ryan

The romantic notion of Cuba is stripped bare when you take the white knuckled ride into the midst of Cuban life.

White beaches and glorious crystal blue seas frame an island steeped in history clinging to itself for success. Its heroes in Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are emblazoned across every street, in every town in every region; the people, committed to a life of communism with an income stream from the capitalist tourists of the North.

The tourist boom has created artists and business people out of nearly every single Cuban. Many who have a spare room will turn it into a Casa Particular, a bed & breakfast; this gives you the chance to get a good peek into the lives of these diverse people. Casa’s will earn them a good extra income if they can keep guests coming, owners are subjected to a high standard fixed monthly tax whether they have guests or not. Be sure you provide your passport on arrival, as they must log each guest.

Hospitality isn’t Cubans only talent, while welcoming you to their homes they also invite you to bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. There’s not a corner you’ll turn and you won’t find an open window with items for sale, a barber eager to give you a close shave or sell you one of his paintings, dodgy cigars or ‘chicas’ (we struggled to find a ‘chico’ ;-)