By Anita L. Sherman
“I live in Cuba because I love Cuba.” Ernest Hemingway
Thinking of a trip to Cuba?
If you are, then you’re the kind of traveler that already knows you’re seeking an adventure off the beaten track, but as with most paths not taken, you know if you don’t get there you won’t be able to check that country off your bucket list.
The largest of the Caribbean islands, from the air Cuba resembles an alligator or crocodile and is known in Spanish as ”El Cocodrilo” or “El Caimá.”
Currently, it’s advantageous to be part of an organized group which could make your trip to Cuba a little more expensive but what good meal doesn’t come with a price tag. Often worth lightening your wallet for that once in a lifetime experience.
Chiefly under Spanish rule from the 1500s, the country of Cuba was created more than 150 years ago, in 1868. Cuba is a country noted for its perseverance. Politically it has been through a lot but its people have persisted under a variety of regimes and produced art, music, architecture, cuisine and dance that is celebrated worldwide. Cuba is the birthplace of classic dance styles like the Bolero, Mambo and Cha Cha. Many of the bars and clubs feature live salsa, perhaps the most famous form of musical expression in Cuba. Oh, but then there’s the rumba. They’re all good.
Rich in history, one city not to miss is Camaguey. After you’ve soaked in its quaint colonial streets and plazas and you’re ready to let loose, check out the Casa de la Trova for some music and dancing. Don’t worry, there are plenty of residents that will be happy to take you for a rumba around the room.
When you’re in Cuba you’ll undoubtedly see scores of young children running around in various colored uniforms. Grade school is mandatory for every child in Cuba between the ages of 6 and 15. Uniforms are required and the various colors indicate grade level. Cuba has a 99.8 percent literacy rate, which is one of the highest in the world.
Cuba has the highest doctor to patient ratio in the world. In fact, there are so many doctors in Cuba, that many of them are sent abroad to countries needing medical professionals.
Off limits for so many years, travelers are eager to visit this country known for its colorful vintage cars, Desi Arnez ambiance, and Ernest Hemingway haunts.
Oh, those vintage cars. Keep in mind that the only cars that Cuban citizens can own legally are cars produced and bought before 1959. After that they were seized by the Cuban government. Most of the pre-1959 cars in Cuban are from the United States.
A war correspondent, author Hemingway became a permanent fixture in Havana, Cuba’s capital. He made a decision to stay in this country longer than many Americans elected to when relations between Cuba and the United States wet sour. He liked the island lifestyle, fishing from his boat Pilar, hanging out in Havana and entertaining guests at his now famous home Finca Vigia. You can go there today and view his many hunting trophies, original furnishings and artifacts. If you want to soak up more of Hemingway’s world visit the nearby seaside town of Cojimar.
Sadly, for Hemingway, little of the work he did from his Cuban home was published during his lifetime. Many of his works written throughout the 40s were later edited and published posthumously.
If you happened to catch the recent Westminster Kennel Club dog show that was h
eld in New York you’ll know that darling Bono won the toy group. Bono is a Havanese, the national dog of Cuba, it’s a first for this breed. Prancing around the arena with his long, silky silvery and white coat, he strutted like the true champion he is to victory.
The Havanese is a sturdy dog of many colors and patterns. He’s friendly, playful, alert and intelligent. His gait is springy and sets him apart from other breeds.
I thought at the time that all of his characteristics speak for the culture and character of Cuba itself. His win is a win for Cuba and no doubt a further enticement to visit this enchanting country.
So, stretch. See yourself walking those sun-drenched cobblestone streets listening to sultry salsa music, eating creole cooking, perhaps a sweet thing tinged with coconut and relish this land of rum, revolutions and rumba.
Good things come in small packages. Traveling in a smaller group insures that you will have a more intimate experience and the flexibility and freedom to explore. Biotrek Adventure Travels offers just such a package for the discriminating vagabond.
Anita Sherman is the community editor for the Fauquier Times, a freelance writer and a sometimes-itinerant traveler. You may reach her at anitajustwrite@gmail.com
Ah, Portugal. When I visited the country of Portugal (admittedly a few years ago) it was after a visit to its neighbor Spain. While the two countries hover near the western edge of Europe, they, like their other European neighbors have distinct personalities and cultures.
Take a boat ride in Porto for a relaxing time on the Douro River. It’s a unique perspective to see this historical city from the river’s view. Famous for its Port, wine may not always be the first choice of beverage. Lisbon and surrounding places like Sintra find folks drinking a smooth cherry liqueur called ginjinha or ginja. Pop in a local bar or kiosk and you may find it served in a chocolate cup.
The beaches are blissful in the Algarve region – the southernmost tip of Portugal. Granted it continues to grow as a tourist attraction because of its warm climate, beaches and numerous other attractions, but it’s definitely worth a day’s explore if you get the opportunity.
In India, guests reach a near god-like status and are very welcomed. The country is large and divided into nearly 30 states with as many languages. India is complicated and affects people in different ways. While it may be teeming with humanity, its history, mystique and charm are undeniable. There’s lots to love.
If ever there was a movie that would entice you to India, in my book, it’s got to be The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with a cast of characters that, in many ways, captures much of the heart and soul that is India – romantic, chaotic, well meaning, funny, colorful, ritualistic and honorable. The movie is set in Jaipur – known as The Pink City – and when you see a couple of soon-to-be star-crossed lovers from the film scootering through the narrow streets of pink-colored buildings, you’ll know why it’s called that – most of the structures are a shade of pink.
Crazy for color? Dhulandi (Holi), known as the “festival of colors” is a Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil and the changing of the seasons. Out bad winter and welcome spring! It’s held in The Pink City. Dancing and parading with a troupe of dhol players – traditional wooden drum played in South Asia – participants will splash each other with water and powdered colors of red, yellow, blue and green. It’s a vibrant burst of living color to be sure as family and friends come together to laugh, dance and feast. Residents of the city put in a lot of effort and heart into this unique festival not to be missed if you are vising Jaipur during this time. Truly a memorable experience.
While the Taj Mahal is no doubt at the top of the list when it comes to regal structures, there is no shortage of forts, mosques, palaces and temples to dazzle and delight. Amber Fort overlooks the Maota Lake. A network of palaces and courtyards winds its way up a hill.
hile small in stature, Mahatma Gandhi was larger than life. An Indian activist and leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, he led his cause using nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. Not only did he lead India to independence, he inspired worldwide movements for civil rights and freedoms around the world. You can learn more about his life at the Mahatma Gandhi Museum in New Delhi.
granted a subtler shade of green but nonetheless delightful. Years ago, when I was in Australia, my hosts introduced me to pavlova, a meringue-like dessert, in this case, layered with finely sliced kiwi on top. I’ve always been a fan of this fruit, but it is not native to New Zealand as many think it is. It is named after New Zealand’s kiwi bird, but its origins hail from China. You’ll find this luscious, succulently sweet fruit in New Zealand’s fusion cuisine.
apped mountaintops. Lots of them. When you travel with Sunny Reynolds of Biotrek Adventure Travels to New Zealand, Fox Glacier is a stopping place. New Zealand is the third closest country to Antarctica, only after Chile and Argentina.
1988 created a site on the Kawarau George Suspension Bridge in Queenstown noted as the world’s first commercial public bungy. He is also given credit for launching New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry. In 2017, as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to adventure tourism. Way to go A.J.
Of course, Humphrey Bogart’s portrayal of Rick Blaine immediately came to mind in Casablanca, but that filming never left Warner Brothers Studio except for some shooting at Van Nuys Airport. However, having dinner at Rick’s Cafe is definitely worth the memories. The restaurant and piano bar are designed with architectural and decorative details reminiscent of the film – watch for shadows cast on the white walls from the light of luminous brass fixtures. The food is excellent and, of course, there is a pianist on hand to add some music as time goes by in Casablanca.
edited for being the first travel guide of Morocco, is In Morocco, written by American novelist Edith Wharton in 1920. Her work contains vivid encounters with the wild Berber tribesmen in the Medina of Marrakech and in the houses of the gentry with their restricted role for women. She also talks about the harems of Rabat and Fez.
And shades of blue. Shut off from the world for nearly 500 years, Chefchaouen is one of Morocco’s best kept secrets – it’s an all blue city and now open to visitors. Talk about magical charm and mystery, this hilly Moroccan outpost will grab at your heartstrings. Where’s my journal.
Sunny tells me that her favorite spot in Morocco is Essaouira. This medina is walkable. It’s also blue and white and has an active fishing port. Oh, and that 50s movie Othello was shot there, a fan favorite for Orson Wells.
So, your pre-travel diet should consist of watching a few flicks filmed in Morocco to get a sense of flavor, spend some time reading what others have already written about Morocco and finding a friend in a journal.
We had a great guide, itinerary, accommodations, and we had luck, all coming together to create the perfect safari. We saw lions, but not just lions.We saw lions in trees. We drove right under the famous tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara National Park. We saw leopards. Once again, we were lucky. The leopard had cubs! We saw a cheetah with a kill, had elephants walk right past our vehicle, and watched a massive herd of wildebeest throw themselves from the riverbank and forge the river. We waited in the land cruiser, all of us buzzing with anticipation, as we watched lioness circling a buck she had already injured. We all knew the ending to this story but that changed nothing. The power and patience of the lioness was beautifully matched by the regal stubbornness of the buck. We moved on, aware that we would be passing by this way later that day. When we returned, the two were still locked in this dance neither willing to give in to the other. We were patient, we were in the right place, and we got lucky. All of this set in the breathtaking African Savanna. While on our Safari I learned many new bits of information on these many different varieties of gazelles, antelope, and birds, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, as well as the gorgeous environment in which they live. I have condensed our two-week Safari into the best photos and the most interesting facts!
