Thursday 29th April 2010
By Nicola Greeley
I've been looking forward to visiting Cuba for over ten years. So when the opportunity came up to travel as a family of three couples I was certainly very excited. Most travellers stay in Varadero for its amazing beach but I chose to go to Jibacoa because it was half way between Varadero and Havana giving us the best of both worlds, a secluded snorkel worthy beach and a shorter drive to these popular destinations.
On driving to Jibacoa from Varadero airport some views reminded me of a scene from the film Lion King, I just couldn’t get the song “The Circle of Life” out of my head as I looked out over the rolling tropical forest, as we passed over the Bacunayagua Bridge.
It was of no surprise to me that I was going to find Havana irresistible, enjoy the beach and adore the heat but the biggest surprise to me was the people. Whenever someone is talking to a group they always start the conversation with “my friends”, everyone has a smile for you and there’s just something about the greeting of “Hola” that immediately puts you at ease.
This is a proud nation, mostly made up of people from Spanish and African descent. If you were to ask them if they were Spanish or African Cuban, they would simply respond Cuban because to suggest they are anything else would imply a lack of unity.
Everyone stands tall here and I’m convinced this is because everyone seems ready to break into a salsa or mambo routine. The hotel staff walk by whistling, the restaurant staff will stop service to join in a short song with the band, our taxi driver even sung at the top of his lungs.
Whenever I offer Cuba as a destination to my clients I sometimes hear the objection that they do not want to support a communist country. Everyone has their point of view but I feel because Tourism is one of the biggest assets to this beautiful country and employs many people you’re really supporting families rather than a government. My tour guide was just entering his town’s second round of votes for their official representation in the Capital, so while it is a socialist country it is still somewhat democratic.
I caught a glimpse of a primary school class in Santa Cruz Del Norte finishing its day with a dance session; they seem to have found a great balance between a high standard of education and fun. While Cuban’s don’t have much and as such this has made them a nation of mechanics and artists, they also export an amazing amount of doctors and medicine.
Everyone is busy and they all seem to be happy about it. My impression was that while much is run by the government under a socialist administration, it wasn’t so much imposing as organised and safe. I didn’t see homeless people, drug use or prostitution here. Everyone is provided a house, education and medical services.
The joke in Cuba is that all roads lead to Rum and there sure is a lot of it. As a none smoker I was amazed at how romantic Cuban’s can make a cigar sound, to the point that I insisted that my husband not leave the store without a Churchill or a Romeo & Juliet Cigar.
My only regret is that I didn’t spend more time in Havana. While I spent a full day sightseeing before a fabulous show at the Tropicana (this is where Vegas shows got their inspiration) it wasn’t enough.
The buildings and cars, while sometimes in disrepair due to their age, transport you back to a time when building design was clearly an art form. I was even surprised to see statues of famous Americans in Havana. When asked why, the guide told us, “we don’t take history down here, everything was placed at the right time”.
The flea market offered rows and rows of art and I really couldn’t decide what to bring back because there was so much choice and it was so reasonably priced.
Now while I am attracted to people, places and views. I know that many people go to the Caribbean for its sun, sea and sand and for this you won’t be disappointed. The ocean is a sight to behold, and everyone raved about the coral reef just meters from the shore. I was happy to shade bathe on the hot sandy beach with a Lemon Slush or Havana Loco.