One of my favorite evening activities in Havana is to go for a walk along the Malecon. Eight kilometres long, I often walk the whole seawall twice, since my husband and I live at one end of it. Sunset is the best time to go walking, since the view of Old Havana is fantastic. When I want a break partway through, I sometimes go into the Hotel Nacional, to have a drink at the bar in the wonderful gardens there. The hotel is on top of a hill overlooking the Malecon and ocean, so it offers a nice breeze and an amazing view.

Later at night, the Malecon turns into a hip hang-out spot. Couples get intimate here, groups of friends drink, families walk, and others fish. There is always something going on.

When the ocean gets rough, the Malecon is sometimes closed because of the huge waves that crash over the wall. Though I'm sad I can't walk, I always go out with my camera to try and capture the powerful waves.

nicolebowers220Nicole currently divides her time between Ottawa and Havana, working as a musician, guide and writer. She has travelled all over Canada, the USA and Cuba, as well as Mexico, Costa Rica, England and the Dominican Republic. She has also lived in Spain, where she worked as an English teacher. Aside from travelling and music, Nicole enjoys cooking and has worked in several restaurants and has a BA Honours in Translation from the University of Ottawa.