Snapshots of Cuba

---

Here are just a few flavours that make up this rich dish the world has on the menu…

To Start:

Unexpected colonies of sausage dogs in Havana.
Safe streets, a very family orientated place.
Skinny horses and chickens everywhere.
Pork. Pork. Pork. And more pork.
Che Guevara’s beautiful face. Gorgeous. On every wall, in every window.
Rice and beans. Egg. Pork. Egg and more pork!
Intensely strong, delicious coffee and powdered milk.
Burnt red tobacco fields.
A weathered saddle rests on a fence.

For Main Course:

Rain that comes like clockwork each and every afternoon.
Casas Particulares, smiley kind faces, welcoming homes.
Tin can aeroplanes from Russia and buses from China.
White sand beaches with a Caribbean breeze.
Delicious mojitos made with a whole fresh mint stalk.
White, brown and black skin. Beautiful muscles defined by salsa dancing.
Hemingway’s stamp in all the places he visited.
Standard issue cans of food. Communism is ever-present in Cuba.
Sugar plantations and an insight into the slave trade.
People queuing for milk and meat with their ration cards.
Music, dancing and children up late at night.
No ATM’s, it’s a cash economy. Pricey travel.
Beautiful doors in Trinidad.
Lush green vegetation. Banana trees.
Empty used pill packets on the ground.
The sound of women sweeping.
“meeeeeeenaaaaaa”
Biscuits for sale that are 100 years old.
The world’s most famous cigar.
Horse riding, trekking and exploring caves in the Pinar del Rio region.
Tipping ladies outside los baños.
Lapping waves on Cayo Levista.
Loos with no doors.
Piggies on a spitroast.
Meaty sweet bananas that will make all other bananas bland in comparison.
“Taxi?…. You want taxi to Havana? Viñales?”

And now for desert:
Freestyling salsa on the streets
1950 American Chevys, Plymouths, Fords… wonderful.
Soviet Russian ladas.
Crumbling colonial houses from the 20’s.
They haven’t had a lick of paint since.
Dogs swollen with milk.
Fishnet tights and long, elaborately decorated nails.
Helados (Ice cream) Everywhere you turn.
“sssss sssss” the sound of men sss’ing girls in the street
Banks that rob you blind to take out cash.
Cubans who just don’t look Cuban.
Really good cold Cristal beer.

Happy days!

---

Photos

Washing out to dry
My favourite photo taken in Havana

Playa Pilar
A SERIOUSLY nice beach

Valley of Vinales
Great way to see the landscape

Che Guevara
G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S!

Just another lovely sunset on Cayo Levista
Paradise Island - off North West coast of Cuba

Baseball stadium
Another one of my favourites

Old cars and revolutionairos
A sight you see all over the country

Habana Viejo
I love this photo.

More horseriding
One happy girl!

Another one of Che
Plaza de la revolucion, Havana Centro

Old American Cars queue up at the lights
Another classic scene you can't get away from

Sugar Plantation outside of Trinidad
The bell tower for calling in the slaves

I wasn't joking...
...His face is EVERYWHERE!!

Hemingway's Bar
Havana

Comments

[Alexandra]

Hermoso!!!
Hola Sarita: Que hermoso tu viaje a Cuba, es un país lleno de contrastes no crees? sus playas son únicas en el mundo, estuve hace muchos años en Varadero! me alegra que tuviste la oportunidad de estar ahi y practicar mucho español! un abrazo desde Ecuador!