It really wasn’t until Santiago de Cuba when we finally got a feel for the real Cuba. Not because the city seems to see fewer tourists than Havana, or because its cultural influences come from primarily Jamaica, Haiti, and Africa, or because its revolutionary history has helped influence Cuba’s music, art, architecture, and politics. Around the charming plaza: The busy streets of Santiago: Like in Havana, it was refreshing to see children and teens playing soccer barefoot in the streets at dusk. By the time we arrived to Santiago, we had finally begun to understand the gist of Cuba after having…

Even with the busloads of tourists and hustlers, I was able to sample the time-warp of Trinidad merely by strolling through the quaint cobblestone historic center and biking gently through the hot and dusty narrow streets. The well-preserved colonial architecture set behind the classic cars and numerous horse carts made for colorful backdrops for the perfect photo. It is easy to assume that the picturesque historic center is all for show, but even beyond the historic center and deep into the shabbier neighborhoods one will easily find more photo opportunities of locals milling about their homes. Strolling through the streets:…

Yes, it was quite the fiasco back in 1961 when the Kennedy administration attempted and failed to overthrow Cuba and Fidel.  Now to our amusement the former Bay of Pigs battle site is home to Cuba’s most accessible dive sites.  Although not the best dives in the country, its accessibility and low cost ($25 per dive, all equipment included) made it too hard to pass up. The premier dive sites in Cuba are Isla de la Juventud and Maria la Gorda, but they require too much time and money to get there. Diving in the Bay of Pigs it was!…

In the far west of Cuba in the Pinar del Rio province lie the 11km x 5km limestone karst mountains of Valle de Viñales similar to those of Vietnam and Laos.  Apparently this is the best place in the world to grow tobacco, and the lush, green countryside is filled with tobacco fields, farmland, and the oxen working them. After a couple hectic days in fast-paced Havana, Viñales was the perfect getaway for natural beauty, nature hikes, and countryside relaxation. From Havana, it was only a 4-hour $12 bus ride via Viazul, or a 2-hour $15 shared taxi ride. First…

In late 2014 we toyed with the idea of visiting Cuba during our 5 months of South American travel. Only a couple months later in 2015 when Obama made it public that he wanted to lift the Cuban embargo, we unanimously agreed that we had to go before traveling there became easier and legal. We had to go before it opened its doors to the United States…we had to go before American tourists would change everything. Prepare to be frustrated and fascinated at the same time, they said. Go with an open mind, they said. There is no internet in…