I really want to share about our trip to Cuba. Not because I want to brag via social media about this great trip we had. [Although it was A.Maz. Ing.]
I want to write about it because I want you to know what Cuba is like.
Because what I thought about Cuba before we went and what I think about Cuba now are vastly different.
Cuba. Forever in my heart.
You guys, Cuba is LOVELY. In every aspect of the word.
It’s a gorgeous blend of African, Spanish, Italian, British, Venezuelan and Chilean heritages. And each one of those cultural influences is evident in the daily life of Cuba.
Music. Art. Dance. Food. History. Sport. Leisure. Tradition. It’s all there in copious abundance. We couldn’t have picked a more culture rich trip to take. Really, it was our dream trip.
It’s kind of crazy, actually, because it takes less than an hour via plane to get there from the U.S. and yet it feels WORLDS away.
Here’s my first impression of Cuba, as seen from our Southwest flight:
We went as a part of a small tour. There were nine of us in the group. Our tour guide, Atila, was the best part about our trip to Cuba.
He clearly loves his country and enjoys sharing it with people, but he also wants us to know the truth. One of the first things he said to us is “I will never lie to you. Ask me anything.” And he meant it. And we did. We had some great question askers in our group. (Ahem, Little Roy.)
So to those who’ve asked about whether we saw “the real” Cuba, the answer is yes.
Of course, like any place, Cuba is complex and cannot be summed up with one broad brushstroke. But all those things you’ve heard about it being stuck in time? They’re true. It’s wild.
After we met up with our group, we spent the first two and half days exploring Havana.
Havana, or a peek at the 1950’s
This city is unlike any place I’ve ever been. It’s as if someone knocked the plug out of the wall in the 50’s and everything stopped. The city is made up of beautiful, Italian and Spanish style architecture. The building have terraces and balconies, but the facades are crumbling and stained with 60 years of life. The streets are full of vintage cars, bicycles and pedestrians. Pay phones are everywhere and still used. It’s like a crazy mix of the 1950’s and 2019.
[Side note: Havana is a very safe city – one of the safest. We were told that by several people, but also experienced it ourselves. We felt very safe walking around after dark in an unfamiliar city. And unlike Europe or even places in the U.S., despite all the people, we didn’t worry about pickpockets. No one bothered us.]
And then there were the cars. I’d heard about them, of course, but seeing them is another thing.
The next day, we toured Havana in one of those vintage cars. Our driver, Julio, introduced his car as Nadine. She happened to be my favorite color.
Where the rum flows like water.
Mojito. Cuba libre. Cubata. Pina colada. Rum collins. So many options, so little time.
Pina colada at the highest point in Cuba. 
At a restaurant named Mojito Mojito… 
A mojito made with honey. 
This day was sweltering. We had to refresh. 
In Cuba they add cinnamon to the top of their pina coladas and it’s magic. 
A cubata at sunset.
One of the best Cuban rums is called Havana Club. It is exported all over the world. Except to the United States. We cannot get it here. We brought back a bottle.
On Ernest Hemingway
We spent a [very hot] afternoon at Ernest Hemingway’s home. It was a beautiful home and he was a fascinating man.
Hemingway’s typewriter. 
View from the yard. NBD. 
He literally had a writing tower built for him by his wife.
The beach
After a couple days exploring Havana, we headed an hour and half east for a few days at the beach. Varadero Beach was easily the most beautiful water I’ve ever seen.
Although according to Atila, it’s not always like this, apparently we came at the right time of year. The water was deliciously warm, there were no waves and you could see straight to the ocean floor for days.
And a few more just because I couldn’t get enough.
The farm
One of my favorite parts of the trip was the morning we spent visiting a farm called Coincidencia.
It’s out in the countryside. The husband is an agricultural engineer and the wife is an artist. So they have an organic farm with a pottery studio. For the past 35 years they’ve worked to turn this farm into this amazing place of beauty and life and art.
They have over 3,000 different plant varieties. [I might be wrong on this number but it’s something impressive.] They grow all their own food. [Literally all of it. They have a rice paddy, even.] Animals roam freely. They keep bees. They have horses and pigs and rabbits and cows. They hold art classes. And there are sculptures everywhere.
It’s GORGEOUS. It’s a blend of all things I love. Growing good food. Art. Beauty.
You know how people talk about the “American Dream?” Apparently I have a “Cuban Dream.”
Giant avocados. 
A cinnamon tree. 
Where they hold outdoor art classes. 
Don Quixote 
A mango grove. 
They have a beautiful little stream running through the property. 
Guava straight off the tree. 
Freshly picked okra. You’ve never had okra as good as this. 
Bees. We stuck our fingers directly into the honeycomb to taste the honey. 
The lunch spread. They grew everything. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. 
One of our hosts three sons. He threw this vase from start to finish in about 5 minutes. 
Our beautiful hostess. I don’t know her name, but she is in my heart forever.
A Cuban miracle.
One last think to tell you about our trip. We took a lesson in Cuban salsa. And loved it! Enough that we’re considering more lessons.
So that’s it. I loved every moment in Cuba. The group we traveled with was fantastic. Here we are at our farewell dinner.
This was the perfect trip to celebrate 10 years.
Cuba is actually a pretty good analogy of our marriage … complex and complicated, hard and messy and yet breathtakingly beautiful.
I am thinking about going to Cuba via Cuba Explorer. How were the hotels you stayed at? What about the meals?
Hi Steve – We had a great time with Cuba Explorer! The hotels were nice. A bit dated, but what isn’t in Cuba? (Keep in mind, five stars was Cuban standards, not American standards.) We were comfortable, though, and the service was good. The meals were FANTASTIC. We were treated to amazing private restaurants and by far our best meal was at a farm to table restaurant in the country. When you’re responsible for your own food, make sure you know how to tell the difference between state owned and private restaurants, because you’ll want to go private for the best meals. Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you! We loved Cuba.