Solo Travel Cuba
A unique place Cuba has turned out to be, with internet rooms on the corners of most streets, as Wi-Fi is not available. With old cars crowding the roads and beautiful classics readily available to hire. A nightlife filled with glorious music and dancing, not just in the many clubs, but flowing out onto the streets. The seasonal locally farmed and grown food (and rum of course), to the unique, crystalline beaches of Varadero, has provided me with a remarkable experience that I will never forget.
I arrived in Havana on a Saturday night with a small amount of USD in my pocket and no real plans on how I was going to spend my time here. As circumstance has it, most of my money was gone in the taxi ride to find my Casa, Cuba’s equivalent of a Bed and Breakfast. A quick realization that the ATMs here don’t take Mastercard, only Visa, and I would not be able to take out any extra money until the banks opened on Monday was a scary thought!! I began stressing to the owner of the Casa in an odd combination of broken English and Spanish words from my translation app. Imagine my relief when this kind woman calmly told me food here was provided, and I could pay at the end of my stay, so I was not to worry. This wonderful woman, Camila, proceeded to ask me about my plans for Cuba and decided she would help me organize the rest of my travels. Calling ahead to all the places I wanted to visit, arranging transport and Casa’s for every city, Camila truly went above and beyond to make sure I would have an enjoyable trip.
As I continued my travels, I realized this was not a unique occasion. Never have I been anywhere with locals as friendly and ready to help, in any capacity they can. I was glad for the help along the way, which allowed me to travel, stress-free, throughout central Cuba and experience this gorgeous island.
Santa Clara boasted a rich history and was an Iconic place of the famous and revered Che Guevara, a Cuban hero for his actions during the revolution.
Trinidad was one of the most beautiful towns I have visited. Exploring the quaint boutiques full of unique paintings and toys and enjoying the live music in the town square each evening, I was truly lost in the magic of this town.
Taking a day trip from here to Iguana Island, where the Island truly lives up to its name, was another amusing adventure. Enjoying a delicious lunch surrounded by the local lizard was something I never imagined myself doing, and something I am so glad to have experienced.
Continuing onto Cienfuegos, where I was able to tour around a working cigar factory, and onto Varadero, with its marvelous beaches, snorkeling, and cave swimming, the country was truly a marvelous adventure. This friendly, magical island is a unique and cultural delight, the perfect destination for any traveler.
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