been undertaken by a more mature segment of travellers. These individuals travel during career breaks, exploration trips or retirement vacation.

Now that you know about backpacking travel, allow me to introduce you to Up and Away Backpackers Edition with Aurora Tours. During this issue, you will be exposed to a new way of doing tourism in Cuba as you discover contemporary Havana.

Havana has become famous for all-in-one delightfully decorated spaces. You can find fashion, food, entertainment, and art in the same space that a music group may be rehearsing or even performing. It is very common nowadays to see a privately owned clothing store that also has a small gourmet cafeteria (or a café) or even a restaurant inside. Many of these new popular spaces may have entertainment brought by a five-piece or even a large-format performance band. What a treat!

Aurora Tours recommends visiting a small-format business, now called MIPYMEs or Small and Medium Enterprises (“PYME” in Spanish, or “SME” in English). Some of these new initiatives are worth visiting, especially if you want to interact with local designers, artists and have a real cultural exchange. Spaces such as Innatus, Fresko or Clandestina located on the second level of the old Almacenes de San José, a former department store, in Havana’s Avenida del Puerto, have become the perfect opportunity to visit a venue that allows guests to enjoy more for less, while interacting with authentic pieces, music, food and creative artists.

According to Aurora, our tour guide, Innatus is owned by a group of clothing designers that have created a family legacy. Led by three generations of females, Innatus talents are the creators and designers of astonishing clothing pieces that have positioned the brand as an established fashion icon, with a strong presence in the Cuban domestic market in just three years. Innatus 2023 designs tell the story of an explosive summer collection that has captured the attention of fashionistas who love vibrant colours and soft fabrics.

While in Avenida del Puerto, Aurora recommends visiting Clandestina. Founded by a group of friends that graduated from the Institute of Industrial Design of Cuba, this cool crew is known as “the innovators” behind relaxed outfits created with printed positive phrases. The brand operates out of two physical spaces. Visitors may also enjoy delightful gourmet and creative dishes while waiting for their orders.

Another interesting designer brand that has recently emerged is Fresko, a similar, yet unique, printing concept. This graphic design project produces pieces that depict the decades of the 70’s and 80’s, emphasizing cartoons, cultural items, characters and even shows that are rooted in the Cuban vernacular and culture.

You cannot leave Avenida del Puerto without visiting Paco’s Mar. This restaurant has become a visitor’s must-see and a place where friends and family gather to celebrate. This attraction offers food, fun, style, and a contemporary look that is simply inviting.

Another gourmet recommendation is Elizalde Bar-Restaurante . Their dishes have a mixture of both Cuba and Spain. While the food is delicious, the restaurant is quite famous for its ambiance and modern look. The menu has vegetarian and vegan options, which nowadays have become popular options.

Finally, the ultimate cultural experience. Cuba has many Grammys Award-winning artists; however, while visiting Cuba’s new all-in-one fashion, food, and fun venues, new up-and-coming groups such as Café Namá will enhance your experience. Café Namá, which is Cuban street term for “Just Coffee”, is a young group of Cuban-infused dance music. The group members’ goal is to be ranked amongst the most popular bands in Cuba.

Aurora mentioned that this Café Namá band invites international musicians to perform with them in Cuba. Recently, a saxophone player from Freeport, Bahamas, who was on vacation in Cuba, and had always wanted to interact with a Cuban group, shared the stage with the band for a live performance. Aurora Tours was able to make the Bahamian musician’s dream come true by connecting him to the Café Namá band.

Would you like to have a similar experience in Cuba? Up and Away through The Bahamas Translators will ensure that you learn Spanish, then you can book your tour and ensure that you have fun and stay save! UA

This year will be remembered as the year Bahamians living in The Bahamas and throughout the diaspora proudly celebrated the country’s 50th anniversary of independence. A sense of patriotism and national pride ignited a renewed love for all things Bahamian in 2023 – our music, our culture, and those authentic characteristics that identify us as Bahamian people.

And when the spotlight shone on those great Bahamians past and present, who narrated the stories of our heritage through music, the return of singer/songwriter Phil Stubbs will be remembered as one of the most historic events on the “Road to 50”.

He is considered one of the greatest storytellers of Bahamian culture and before his highly anticipated concert at The Farm on New Providence this past March, it had been more than 20 years since Phil Stubbs performed before an audience. Word of his return to the stage spread like wildfire on social media. The voice of Bahamian music, the songwriter who penned classics beloved by generations of Bahamians, the man who had a reputation for being reclusive, elusive, and private, was headlining his first concert since 2002.

Before his concert in March, Stubbs had only ever performed at four shows in his entire career. And although twenty years would pass before he touched the stage again, he never stopped producing music. As a matter of fact, the hits kept coming.

It is undeniable that Phil Stubbs has a gift for making Bahamians appreciate their culture. His catalogue is astounding; he has written over 150 songs and recorded 120. He released his first song, “West End Move” in 1991, followed by his second release, “Beautiful Cat Island”. Both songs became instant radio favourites that remain in rotation today. When he stopped performing, he focused more on songwriting, and over the past twenty years, he has gifted the nation with classics like “Persevere”, “Cry of the Potcake”, “Bonefish Folley”, “Proud to be Bahamian”, “Stress”, “Da Flu”, “The Frogs”, “Down Home”, “Sir Milo Butler”, “Hurricane”, “Gofa”, “Old Talk”, and many more.

Stubbs admits that when it comes to his music, he is a perfectionist and his “toughest” critic. Fully aware that his music represents The Bahamas, it is a responsibility he does not take for granted because it is the inspiration behind his song lyrics.

The Myth Behind The Man

The mystical mind of Phil Stubbs is rooted in his birthplace, the settlement of Dumfries on Cat Island – the cradle of Bahamian heritage, music, and culture. Raised in a family of gospel singers, music was always around him. Growing up,