Hotel Ambos Mundos, Havana 27th December 2009

Hemingway lived in this salmon pink hotel in the 1930s before his then wife dragged him away from the bar and off to the house at La Vigia. Even today, should you go to room 511, apparently a beautiful woman will open the door and beckon you in... and tell you about Hemingway. I didn't do this, but went straight from the ground floor piano bar to the rooftop bar by means of the (rattling, genuine 1930s) lift. The daiquiris were excellent, as were the mojitos, both served as requested with less sugar than usual; not so much in homage to Hemingway as in consideration for ones teeth; and they taste better that way. Service was quick and friendly. From here you can see the rooftop bar of the Hotel Santa Isabel, which itself has a better view of the harbour but where the service is s-l-o-w. Better to spend less time waiting for your rum-based cocktail and more time sipping it, wondering how to spend your remaining CUC (a Cuba Libre? an Havana Especial?) or just contemplating the importance of being Ernest.