HAVANA Review - for future reference!

We are from New Zealand, and stayed in Havana during the busy season in mid July this year.
Hotel Ambos Mundos - we booked in over the phone in Havana, and for about seven days. It was relief to our ears that they could fit us in, answered the phone, and I didn't have to call back later.
The quick response from AM was great as we had decided to depart our other hotel, and when ringing around, found alot of places booked out, including the one we stayed in earlier in the week.
The young guy on the desk literally took us to the bank "Cadeca" straight away on arrival, as they didn't' take credit card, only cash. It was 5mins from the hotel, and we were able to get cash out from our credit card (Note - everything I read on Cuba said this was not possible - it is!).
We had breakfast there on the rooftop, overlooking the harbour, and that was fine. Sure some guys ask you if you would like to buy a cigar but that happens down the street too, not only in the hotels and taxis. I did think this area of Havana was rather touristy though in comparison to the Prado.
Immediately outside and to the left of Ambos Mundos is a classic Cuban "cafe", where short blacks or "espresso" is $1. There is a bakery next door, very cheap for home-made lunches on the go.
Cafe Paris is within 100 metres, and the local two local fella's bands with bass, guitar, piano, trumpet and singers who play at lunchtime and again around 9pm every day are absolutely superb. This is what you go to Cuba to hear.
Safety-wise it was fine, and also we found an internet place down the main street which the hotel is on. All of these places are on Obispo Street.
We also stayed at Hotel Savilla, which is off the Prado.
It isn't so surrounded by tourist stuff, and is close to Neptuno Street, which you absoulutely must go down to catch the locals mulling about doing their daily activities. Sunday is good as they all go to the one and only department store which is a few blocks up the street.
Their is a wee bar just up the next corner from the Hotel Savilla, and this is a cuban place so more cubans than tourists. It also has a pool which proved popular.
Breakfast was also good.
A couple of cafes further up the top of the Prado, past Neptuno Street are great too.
Hotel Savilla we booked via our travel agent in New Zealand.
Another hotel via our NZ agent was lovely, except when we arrived, so did the fumigator guy, and exterminated the whole hotel with his powerful big fumigator extinguisher.
We weren't so keen on being gassed with this stuff, so we checked out. No refund. Took it as a learning curve.
Heat - it was hot ,and a few thunder storms.
Venture out of town? No, only ten days so decided to stay put, as it took this long to get used to the heat and humidity we don't have here in New Zealand.
Pesos? We worked out we could pay $2 pesos of our money for two yummy pizzas which the locals que up for on the side of the street. The price on the sign said sometimes $10 pesos, sometimes $5 pesos. This is cuban pesos, not tourist pesos. Tourist pesos are worth more than cuban pesos.
Worth knowing.
Camera lost? Need film? You can buy this in the main street in Habana Veija, and don't need to to go to Verdado like we did!
Calling home? We did once, was $10US a minute.
Internet? Yes, found this in main street on Habana Veija.
Guide Books? - Rough Guide excellent. and also DW Guide - very very very good.
Obispo Street- most important street to know in Havana for all goods - cameras, shops for water, camera (including digital) stuff.
Money - again Obispo Street. Go the the "Cadeca" in Obispo Street, where ten girls in kiosks change your money. If you need $1000 cash like we did from your credit card, change it twice in lots of $500. Tell them where you are staying as we had the young guy from Amundos with us. This place looks like a bank. just go in.)
Health - we took everything in the Rough Guide.
Toilet paper - take this everywhere with you, and change to pay the person at the door of the toilet.
Foods - black rice beans was my staple + Cuban cola.
Icecream - big tubs of icecream - yummy.