Living Cheaply in Havana - Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like a Local and Save Money - page 145

anao and La Lisa make for an interesting day trip and are relatively easy to get to
by communal taxi, as explained in the Havana Suburbs section.
Amateur Sports
It's no secret that sports are very popular in Cuba. Amateur teams playing soccer
(futbol or pelota) or baseball (béisbol) are always playing in parks and empty
fields. If you're the athletic type, you are certainly welcome to join in the game.
Just stand around the sidelines for a minute and you will soon be invited to parti-
cipate. If watching is more your thing, there are some really great locations in
Havana to view amateurs play in organized teams. Best of all, watching these
games is completely free.
Estadio Universitario Juan Abrantes - Located near the corner of 27 de
Noviembre and Calle J, in Vedado, just behind the main University of Havana
campus, this large stadium hosts minor league sporting events almost every
evening. During the day you can watch practices and pick-up games. It's usually
free to enter. If a popular team is playing, it might cost a few pesos (MN) for a
seat.
Estadio Jose Marti - Located at the corner of G and the Malecon, you can al-
ways find an amateur team kicking a soccer ball around at this large, soviet-style
stadium. The facility has certainly seen better days, but it's a nice reminder that it
doesn't take much to have fun in Havana.
El Hueco - Located just a few blocks east of Estadio Jose Marti, at the corner of
Calzada and J, is a huge, grassy field which the locals call El Hueco (the gap).
While mostly deserted during the day, at night this field transforms into an
amateur sports mecca. It's not uncommon to see an organized baseball game
and a soccer game taking place on the lower field, as well as a basketball game
happening in the upper area, where a crumbling court is located. Locals watch
from makeshift bleachers. Vendors, with pushcarts full of treats, swarm this area
on hot evenings, while the state store, located at the corner of the lot, makes sure
that there is enough beer and rum for everybody.
Centro Juvenil J.A. Echevarría - Formerly the Havana Tennis Club, this com-
plex, located at the corner of Calzada and 12th street, has a large baseball field in
the back, overlooking the Malecon. It's very common to see pick-up games
played there during the day, while organized teams take over on evenings and
weekends. Entrance is usually free. You can also just sit on the Malecon and
watch the games through the fence.
The Beach
If you're looking to beat the summer heat, your best option is to head on over to
the beach. I have explained precisely how to use communal taxis to get to the
beautiful Playas del Este, in the section titled Getting to the Beach In a Taxi Par-