Cuba
Cuba is a moment frozen in time – of romance, rum and revolutions, of chevvies, cigars and cha cha cha, of sunshine, sand and salsa. A trip to Cuba is a step back in time with its classic American cars, horse-drawn carriages and colonial architecture, and a stillness to be savoured. Musicans sing and play in cafes and on street corners, people not so much walk the streets as swagger and despite their lack of wealth, the ‘Cubano’s seem to enjoy life to the fullest. They laugh, they smile, they love a chat and they dance like no-one is watching!
The largest island of the Antilles, with an area of 110, 860 sq km and a population of 2.2 million, Cuba offers silky white beaches with swaying palms, a lush hinterland of coffee, sugar and banana plantations, and charming colonial towns and cities. Its people are a mix of African and Spanish and its history is woven with pirates and poets, heroes and revolutionaries. Jose Martí, considered to be the Cuban national hero, was both the leader of the Independence Movement against Spain (1895) and a renowned poet and writer. In the 20h century, Cuba saw the likes of Fidel Castro, Ernesto ‘Che; Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos and many others take up the battle for Independence one more time.
Cuban music, with its mix of African beat fused with songs and dances brought by the Spanish colonists, has been brought to the world over the years by great characters like Benny Moré, Arturo Sandoval, Perez Prado and more recently the artists of the Buena Vista Social Club - Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and Ruben Gonzales to name a few.
The island has been a haven for celebrities. Ernest Hemingway took up residence here on and off for many years, writing his epic Nobel Prize-winning novel, ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ based on his marlin fishing adventures. His infamous parties drew many a celebrity and a walk around Havana can become somewhat a Hemingway tour – a mojioto at ‘La Bodeguita del Medio, a daiquiri at ’ Floridita’ and a visit to ‘Hotel Ambos Mundos’ where he laid his head and his type-writer whilst in Havana. Hemingway also owned an estate outside the city, ‘La Finca Vigia’, which is now a museum, near the little fishing village of Cojimar.
The colonial gems of Cuba are of course its capital, Havana, the beautiful World Heritage listed Trinidad, elegant Cienguegos, and Bayamo – the’ city of carriages’. To absorb the true spirit of the Revolution and the origins of Cuban music, a trip across the island to Santiago de Cuba is a must.
For a tropical paradise holiday, there are beach resorts the length and breadth of the country with some highlights being around the regions of Holguin, Trinidad, Pinar del Rio and the popular Varadero, as well as the small islands known as ‘cayos’ - Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cayo Guillermo.
Whether your visit to Cuba is a few days roaming the streets of Havana, a few days relaxing in the turquoise Caribbean waters, or a complete island adventure, you will leave with a sense of history, passion and rhythm not to be forgotten. You will also be one of the privileged, to experience Cuba before the winds of change blow away its true charm.