On a wonderful trip to Cuba, I visited three regions of the island. Havana, Trinidad and Pinardel Rio. The old town of Trinidad is only about 5 kms from lovely deserted sandy beaches covered in white coral. The town itself is incredibly beautiful. I felt as if I was wandering through a Fellini film set. This is a very surreal place and in the evenings we would stroll around following the sounds of salsa, and watch, listen and dance the nights away. I stayed in a delightful Casa Particular (private home), with a charming and most hospitable Cuban family. The mountains are only about half an hour’s drive away and I spent my Birthday trekking and swimming in waterfalls.
In the Pinar Del Rio region, I stayed at a huge guava ranch in the most fabulous location on the banks of a very large lake. About 200 horses, wildlife and lots of beautiful birds, flora and fauna. A backdrop of mountains and pine forests where we rode on horseback. The housekeeper/cook at the ranch, Maria Antonia, was one of the best cooks in Cuba and we had delicious food. Alligator was particularly delicious ! The surroundings are extraordinary; Jurassic limestone hills, caves and pine forests alongside palm trees. Hardly any traffic with very few cars anywhere and instead there were lots of bullock carts and horse-drawn carts. About one hour’s drive away are some fantastic beaches, and the drive is through the most spectacular scenery. It was also in this region that I had my first experience of swimming in caves.
The hotel in Havana where I stayed was an old and very traditional Havana building. It was very comfortable, full of character and had masses of charm. I was in the old city with everything on my doorstep; the museums, galleries, churches, shops and all the sights of the city. Havana is a fascinating place, bustling and busy, but incredibly romantic and charming. The architecture is amazing with a massive restoration programme underway. The Cubans are lovely people and many are highly educated, cultured and they love foreign visitors. Life is so different in Cuba which is of course what makes it so exciting and so fascinating. Allowances have to be made in all sorts of areas, but this doesn’t seem to matter in the larger scheme of things, and a visit to this beautiful country with its delightful people is a very special adventure.
