If someone asks you what the largest Caribbean nation is, chances are that you will reply “It’s Jamaica, isn’t it?” Well, you will be off by a long way, because that title belongs to the often overlooked island nation of Cuba. In the North of the Caribbean, very close to the United States, yet so far away due to political reasons, lies Cuba, a nation that has a reputation that some claim is unfounded. Others tend to disagree. This is not a look at the political background of this often forgotten country, but a glimpse of a nation waiting to unleash itself on the world as the next big tourist destination.
There are many reasons to visit Cuba, but they can be categorised into four areas, as discussed in Lonely Planet’s description of the country:
A Princess in Rags
Cuba is a country that comes with a paradox – active, yet at a standstill. Visitors should expect to abandon their preconceptions and accept Cuba for what it is. Beneath the Mildew and the lagging infrastructure, behind the 1950s cars and architecturally beautiful, yet hardly maintained buildings lies a culture that is screaming to get out and face the world. Cuba has some class, and a certain richness about it, but it is all packaged in a façade that hides its true self. Like a royal princess having to wear pauper’s rags, economic poverty in a seemingly perpetually limited economy has made Cuba a shadow of what it could be.
Historical Richness
What Cuba lacks in modernisation, it makes up in historical value. It is quite ironic, too, that what made this former Spanish colony a living museum filled with historical forts, palaces, hotels, and colonial towns is what made Cuba the ostracised big brother of the Caribbean. Modernisation never happened, as economic embargoes slapped on the country meant development was kept in a standstill for the past half a century. There is a silver lining in this story – many of the historical remnants of the colonial era are being faithfully restored. Visitors for generations to come will admire the artistry and the craftsmanship of the original builders of these magnificent sites.
A Culture of Music
Although Spanish is the main language spoken in Cuba owing to the Spanish colonisation in its past, the influences of French, African, American, Jamaican and indigenous Taíno populations are abound – often obvious, sometimes subtle, but definitely there. Nowhere do these influences manifest themselves quite like they do in the music scene.
If for a moment, you think that Cuban music has been drowned out by the influence of communism, you would never be so wrong. In Cuba, music is everywhere. Through every doorway of every street, and in the operas and the ballets, in the bars and eateries, music emanates throughout Cuba, drowning out any preconceptions you may have had before you visit. From the hypnotic drumming in a Santería Ceremony to the sounds of a trombonist honing his skills on the seawall, to the rhythmic walk of the locals as they wander the busy Havana streets, music is very much a part of Cuban life.
Cubans – a Lively People
What we have discussed above will all not be possible if it were not for one defining factor – the Cuban people. Strong-willed, resilient, survivors – however you choose to describe them, you will not be at a loss of words to do so. As the infrastructure has crumbles, it is the people who have kept the country going. A testament to this is the fact that most cars in the country were made in the 1950s, and are still running perfectly well, despite the conditions. If you need more evidence, look no further than the beaches, the mountains, the bays, the music and the landscapes of this paradoxical nation, all well preserved and untarnished. Cubans are poets and dreamers, everyone a philosopher, everyone a sage. No conversation is boring, and no rum is left untouched. All the pressure exerted on this lump of coal has turned this people not into dust, but into a diamond in the rough, waiting to be mined, cut, and polished so it could shine with the brilliance it holds.
What are you waiting for?
If you are looking for your next great adventure, Cuba is the place to go. Tourism infrastructure might not be what it is in the rest of the Caribbean, but you will find some great options if you look for them. Travel Center UK is well-equipped to provide you the best deals on flights to Cuba. Call us today, and we will be able to find you the best add-ons at the cheapest rates.
Cuba is the ultimate off-the-beaten-track destination. What more do you need?
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