Filip Molcan

“Earth! The most beautiful country I’ve ever seen!” is written in the logbook of Christopher Columbus in 1492, when his ship was reaching the Cuban shores. Cuba is a country that is very often presented in a rather distorted way today because of the political situation. My article covers the beautiful nature, rich culture and friendly people the largest island in the Caribbean.

View from one of the Trinidad’s tower

I went to the island of tobacco and rum in 2008 after eight years, again and again I was not enough to marvel at the local comfort and peculiarity. After arrival at Varadero airport we waited a long transfer by taxi across the interior of the south island – to the town of Trinidad, one of the most beautiful towns in the world. Interior of the island is full of palm trees, green, tobacco fields and small villages.

In Cuba, while there are a number of “highways”, but those who know we have a common name. In fact on a wider paved road with plenty of bumps and holes. It may not surprise you when you pass pedestrians on the highway, cowboys on horseback, or when over the entire width of the highway passes a herd of cows – this is all highway. Buses and trains do not travel on Cuba very much, so travelling is quite adventure. If you are in town, then you just wave at a passing car, and most will stop – if the car you drive, where you have usable space for someone else and stop it, you get a fine – cars must be used. On the highways, under bridges, you’ll meet dozens of people waiting for the old American trucks rumbling – this Cuban crowd watches in yellow uniform and that goes around the truck with empty beds, doll shows, stop, passengers have boards and drives away. Where? There, where passengers need is just the truck definitely state.

In our world full of stress it would probably not work, but yes in Cuba – in absolute right. Cubans over the years have gotten used to the constant waiting. But don’t worry, be happy, it’s sunny…

Trinidad

Trinidad is a town built up by tobacco magnates in the colonial era of the island. Historical center with a lovely little square is the cultural heritage of UNESCO. The local colonial squares, churches and streets with an unforgettable atmosphere. On the streets you meet playing children, the butcher on the table in the dirt paths sells meat, Cubans sitting outside his houses and smoking cigars, some just hang around town and you passed.

A typical street in Trinidad

Trinidad is a city with the largest number of museums per person. Most museums are politically oriented, but if you pass several rooms with revolutionary photographs, exposed to guns and other relics, a fee you can climb the tower and enjoy the beautiful views of the entire town on one side, guarded by mountains and on the other side of the Caribbean Sea – It’s a great.

Trinidad’s market

In the vicinity of Trinidad are among the most beautiful beaches in Cuba. There are outside the crystal clear waters, white sand and coconut palms one more advantage – you can walk here for hour and you will not meet anyone.

The most beautiful beach on Cuba – Ancon near Trindad

After a few days, we again got into a taxi and started toward Havana. In Cuba in recent years reached a new invention – air conditioning. And because the Cubans want to show you that the air conditioning is function in their car, they use it principally to the full performance and the lowest possible temperature. Several hours journey from Trinidad to Havana rather reminded me that winter ascent only in summer – at least the temperature corresponding to it.

Havana

Main town of the island is a city of contrasts. The old lady, as is often called a city, you are guaranteed to enchant. The city center is also under protection of UNESCO – there it not enough money to repair all the nice buildings because of the huge number of buildings. Magnificent palaces, broad streets and small streets, colonial buildings and beautiful American cars of the fifties – it is only the first view of the city, where you’ll find everything you can think of – luxury hotels, dirty pubs, theaters, cinemas, cafes and pastry shops, street vendors and artists.

One of the most luxurious place to stay is the Hotel Nacional, which is part of Cuban history – lived here such greats as Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra. In the hotel basement defended Fidel Cuba before the attack from the United States. Hotel, which was built in 1930 still has the original equipment, grand entrance hall and a view of the entire waterfront Malecon – one of the main cultural sites of the Cubans.

Our room in Hotel Nacional de Cuba

The main hall in hotel

A view from our room’s window

Want to see the White House? In Havana they built the exact copy that is reminiscent of the American domination. Put two U.S. dollars to the guards and he will open all other closed spaces – a presidential suite, secret passageways inside and takes you to places where the best taking a beautiful interior photos.

Il Capitolio, Havana

Then you just let yourself go into the atmosphere of the old streets of the city – good food, cocktails and ubiquitous Cuban music. I must say that after two weeks in Cuba I enjoyed home when my lunch will be at the table, one playing Guantanamera. Cuba is full of music and it is very hard to find a restaurant, where would sing, did not play the piano or other instruments.

Prado, Havana

True magic lies in Havana, but that is not a historical museum. Havana is a city that lives its everyday life. And in the center of the rarest sights you see on the terrace to dry clothes, antique furniture is not just for decoration, but it is used in everyday life. On the streets – the children play football in the shade of trees on the promenade sits Prado Cubans and chatting about everything. People are showing off their skills a variety of artists. Moments away you will find shops of international brands like Nike, Adidas and others – but most customers do not have much much money to buy this, perhaps just a tourist here and there, which is not enough traditional t-shirt with the portrait of Che Guevara.

Children playing football on one of the cities squares

Another place definitely worth a visit for us is the town church. It is one of the largest churches in Latin America – instead of aisles between the tombs are, including street signs and drive with the car. Pay can ride the city in a red convertible from the fifties, in a carriage or a Coco Taxi. You can walk the park “Lenin” and a little park nearby, again, John Lennon, which even the guard of honor guards, metal glasses on his sculpture – these were often lost in the past. The Revolution Square in one year one hundred thousand people gathered for the speech of Fidel Castro and a few months back a sermon the pope – no it’s not magic? It’s Cuba.

Malecon

The Viñales Valley

After several hot days in the city, we again lusting after a piece of nature and so we went to the famous Viñales Valley, which is registered on the UNESCO list of natural monuments. Above tobacco plantations here to disable the height of 400 meters called Mogote – rock formations 160 million years old. Landscape full of fantasy, also have old indian village or small farming village.

Vinales Valley

In the last few days we went to the famous Varadero to enjoy peace, lovely beaches and Cuban rum. Varadero today offers a range of truly luxurious hotel for a relaxing holiday. But I dare say that those who were only to Varadero – it is not, Cuba!. Varadero was formerly Peninsula, where the current Cuban did not even have access, so it was a sort of “tourist book”. No real cubans, no real cuban life, not the best beaches and not the best nature.

Storm coming to Cuba, Varadero

I visited Cuba in the time of Fidel Castro in 2000 and now under the reign of his brother Raul – some changes are happenning but not very much. Cuba is slowly opening, but because even most locals do not want to change anything, no revolutionary changes nobody expects. Local people can small businesses in tourism, get onto the Internet, foreign broadcasters, and can get a mobile phone or iPod, and other conveniences. Sure, not all cubans can do this! The life in the Havana and in the small villages is a hude different.