Cuba

The elongated island of Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. Tourism has become one of the largest sources of income for Cuba, and in 1993 the U.S. dollar was made legal tender (the country operated under a dual-currency system); this arrangement was, however, revoked on 25 October 2004.

Cuba

These beautiful ( and sometimes not so beautiful) American cars were everywhere in Cuba.
You might not want to see this guy roll your cigar on the inside of his thigh!
A fun way to get around in Cuba
Very expensive and exclusive nightclub in Havana. Tip: make sure you eat well before you visit as the meal provided will not suffice. Top class entertainment though.

Yours truly about to be shown Varadero by air in a sphincter-testing micro lite ride.
Varadero from above
In November 1999, Elián, his mother, and twelve others left Cuba on a small aluminum boat with a faulty engine; Elián's mother and ten others died in the crossing. Elián and the other two survivors floated at sea on an inner tube until they were rescued by two fishermen who turned him over to the U.S. Coast Guard. This square in Havana was constructed to mark Elian's return to Cuba and Castro would often speak to the people here. It is situated, a little provocatively, right alongside the American Embassy.

The Havana cigar factory
The building next door to the rather grand cigar factory is typical of most of Havana's buildings. Run down and in a sorry state of repair.
Thiswas one of the favourite watering holes of one of Cuba's most revered inhabitants, Ernest Hemingway.

Inside La Floridita.
We hailed this taxi and when the driver stopped, about 12 Cubans got out in order that we could take the cab. The driver then hot wired it to re start and we were off. We could see the road through the floor.
Typical Havana street
One of the novel styles of transport unique to Cuba

Motif of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. Alongside Fidel Castro, one of Cuba's great national heroes
Run down and destitute, these buildings were still home to large Cuban families.

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Cuba

Havana

Cuban structure, Havana

Havana is an absolute one-off. Sitting pretty as the Caribbean’s largest and most vivacious city, its romantic atmosphere and infectious energy are the stuff of legend. Where else do you find vintage American cars running off Russian Lada engines. We read in just about every travel brochure about "stepping back in time", well Havana is the only place I can honestly say I have hed that sort of feeling. it certainly is not difficult to imagine what this place must have been like in it's pomp in the roaring 40's.

Varadero

Varadero is situated on the Hicacos Peninsula, between the Bay of Cárdenas and the Straits of Florida, some 140 km east of Havana. Varadero is first and foremost a tourist resort town, boasting more than 20 km of white sandy beaches. The first tourists visited Varadero as early as the 1870s, and for years it was considered an elite resort.

Considered by many as the world's most beautiful beach, set against a backdrop of astonishing turquoise water and azure sky, Varadero is part of a peninsula that stretches far out into the calm waters of the Atlantic. Its 21-kilometre strip of fine white sand is an ideal vacation spot for sun-lovers, water babies and golfers. Its location on a narrow peninsula ensures that it is constantly cooled by tropical breezes.

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