CUBA - VACATION FULL OF FUN MUSIC AND WARMTH

It was definitely time to get out of the cold!

We left New York and took a flight to Montego Bay where we boarded a cruise ship for a 7 day cruise to Cuba.  Under Obama's new travel restrictions, you still need licensing as an American to visit.  There are organizations out there that now work with travel agents to help obtain this legally.

Cienfuegos, Cuba.  We arrived early Saturday morning  and as we docked I could see beautiful 19th century apartment buildings on the bay with locals waving to us from the streets.

We decided to take a tour bus to the center of town.  As we walked around the square we could see families everywhere walking around shopping and there were many outdoor cafes that sold only coffee, beer and drinks cheap.  I am told there is no homeless population in Cuba, but there were people stopping asking for pesos.

We then went to a beachside restaurant where we had authentic cuban food cooked on the grill and a cuban salsa band played for us while we had lunch,  We danced and sang and ended up spending 3 hrs there.  Very hospitable place overlooking the beautiful ocean.

Punta Frances - this is a private beach area for the cruise ship.  I was happy to put my toes in the white sand and the crystal water.  We got a cold drink and just chilled the rest of the day,

HAVANA here we come!!  We were so excited to be in Havana.  The boat docked right smack in the middle of town.  All you can see is people everywhere, horse drawn buggies, a lot of old American  cars passing by, and weathered buildings.  It's like taking a step back in time.  We decided to take a buggy ride and the driver gave us a tour of old and new Havana.  This is where things got real.

Old Havana:   In the residential areas we saw rubble from buildings that had crumpled to the ground.  Right next to the rubble are buildings barely standing with people going in and out.  They sat on window sills looking out with no window panes and no doors.  You could look right into their apartments.  Since these were old buildings many had no running water, so you can see people hoisting buckets of water up and down with a rope.  I am told that only when the building collapses, are the tenants then moved to New Havana where housing is slightly better.

After the buggy ride we walked around town and saw dance troupes singing in the street, vendors selling records and books, small inlets of shops where wood carvings and the unusual souvenirs are sold.  We then took a cab ride in a 1950 oldsmobile to the other side of town where we had lunch and a tour of new Havana.  We also had the cab driver take us to the art district.  We had just missed a young group of singers and dancers, but had a concotion called Negro rum (pronounced Nee-A-gro)  Delicious!

As it grew dark we went to an abandoned movie theatre to see a young choral group perform called "Calle de Opera" They performed in a building where you can see that part of the ceiling is missing, and some of walls are torn down and no running water.  They were outstanding!

Before we turned in we stopped at a corner bar where there was a band and two women singers.  One of the women who performed, and if I didn't know any better, I would of thought was Celia Cruz.  We danced in the street because it was too crowded to get inside.  Best latin and salsa you every want to hear.  This is what we came for!!

Biren and Santiago de Cuba - Both of these were historical in content.  We went to Castro's village where he grew up and walked inside his home, and we went to a museum where everything about the revolution was exhibited (even the torture chamber).  After that we saw lots of cuban bands playing in and around town, had a cuban meal, and bought back some rum from the Bacardi factory.  In Biran we visited a Cuban family where they made the best coffee, honey and homemade rum.  Biggest regret is that I got the rum and not the honey.  You can legally bring back up to $100 worth of cuban cigars and rum.

Historically I learned a lot about Cuba, its culture and its people.  They are warm, welcoming and friendly to americans.  They do not have legal access to the internet, microwaves, dishwashers, modern cars, and American TV, but are happy, and especially healthy (due to having access to the best medical doctors in the world for free).  I found out that they would gladly accept basic toiletries that we take for granted like toilet paper, razors, feminine products, and get this....guitar strings!  Yes, I saw a latin band playing and the guitarist had one string on his guitar.

Food excellent, Mojitos hit or miss.  All in all I must say that the people of Cuba are very proud of their cuban heritage which consists of African, Indian and Spanish roots.  I think this visit was the beginning of many more for us and we will be going back real soon.

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