Blogs from Cuba, Central America Caribbean - page 103

To the inexperienced, two weeks in Cuba seemed like more than enough time to explore this stunning and unique country. In reality, it has merely given us enough time to scratch the surface. But what an amazing surface to scratch; and at least we have a reason to come back again in the future. Given Cuba´s deceptively large size (its over 10 times bigger than its neighbour, Jamaica) we decided to focus our attention on the western half of the country. After flying into Havana (actually Habana - don’t know how we managed to anglicise that) on Sunday 5th February, we made our way to a casa recommended by a friend in Habana Centro. To those not acquainted with casas, these are basically privately run hotels by Cuban residents. But hotel is using the term very ... read more

The flight from Cancun to Havana took one hour, but experiencing Cuba in 2006 is like flying into another world. It feels like you're entering a museum amidst a visual explosion of once in a lifetime travel sights and experiences. Where else, for example, can you catch a taxi ride in a 1948 Dodge as you can in downtown Havana? Ah Cuba; the rhythm, the rum, the salsa dancing, the music and the beautiful Cubana chicas, the rum (¿did I already mention that?), the havana cigars, the colonial buildings and the fiestas by night. There's a good chance you will have the travel experience of a lifetime in Cuba, but the initiation can be quite challenging. This is because Cubans are famous for working their angles with tourists, and I believe they are the undisputed masters ... read more

No habíamos oído hablar de Baracoa hasta llegar a Cuba. Como suele pasar, fue uno de los lugares que más nos gustó del viaje. No sólo porque es un lugar hermoso, sino por lo que podes aprender de la gente, de las costumbres, de los lugares. Realmente imperdible!... read more

We´re now in Holguin the 3rd largest city and near the birthplace of Fidel. We arrived after a grueling 40 mile ride with 20mph headwinds. Happy to be here! We spent 2 nights in the Sierra Maestra national park and hiked to the Commandancia de la Plata, where Fidel, Che, et al (kinda Valley Forge or Gettysburg - Cuba style) managed the revolution in 1959, we saw the huts they lived in saw the location of Radio Rebelde. It was a great hike in wonderful scenery with great history. Our guide was wonderful. He was probably in his mid-thirties and had lived in the village of Santo Domingo (pop 600) all his life, the furthest from Santo Domingo he has travelled was to Maceo Bartolome, 50 miles away. Yet he speaks the best english of any ... read more

Paso obligado para el turista.... read more