Carnaval de la Salsa - Havana

timberamayor

Son Montuno
Maykel Blanco isn't content just maintaining his own band Maykel Blanco Y Su Salsa Mayor at the top of the charts year after year, as with their new release "Que no me quiten la fe". He has also dedicated himself to finding new ways to promote Cuban music and dance, both on the island and internationally. Part of this endeavor is the 1st annual Carnaval de la Salsa, which will take place in Havana from February 25-28. Click for details in English.
http://www.timba.com/blog_posts/carnaval-de-la-salsa
 
Too bad I went in Cuba a couple a weeks ago only.
The programming is great (if not awesome). I guess I'll have to wait for the different bands to come in Paris (Paulo FG and MB already scheduled) this year.
I hope it's going to be a success, so I can plan a trip there for the second edition :)
 
I already wrote an e-mail to inform about prizes and hotels during Carnaval de Salsa 25-28 de Febrero 2016, I really love to attend.
but it depends on the prizes and air-tickets
 
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I was planning to get away from cold Europe for a month or so this winter, ideally to someplace with dancing - this could be just the ticket! I'm guessing that even in Cuba this line-up is a one in a million (to have so many top names all in one place) ?
 
I was planning to get away from cold Europe for a month or so this winter, ideally to someplace with dancing - this could be just the ticket! I'm guessing that even in Cuba this line-up is a one in a million (to have so many top names all in one place) ?
yeah he really has pulled together all big names, plus the workshops if you're interested in lessons, but I haven't seen the details about the dance workshops yet. I so want to go but just got back a month ago so can't really get permission from work for another vacation just yet.
 
Please report back people if you find out anything about prices. I'm starting to research a trip. I'm hearing bad things about travelling in Cuba though from my friend who's an experienced backpacker (though he hates salsa lol).

I'm hoping that the music and dance might make up for the other things (expensive accomodation, people hassling you in the streets all the time etc.)

I'm used to dance casino before the politics ruined it in my area. But I love live music. I guess if I go I could brush up my casino, and learn some other stuff like son too, and rumba.
 
Please report back people if you find out anything about prices. I'm starting to research a trip. I'm hearing bad things about travelling in Cuba though from my friend who's an experienced backpacker (though he hates salsa lol).

I'm hoping that the music and dance might make up for the other things (expensive accomodation, people hassling you in the streets all the time etc.)

I'm used to dance casino before the politics ruined it in my area. But I love live music. I guess if I go I could brush up my casino, and learn some other stuff like son too, and rumba.
I'll see what I can find out.

As for accommodations, I always stay in a casa particular and those cost between 25-35 USD per night. depending on location/features. I stayed at an apartment with a kitchen and it's own entrance and a parking spot for a rental car for 35 USD per night a couple years ago. It was in Playa so you do need a car to get around. But places in Centro Habana with their own kitchen so you can save money by doing your own cooking probably run 30 per night.

Here's one site where you can browse some CPs. Also AirnB works in Cuba now if you have ever used their services
https://www.facebook.com/rentinhavana.cuba.9/
 
As for accommodations, I always stay in a casa particular and those cost between 25-35 USD per night. depending on location/features. I stayed at an apartment with a kitchen and it's own entrance and a parking spot for a rental car for 35 USD per night a couple years ago. It was in Playa so you do need a car to get around. But places in Centro Habana with their own kitchen so you can save money by doing your own cooking probably run 30 per night.

On my latest trip which I just returned from I found a great apartment in Centro Habana with a kitchen, a nice living room with a flat screen TV (not that I care much about watching TV but it's nice to have the option to see a late night movie, plus it got some Miami and Mexican TV channels too besides the crappy Cuban ones) and plenty of windows and natural light (important to me because I was getting tired of all the windowless/lightless places that abound in Cuba due to the structure of the houses) for just $25/night. It is the first place I intend to return to out of all the places I stayed in during my four trips to Cuba so far (4 months total). It is also located right across from the Jelengue de Areito patio which has live music every night (rumba with Rumberos de Cuba on Fridays and son the rest of the nights), which is my favorite live music place in Havana, more than 75% of the people there are usually Cubans as opposed to tourists like in the other live music places, I got to dance better son than in Santiago with some of the older musicians who attend on some nights there :) And it is a short walk to Casa de la Musica Galiano and Havana Vieja.
 
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