Just back from Cuba

I’d heard so much about this Caribbean Island and was intrigued to find out about the post-revolutionary social structure and couldn’t wait to see the architectural wonders of the pre-revolutionary period. I'd also heard great things about the walking, the waterfalls and the beaches.

But most of all I was looking for answers. Why are people so fascinated by Cuba? Have they got it right while the rest of us seem headed for economic melt down? Is the food any good?

Well it seems that while there are plenty of drawbacks to a non-consumer, anti capitalist state, the positives are clear to see. The outlook for one when exploring Havana is so uncluttered by the everyday advertising we have become so accustomed to in Britain.

That the buildings are predominantly pre-revolution and include the wonderful Bacardi Building, is a contradiction that captures Cuba in a nutshell. It is the austerity of the state controlled society against the grandeur of the capitalist boom time that makes it such an interesting place to visit.

Wandering around the capital you’ll be offered a cigar for sure, you will definitely see a small group playing excellent salsa music and you are certain to peer inside any number of opulent buildings and be surprised by cavernous interiors.

The limestone outcrops and caves of Vinales shelter the famous tobacco fields below. This is serious scenery and a great place for walking or cycling. We stopped at a farmhouse for an impromptu demonstration of rolling Criollos (hand made cigars). The warmth of the local people clear to see and not put on for the tourists.

At Trinidad, truly one of the best preserved colonial centres in the Americas and one of the most amazing old towns I have ever seen, you can’t help but be impressed by this window to the past. Cobbled streets and coloured buildings are the phrases everyone uses to describe this Unesco World Heritage Site, but there are no logos just out of shot and there are no fast food outlets or camera shops so it really does look like that from every angle.

Speaking of food, I'd heard stories about the cuisine of Cuba not being up to scratch but I’m here to totally debunk them. Sure some of the hotels have limited menus and the devotion to rice and beans can grow tedious, but the fish is fresh, the chicken crispy, the Ropas Viejas juicy and the lobster sweet. Fresh fruit for breakfast and a great cup of coffee. Eating dinner at a paladar (private restaurant usually in someone’s home and occasionally with unforgettable sea front location) is a Cuban experience not to be missed.

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Trinidad