It is now unbelievably four years since a wonderful tour of Cuba that I did with Mrs Wilbur (she had a milestone birthday whilst there) and our good friend and my regular travel buddy Hamish.

2017

Things seemed to be changing in 2017.

Barack Obama had forged new relations between the traditional adversaries. Cruise ships from Florida had already paid some visits, the big hotel chains were circling and it appeared only a matter of time before investment dollars and US tourists poured in.

The Trump Administration soon put a stop to that of course and unless you are a voluntary resident of Guantanamo Bay you will still not see a Starbucks or a McDonald’s in Cuba.

As you will soon become very aware, I had a fabulous trip to the largest island in the Caribbean. We spent a few days independently and then joined up with G Adventures for a two week tour of much of the country.

A quick shout out to our most wonderful guide Pedro, an English & History teacher turned tour leader, who went out of his way to look after us all and wow us with his encyclopaedic knowledge of his fascinating nation.

A further shout goes to Casavana, our initial accommodation before we joined the tour in Havana.

The casa situated in the Vedado district of the capital was brilliantly located close to the iconic Malecon (waterfront) and in Jameel we had a most welcoming and informative host. You do not get top billing in Lonely Planet & Trip Advisor by chance.

Our welcome mojitos on the balcony overlooking the sultry Caribbean will live long in the memory.

Now to our trip and the point of this post.

We crammed in a whole host of great experiences in visiting Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Trinidad de Cuba, Camaguey, Cienfeugos, Bayamo & Santa Clara, so much adventure that it would be impossible to recount them all in an article or two. So guess what?

You are going to be treated (I hope) to a whole series of them!

These will cover the likes of:

Road transport of Cuba – from classic American cars to goat drawn carriages

The Revolution – from the disastrous beginnings to triumph against the odds

Fidel Castro – from being condemned to execution in 1953 to leader of his nation for almost 50 years

Che Guevara – from asthmatic doctor to instantly recognisable icon

Birds of Cuba – from the diminutive humming bird to pelicans & vultures

Music & Dance of Cuba – Salsa, Jazz, Son and Buena Vista Social Club

Cemeteries of Cuba – the final resting places of Fidel, Che, Jose Marti & Campay Segundo

Trains of Cuba – naturally deserving of their own article!

People of Cuba – from adorable school kids to expressions that tell a million stories

Colours of Cuba – vibrancy at every turn

Industries of Cuba – sugar cane, cigars, rum and cocoa

Accommodation of Cuba – from the humble casa to mafia palaces

Cuban Fortifications – defending the prized asset

Cuban Architecture – Crumbling Neoclassical to Splendid Art Deco

Wall Art of Cuba – a very public canvass

Old Town Havana – a capital destination

Statues of Cuba – from Generals to Artists

Cuban Sunsets – from the Atlantic to the Caribbean

Cuban Flora – flower power

Pictures of Cuba – a random set of anything else

Watch this space………