Must-see's |
1. Museo temático, antigua Central "Hershey" in Jibacoa and Canasí
It was 1916 and the First World War was going on in Europe, leaving Milton S. Hershey with little beet sugar for his chocolate production. To supplement this, Hershey began acquiring plantations and a sugar mill and build refineries in Cuba to ensure supply of their factory in Pennsylvania.
Close to the plantations, Hershey built a small community, called the Central “Hershey”, so that his workers did not have to travel so far. The Central was more or less a copy of the community that had been built for the Hershey workers in Pennsylvania, displaying a pronounced American style and houses with fireplace - notwithstanding the tropical climate -. The Central also included a fully equipped medical center, a well-stocked pharmacy, a supermarket equipped with refrigerators, a free public school for the children, a sports club with several facilities such as a baseball field and a golf course and a power plant for the supply of electricity. Luxury for many of the Cuban workers who before Hershey´s arrival did not even have electricity. In addition to the Central, Hershey had a railway line installed, to serve as transport for workers living in more or less close populations.
All this because Hershey believed that happy, healthy workers yield better. Hershey's way of doing business in Cuba, contrasted with most foreign businessmen who exploited the resources of the island and its people. The Cuban government honored and awarded Hershey many times, granting even with the highest honor: the Grand Cross of the National Order.
However, all this came to an end after the Second World War. At that time the company had sufficient plantations in the United States and concluded that it no longer needed the Cuban sugar. All factories and properties, including rail, were sold to the Cuban-Atlantic Sugar Company. What is left now of the chocolate empire is the Central Railway Hershey, the last line electric train in Cuba.
The Casablanca Train Station, next to the ferry dock, in La Habana, is the station of the only electric railway in Cuba. It was built in 1917 by the Hershey Chocolate Company and up to today the electric train covers the same route, five times a day: via Guanabo (0.80 CUC, 25km), Cienfuegos (1.45 CUC, 46km), Jibacoa (1.65 CUC, 54km) and Canasí (1.95 CUC, 65km) to Matanzas (2.80 CUC, 90km). In general, the train leaves Casablanca on time but often arrives around an hour late. It is a spectecular four (to five) hour trip. Tickets can be purchased at the Casablanca Train Station. On weekends and holidays it can be crowded and you might want to buy your ticket in advance.
We remember very well the first time we visited Cuba and we asked to take a trip on this train. It seemed to us a somewhat bohemian, unique and different way to discover this beautiful region, however everyone we asked advised against such a trip because the train goes very slow. Well, soon we’ll take the trip and tell you what is really is like. Nevertheless, if you get a chance go ahead and do it, and don’t get turned off when you see the train station, remember that in Cuba everything takes its times. In the photo gallery of www.house hostel cuba.com you will see pictures of the trains that run through Cuba, museum pieces just like many cars.
2. Fabrica Ron Havana Club in Chipiona
Nearby Santa Cruz del Norte is the largest rum factory in Latin America, where since1975 two million boxes of the famous Havana Club in all variants are produced on a yearly basis. In 1919 the factory was built as a small distillery and refinery in the fishing village Chipiona. Since 1975, as a result of the governmental reorganization of the Cuban rum industry, it processes and bottles rum Havana Club, the brand founded in Cardenas in 1878 by the Basque José Arechabalas. The notorious gangster Al Capone was a regular visitor during the era of American Prohibition.
The factory still has its old part without any modifications that still works - the same distillation and fermentation systems used in the old days – as well as the more recent additions to the factory that has the most advance technology used to extract this wonderful product from the Cuban sugar cane.
You will be able to buy a few bottles of rum which surely many of your friends or family will appreciate. We advise you to check how many bottles you can bring into your country. We don’t remember ever having had a hangover drinking this rum. It must be because of the high quality ingredients that are used, coz during the various visits to Mayabeque we drank and danced without counting our drinks.
However, be careful and do not drink and drive. If you have a car accident in Cuba you'll be in big trouble. Cuba has very strict laws in this regard and can go to jail.
3. Puente de Bacunayagua near Santa Cruz del Norte
The Bacunayagua Bridge, inaugurated in 1959, crosses the deep canyon that cuts the coast line at Yumiri Valley (just opposite the Florida straits). With 110 meters above the valley it is the highest bridge in Cuba.
On the La Habana side there is a restaurant with an observation deck, and a bar where you can sip your piña colada enjoying some very impressive views over the valley. Cuba has a rich variety of landscapes. From this bridge you will be able to observe this valley and you’ll feel as if you’re in the jungle, all tones of green everywhere you look.
There is also a handicraft stall selling pricy souvenirs.
Dirección: Vía Blanca, cerca de Bacunayagua.
Address: On the Vía Blanca, near Bacunayagua. |
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