What do Bollywood’s Salman Khan, the American Mafia, Winston Churchill, the Aga Khan and Walt Disney have in common?
They have all stayed at the famous luxury hotel, Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana.
Built by the Americans in the 1930s during the “golden era” of new development of hotels, casinos, nightclubs and a burgeoning tourism industry, the Hotel Nacional has hosted celebrities for many decades including Marlon Brando, Nat King Cole, Spanish singer Sarita Montiel, Sir Winston Churchill and have been known to close its doors for important gatherings for the American Mafia in the 1940s.
Perched on Taganana hill, the hotel has a beautiful view of Havana Harbour, the sea and the city.
Fast forward to the 21st century and the Hotel Nacional hosts political dignitaries and Bollywood stars as Cuba tries to regain its hold in the tourism industry, forging ties with India. Salman Khan was in Cuba in 2012 for the filming of Ek Tha Tiger with Katrina Kaif and reportedly filmed a commercial for Cuba Tourism. It won’t be long before more desi globetrotters hit the streets of Havana!
Walk the halls of Hotel Nacional de Cuba and enter the Monumento Nacional room for a nostalgic look at Cuba’s past while experiencing its present. Although it would have been nice to see a picture of Salman at the hotel instead of an old image of him with earrings (circa early 2000s?), it was nice to see India being represented in Cuba, even if it’s through a Bollywood lens.
Make sure to head to Cuba before Bollywood sends even more Indian tourists roaring down the streets of Havana!
Photo Credit: desiglobetrotter and rediff.com.
