Ernest Hemingway, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, left an indelible mark on Cuba, a country he came to love deeply and consider home. His stay of more than two decades on our Caribbean island not only inspired some of his most emblematic works, but also consolidated his relationship with the Cuban people and his landscapes. Hemingway's route in Havana invites you to visit the places that marked his life and work. You will visit from the cozy bars where he took refuge to write, to the quiet coasts that inspired his most famous stories. This tour will not only allow you to get closer to the figure of the Nobel Prize winner in Literature, but also to the vibrant Cuban culture that fascinated him so much.
On one occasion he expressed in relation to Cuba:
«I love this country and I feel at home; and wherever a man feels at home, apart from the place where he was born, that is the place to which he was destined»
Cojímar
He arrived in Cuba through Cojímar, east of Havana, on April 1, 1928. Place where he met the fisherman Gregorio Fuentes, his dear friend and skipper of his famous yacht "Pilar" until the last of his days. His anecdotes inspired the work "The Old Man and the Sea" which earned him the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
Ambos Mundos Hotel
It was Hemingway's first home in Cuba, staying in room 511 in the 1930s. Now converted into a museum, objects such as his work table and his bookcase stand out. In addition, an exhibition on a specific theme from Hemingway's life is shown each year. In this place he wrote part of three novels: "Death in the Afternoon", "The Green Hills of Africa" and "To Have and Have Not".
Bar El Floridita
Hemingway used to spend about 5 hours in the left side of the bar. He liked to drink a variant of Daiquirí made by himself, known today as "The Double Papa." The sculptor José Villa Soberón immortalized him in a life-size bronze statue sitting on his same bench. Since he opens the place, a daiquiri is placed in front of the statue to honor him.
Finca Vigía
Located in the town of San Francisco de Paula, it was bought by Hemingway in 1940 and in this place he wrote two of his most famous novels: "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "The Old Man and the Sea." The tower-shaped main house has his studio at the top with a beautiful view of the Cuban capital. It is currently a museum where all of his objects and belongings are found just as he left them. You will be able to see the bungalow-garage, the swimming pool and pergola, the pavilion of the Pilar yacht and the cemetery of the writer's pets.
Marina Hemingway
Current headquarters of the Ernest Hemingway International Needle Fishing Tournament, in which he participated in its beginnings and contributed to drafting its regulations, as he was vice president of the International Sport Fishing Association. In this place, in 1960 during the eleventh edition of the tournament, Hemingway and Fidel Castro met for the first and only time.
Ernest Hemingway's legacy in Cuba goes beyond his literary production; It is an example of the deep connection between a writer and his adopted environment. His wanderings through Cojímar, his stay at the Hotel Ambos Mundos, his long hours at the El Floridita bar, and his life at Finca Vigía, all these places attest to the influence of Cuba on his work and personal life. . By following in Hemingway's footsteps in Havana, you will not only relive his experiences, but you will also appreciate the cultural and emotional impact this country had on him.
His declaration of love for Cuba, by donating his Nobel Prize to the fishermen of Cojímar, reflects his feeling of belonging and gratitude. In an interview she expressed:
«This is an Award that belongs to Cuba, because my work was conceived and created in Cuba, with my people from Cojímar, where I am a citizen. Through all the translations this adopted homeland is present where I have my books and my house»
Thus, Hemingway's route in Havana becomes a journey that intertwines literature, history and the indomitable spirit of an island that captivated one of the great writers of all time.
Every year the oldest sport fishing festival in the Caribbean is held in Cuba: the “Ernest Hemingway” International Needle Fishing Tournament. If you would like to participate or visit the Marina Hemingway we recommend you stay in this beautiful house:
In addition, we have these other articles for you in case you would like to know a little more and read about cuban chronicles.
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