Irina Pino, a contributor to Havana Times, finally entered Havana's Paseo del Prado Hotel during one of her walks along the Malecón, but faced resistance from security while trying to take photos. The property, inaugurated in 2019, is a five-star hotel with dance-themed rooms. While open to foreigners and wealthy Cubans, it remains a dream for the average Cuban.
Irina Pino, a photographer for Havana Times, recounts her visit to the Paseo del Prado Hotel, a building that always intrigued her during walks along Havana's Malecón. A friend who once worked there jokingly warned her that it belonged to the “apparatus” and to be careful, but Pino decided to enter and capture her own images.
As she climbed the stairs, a security guard ordered her to go back down immediately. Pino explained that the photos were for Havana Times magazine and that she had done similar photo features before, but the guard bluntly replied: “Look for the photos on the internet!” Pino laughed at the suggestion, stressing that she always takes her own photographs and does not steal them from others.
The hotel, with a ship-like design, was inaugurated in 2019 and is managed by the French chain Accor and Cuba's Gaviota tourism company. It features 250 rooms themed around dance, such as Ballet, Salsa, and Son. The views encompass Havana's coastline and the fortresses of El Morro, La Punta, and La Cabaña, with the sea changing based on weather and season.
Pino managed only a few pictures before being stopped. The property is accessible to foreigners or Cubans with money, but as Pino notes, the average Cuban can only dream of renting a room one day. This encounter highlights the barriers locals face in accessing luxury tourist spaces in Cuba.