First thing first - I do not think you can grasp how Cuba feels like from a blog. I will try though.
For me, in some ways, it was almost like a return to my childhood when my country has been occupied by Soviets.
So I had my experience with communism. But I will try to share my experience.
We arrived at Havana for 3 nights and I have to say the city has many flavours. If you are old car enthusiast Cuba is the place to visit.
It comes with prices though - the fumes are daily bread for most of the citizens there, Havana streets might be a bit smelly for some people.
Also buildings are old and as amazing as you can see them on the internet.
For me the most shocking thing has been the poverty of the people living there. I guess that is probably why Cubans are so keen on meeting tourists,
offering them services or products (sometimes really dodgy I have to say, not sure if some are so desperate).
I do not want to open a political debate here but I think the regime will have to change very soon.
When you get off your plane the first you get is the punch in your face by Cuban heat and very humid air. Within seconds you will start sweat profusely
(we landed after midnight) believe me. Funny enough, I miss it now in London. :)
After 3 days we have moved to Varadero, described by Cubans as "too touristy". It is a long strip of land going into the sea towards Florida coast,
about 2 hours drive north from Havana. It has a big hotel complexes all along the beaches and let me tell you - the beaches are just out of this world!
White sand, sky blue crystal clear water (a tide brings some sand, mornings are usually very calm), tropical foliage.
I can only recommend it, the hotels are usually very well equipped, bars, restaurants, pools, activities - everything is there. I can recommend
sea-kayaking and if you can, let locals take you out to the sea for a diving/snorkelling via catamaran. What I did not know our guide carried
a bag full of bread and as soon I submerged he threw a handful into the water. Hundreds of fishes swarming around you, experience I can only highly recommend it.
The other thing is Cuban nature. Go out and explore! It is worth it. We have visited Bay of pigs, Varadero Nature reserve, a crocodile farm and a national park in Guama.
I am sure you will be lucky and you will see some of Cuban fauna and flora like a butterfly bat, fishes, curly-tail lizzards, hummingbirds, various types of insects, etc.
We saw some snakes too but told by locals that none of Cuban snakes is poisonous althoug I cannot confirm that (fortunately). :)
We have even found a real shell in a size of a human head!
You also have to try mojito, pina colada, or just a shot of Cuban rum! Your experience of Cuba would not be complete!
As a morning alarm we had a little plane passing overhead every morning around 6.30am spraying some stuff from its wings - I assume this is being done for
tourists - some chemical against mosquitos. I hope it is not a DDT. :)
One last thing I would like to say, if you go to tropics, please take some first aid kit and also some Immodium, you will very probably need it (pharmacies in Cuba are not very common I think). The heat makes your food go off
quicker than you think (that includes restaurants and other food places) so diarrhoea and stomach problems are quite common for people from "outside" countries.
Cuba is a very very unique place and I am really glad that I had the opportunity to experience it before it changes forever. Now I can clearly see why Ernest Hemingway
picked Cuba for his writing.
Pentax K-x, 18-55mm, HDR
Pentax K-x, 55-300mm, HDR
