Blogs from Centro, Cuba, Central America Caribbean

Trinidad was again another great place to visit when in Cuba! Cobbled streets, vibrant colours, a short hop away from the beach, brilliant restaurants and even a cave nightclub. We enjoyed the few days that we had left on our holiday in Trinidad. No cars are allowed in the inner city, so walking around the cobbled streets is a pleasure! A very popular restaurant that often has a line out the front is La Botija, we went there twice and I recommend going there at least once. Palacio Cantero, the very obvious iconic tower of Trinidad has a nice view point and is also a museum. We also enjoyed the experience of being in a natural cave nightclub just on the north of the town. As you walk up the hill, various little alcohol stands pave ... read more

Here I am at an Aboriginal-themed resort, sitting by the pool writing these notes, unwillingly listening to recorded music that drowns the birdsong, and psychically assaulted by staff moving chairs for a party tonight. Bizarre! I decided not to go swimming, because sunset is coming and the breeze is cool even when clothed. The climate has changed again now we are on the north side of the Guamuhaya Mountain Range, facing the Atlantic, although the sea is not within sight. We departed on the dot of 8:30 this morning to arrive at a popular viewpoint in Altiplano Micro Park while parking spots were still available. (By the time we left the viewpoint, they were all occupied.) Our bus climbed steadily up into the mountains along curves and tight switchbacks. I glimpsed the sea occasionally... read more

Cuba Day 8. Monday 28 Jan 61km. 570m ascent 29 degrees cycled today. An early start at 8.15 after deciding on plan D. The cause of much plan changing was the likely bad weather conditions following a tornado yesterday in Havana which left 3 dead and 176 injured. We eventually decided not to travel up the hills to Trinidad but to cycle around it. This was a very good choice of route since the wind was quite strong but on our tail on the undulating road. Whilst the day started with damp roads, and the necessary puddles, the cloud cleared somewhat and the sun shone on our backs as we headed south west. The road was the best so far with few potholes and fairly light traffic and we sailed along nicely until midday and Liz ... read more

CRUISE to CUBA August 9-13, 2018 on the Carnival Paradise ------A destination that should be on everyone’s bucket list is the unique, culturally rich country of Cuba. Many people believe that it is illegal to travel in Cuba or that it is dangerous, but nothing could be farther from the truth. The U.S. currently has an embargo of trade with Cuba dating back to the overthrow of the dictator Bautista by Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries in 1959, (as well as Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union), but travel is allowed with certain restrictions that vary with whoever the U.S. President is. President Obama had relaxed restrictions, and three million tourists were lucky enough to sample this vibrant, lively culture during his tenure. Under President Trump, however, most travel restrictions were re-instated for ... read more

Sun-Mon-Tues 8, 9 & 10 July Day 3-5: Trinidad We had 2 ½ days to enjoy this beautiful colonial UNESCO city of Trinidad which is home to numerous churches and many colonial buildings. Nearby are the Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of Sugarmills) which we visited on the way out of Trinidad and Playa Ancón, where we enjoyed long stretches of white sand beaches. Nowadays, Trinidad's main industry is tobacco processing. The older parts of town are well preserved, as the Cuban tourism industry sees benefit from tour groups. In contrast, some parts of town outside the tourist areas are very run down and in disrepair, especially in the centre. Tourism from Western nations is major source of income in the city. The Plaza Mayor of Trinidad is a plaza and an open-air museum of Spanish ... read more