In one week we will be heading down to explore Cuba and interact with their people. Tune in soon.
On Our Way
We depart this morning for Cuba. Although not on a private jet we might as well be. We, and hardly anyone else are on a direct JFK to Havana flight. American tourism to Cuba is definitely suffering. We will be…
Hola Havana
If you haven’t already guessed, we are home now. So much for government controlled spotty internet and WiFi. We arrived in Havana and were met by our private guide Jesus Noguera Ravelo and taken to our luxurious B&B Hostal RelaxHavana.…
Fusterlandia and The Holocaust Museum and Synagogue
Jose’ Fuster is a famous Cuban artist who literally converted almost his entire neighborhood, including a medical clinic, into a wonderland of mosaic and sculpture with a significant influence from Gaudi. After spending most of the morning strolling the neighborhood…
An Afternoon Stroll Through Old Havana
After lunch we began our afternoon at Callejon de Hamal, a vibrant open air museum created by the Afro- Cuban community. Many practice a religion called Santaria, which is mostly African in nature with a bit of Roman Catholicism thrown…
Did Someone Say “Buena Vista Social Club?”
This venerable band of motion picture fame is still alive and well and its latest rendition is as good as ever. Cubans are known for their love of music and our evening listening to the band at the Hotel Nacional…
Vistas of the Vinales Valley
Jesus met us early for our westward journey to the Vinales Valley. In addition to spectacular views of the limestone mogotes, we also learned about tobacco farming and the cigar industry ( more on that later), coffee growing, organic farming…
Anyone Want a Cuban?…..Cigar That Is.
A vast bulk of the Cuban tobacco industry is family owned. The farmer is guaranteed a price by the government (whether the crop yield is good or not) and must sell 90% of his crop to the state. The other…
Hiking Vinales and Cueva de la Vaca
After our cigar “pick me up” we hiked through the Vinales Valley and then about 1/3 the way up one of the mogotes to a cave that actually went the entire way through the mogote and out the other side.…
Shameless Plug!
As an important aside, if anyone reading this blog were thinking of going to Cuba I would highly recommend our guide Jesus Noguera Ravelo. His English is better than mine, he is an excellent and careful driver, he knows all…