Living Cheaply in Havana - Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like a Local and Save Money - page 119

Old Havana: There are tons of stores in Old Havana, but beware that prices at
these locations can be considerably higher than stores just a couple of blocks
west, in Central Havana.
Obispo: Havana's most famous shopping street. It is lined with hundreds of high
end boutiques, artisanal shops and restaurants. From morning till night, Obispo is
packed with thousands of tourists and locals. The prices are very high, even by
western standards. Local Cubans almost never shop in this area, but some do
congregate along this street, hoping to glean a bit of money from the tourists
either by offering taxi rides, guided tours or other services.
San Rafael : Prices are a little bit more reasonable and the shopping atmosphere
is more relaxed. While there are some higher end stores, there are also many loc-
ations selling goods in Moneda Nacional. San Rafael's wide, cobblestone paved
street provides a relaxing environment for an evening stroll and it's a good street
for casual window shopping or browsing.
Suburbs: Most tourists will not venture out into the Havana suburbs, especially
not for shopping. However, it is important to note a couple of specific areas which
are not too far from the city and which offer good shopping experiences.
Mercado Cuatro Caminos: This massive indoor market is located at the corner of
Maximo Gomez and Ave. Manglar. This is in the northeast corner of the El Cerro
neighborhood, bordering on Central Havana. The Cuatro Caminos market was
technically closed in February 2014; however there is still a lot of commercial
activity in the surrounding area. As mentioned earlier, a few blocks south, near
the corner of Vigia and Pila streets, there is a large concentration of bicycle
sellers and mechanics.
La Puntilla Shopping Center: Located in Miramar, at the intersection of Calle A
and Avenida 1ra, just past the Calzada Tunnel leading out of Vedado. This large
shopping center offers a huge selection of goods. Do not let its location deter you
from visiting. It's within easy walking distance of Vedado. Prices are in CUC, and
don't expect to find bargains, but the selection of goods offered in the grocery and
household goods departments far outstrips that of most other locations in
Havana. If you want to get there by state taxi, it should cost no more than 3 CUC,
leaving from anywhere in Vedado.
Interesting Fact: In many cases, you must check your handbags before entering
stores in Cuba. This is an easy and safe process. There will always be a guardab-
olsa (bag watcher) stand located beside or inside state stores. Simply deposit
your bags and a clerk will hand you a numbered stub as a claim slip. Sometimes
you will be asked to leave your name or a piece of ID. This is so you can retrieve
your bag even if you lose your claim stub. This service is free, but a tiny tip (a
peso or a few centavos) is always appreciated.