Cube Freedom Island. Cuba - everything a tourist needs to know about Liberty Island

"Cuba libre", or Island of Freedom. White sand of sunny beaches, endless ocean expanses, vibrant nature, unique architecture, rum and cigars - all this and a little more will tell you Good THERE about Cuba.

General information about Cuba

Location

The free Republic of Cuba is located near the shores of the North and South American continents, separated from them by the waters of the Strait of Florida. The state occupies the islands of Cuba, Juventud and about 1,600 smaller islands with a total area of ​​110,860 km².

The southern coast of the country's main island faces the waters of the Caribbean Sea, and the northwestern and northeastern beaches are washed by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Population

According to the population department of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the population of the republic in 2017 is 11.4 million people.

Currency

The national currency is the Cuban peso CUP, CUC. At the rate of 1 peso = 1 US dollar.

Useful phone numbers

Country dialing code: 53
Havana telephone code: 7
Call from Cuba: 119 – your country code – area code – phone number.
Call to Cuba: 8 – international call code – Cuba code – area code – phone number.
Russian Embassy: (+53 7) 204-10-85
Consulate of the Russian Federation: (+53 2) 268 61 46

Emergency services(Havana):

• Police: 116
• Honey. help: 40-50-93
• Firefighters: 78-85-41

On the territory of the country:

• National police: 82-01-16
• Firefighters: 81-11-15
• Honey. help: 24-28-11

Payment and exchange in Cuba

In areas intended for tourists, convertible pesos are in circulation. Because of the warm relations between the island communist state and the Empire of Good, which is jealous from the other end of the Florida Strait, it is better not to fly with the evergreen presidents on vacation. When exchanging American dollars, you may be charged a commission of 10 to 20%. Therefore, experienced tourists recommend coming here with Euro. Interestingly, it is almost impossible for a tourist to come across a non-convertible Cuban peso (CUP).

If it is more convenient for you to use Visa/MasterCard cards, please note that:

• Visa is accepted in more establishments than Mastercard;
• When visiting small shops or cafes, it is better to have cash with you, as there may not be a payment terminal;
• Card transactions are subject to a tax of 11.24%.

Tourist reminder

Your stay in Cuba should be as colorful as possible, and you may need to add some color to your everyday wardrobe. You have every chance to become a fan of Cuban cigars after visiting their homeland, but smoking in public places is prohibited.

If you encounter a cow on your way to the beach or during an excursion, be extremely careful. This animal is sacred to Cubans, and the death of a cow in your presence can lead to unpleasant conversations with the local police.

It is also important for tourists to know that photographing government institutions, military equipment, soldiers, and police officers is prohibited. In addition, before taking a photograph of a Cuban, you should definitely ask his permission.

What are the Cuban people like?

Cuba is a multinational and multicultural country, where the blood and traditions of the peoples of Africa, Spain, Italy, Britain, Germany, Cuban and American Indian tribes, immigrants from China, France, as well as Jews resettled during the First and Second World Wars, are mixed.

Local, friendly people. Do not rush to refuse an offer to play dominoes or share a meal. Don’t be surprised if they ask you to drink in a cafe at your expense. And if hotel or hostel employees ask you to leave personal hygiene products (razors, shaving foam, etc.), remember that this is due to the high cost and inaccessibility of the latter for poor citizens.

Security on Cuban soil

The people in the communist republic are friendly, but poor. It is better not to show cash and expensive accessories. Keep an eye on your belongings to avoid becoming a victim of petty scammers and pickpockets. It is not recommended to walk in poor areas at night due to the high likelihood of being attacked.

Climate in Cuba, when is the best time to go?

The most favorable time for relaxation is from November to April.

Windsurfers will love it in the summer, when the rainy season brings the biggest waves. The dominance of hurricanes between October and November can overshadow your vacation, but in fact you can plan a vacation in Cuba at any time of the year.

Thanks to its small area, you can travel around Cuba in just a few weeks of vacation. So that you don’t miss anything important, our website has prepared for you a list of cities and resorts that you must visit.

Capital Havana is a city of opposites. Here, modern skyscrapers stand next to colonial pre-revolutionary mansions in which ordinary people live. The city is full of architectural monuments and interesting places. Havana dazzles with white beaches, treats you to exquisite cuisine and entices you with the sounds of salsa. The El Floridita bar, one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite places, is especially worth a look. If you're not interested in a bar, visit the writer's house museum and then head to the Roma Museum. For those who are not tired of daytime excursions, it is important to know that closer to night the city turns into one big disco filled with unbridled energy. It's time to visit the Tropicana cabaret show, which has been famous throughout the world since 1939.

Santa Clara

Santa Clara A memorable place for the Cuban revolution, where Comandante Che Guevara derailed the armored train of the dictator Batista. The wreckage of that same train remains at the crash site to this day, they are a pride and attraction for the residents of the country. In addition, a mausoleum named after Ernesto Che Guevara was erected here, and if you are an American citizen, you may not be allowed into it.

Santiago de Cuba

The birthplace of street culture – Santiago de Cuba. Music on the streets of the town sounds on every corner. This place is rightfully considered the cradle of Cuban melodies and rum, because Don Facundo Bacardi was born here.

Trinidad

If you are interested in seeing the island as it was in the 18th century, then the city Trinidad– the best place for this. The authentic ambiance of this place is amazing. Cobblestone roads, colonial-style houses, sugar plantations and slave cabins that remain reminiscent of times gone by.

Matanzas

Matanzas the capital of the province of the same name is known for its large number of bridges, for which it was nicknamed the “Cuban Venice.” The province of Pinar del Rio is an interesting place to visit, where you can visit tobacco plantations and admire the views of the Viñales Valley, which received the title of “Cultural Landscape of Humanity” in 1999.

Cuban resorts

Varadero

Varadero- the oldest of the resorts, a popular and truly heavenly place with turquoise ocean waters and snow-white beaches. The resort can be called a classic holiday in Russian style, everything is always included here. 24-hour bars, buffet in a restaurant with cuisines from all over the world.

Holguin

Holguin– elite business VIP class resort. The hotels are mostly five star. People visit this place for luxury, tranquility and sophistication.

Guardavalaka

Guardavalaka, one of the best diving resorts, famous for its coral reef. Esmeralda is a place of emerald beaches. For lovers of original parties, it will be interesting to find yourself in a cave disco on the island of Cayo Coco.

Juventud

Juventud, known as the Island of Youth (located 100 km from the island of Cuba) is interesting for its natural reserves. They say that R. L. Stevenson described the image of “Treasure Island” precisely from the landscapes of Juventud.

Cayo Largo

Speaking about pirates, it’s hard not to mention La Yana - this is an ancient tree located on the island Cayo Largo. According to legend, it served as a landmark for pirates of the Caribbean when they buried their stolen gold.

This is just a small part of the places you can visit during your stay in this country. Even if you come to Cuba several times a year for several years, this country will always find something to surprise and entice you.

Entertainment and relaxation on Liberty Island

The very thing for which thousands of tourists come on vacation every year is diving. The underwater world is interesting not only for its beautiful coral reefs, but also for the many shipwrecks off the coast. Windsurfers can catch waves off the sandy shores, while those who don’t want to (or don’t know how to swim) dive into the ocean’s embrace in a submarine.

The main monuments of Cuban architecture are concentrated in several of the most famous cities among tourists. In the capital of Cuba, Havana, you can see many cathedrals, including the Cathedral of St. Christopher. And it is better for you not to brag that you have been to Cuba without visiting the Armory, Cathedral and Old Squares of the capital of the state.

Che Guevara Memorial in Santa Clara, cigar factory " Francisco Donatien» in Pinar del Rio, caves with rock paintings of Mantanas. There is a prison on the island of Juventud Presidio Modelo", which is a copy of the former place of detention of F. Castro, the prison " Joliet"(Illinois). Natural landscapes and national parks more than make up for the small number of architectural attractions; many natural areas of Cuba are under the protection of UNESCO.

When you come on vacation from July 15 to August 15, be sure to visit the carnivals that take place in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, as these are unforgettable colorful events full of music, dances and colorful costumes. And smokers will be interested to know about the international festival of Cuban cigars taking place at the end of February.

Where would we be without shopping?, because you need to buy something truly Cuban - cigars, rum and coffee. Black corals and products made from them are popular among tourists. In shopping centers in Havana or in the Casa del Habano chain stores you will not be deceived and will sell goods of good quality.

National Cuban cuisine

Creole cuisine predominates in Cuba. The main national dishes are prepared from pork and chicken. Meat is prepared in many different ways. Among the national dishes cuisines – “Creole ajiaco” is one of the main ones. It is prepared from pork and vegetables with the addition of a good portion of spices. Also you should try:

• lobsters with lemon;
• crocodile meat;
• turtle meat and eggs.

Fresh fruit slices are often served with each dish. They brew delicious and strong coffee. The main national drink is rum, which is included in almost all local cocktails.

Restaurants are mainly concentrated in resort and tourist areas; it is recommended to visit them with cash. The cost of a meal for one person in a good establishment is from 30 to 40 pesos, simpler establishments will cost no more than 15 pesos, and in an eatery you will leave a maximum of 5 Cuban coins. The tip is 10% of the check amount and it is better to give it to the waiters. And if you decide to eat at a bar, you are unlikely to succeed. In colorful Cuban bars you need to drink, and from food you will get the most nuts, or chips.

Cuban hotels

The most common hotels in Cuba are 4-star hotels, although for those who do not particularly plan to stay within four walls, there are a sufficient number of 2- and 3-star hotels. But for lovers of luxury, there is not much to choose from; there are literally only a few 5-star hotels. Most of the hotels on Liberty Island represent well-known global chains that operate on an “all inclusive” system. Check-in at a hotel in Cuba is at 15:00, check-out is at 12:00. Cunning Cubans leave themselves three hours to clean the room before the arrival of the next guests, so you can safely make a claim if you find unwanted traces of previous guests.

How to get to Cuba

For a convenient and comfortable flight to Cuba, Good THERE recommends using the services of Aeroflot, which organizes regular, direct flights Moscow-Havana. If residents of Russia fly non-stop, then citizens of the CIS countries are recommended to fly through Moscow, or through Europe on appropriate flights.

A direct flight from Moscow lasts about 12 hours, a flight with transfers through Europe from 16 to 20 hours. Ticket prices start from 55,000 rubles per adult. It can be cheaper by purchasing a voucher. So, with accommodation in a three-star hotel for 7 days and nights, the cost of a trip on average is from 60,000 rubles.

Pros and cons of holidays on the Cuban island

No matter how heavenly a place Cuba may seem to you, Okay THERE recommends paying attention to negative aspects holidays in this beautiful country:

• the sun is much more intense and brighter than residents of the CIS countries and Russia are used to; to avoid sunburn, stock up on sunscreen;
• Evening beach holidays can be spoiled by small insects; it is a must to have protective sprays and creams with you;
• do not drink raw water, and ask for chilled alcoholic drinks without ice, since Cuban water contains a lot of bacteria that are harmful to an unaccustomed tourist;
• beware of marine life: moray eels, sea snakes and urchins and “Portuguese man-of-war”;
• Remember the poverty of the population, which may provoke the desire of some individuals to rob you if you openly display your valuables and cash.

All these are just warnings, because it is better to prepare in advance so that your vacation is not overshadowed by anything and you can enjoy positive aspects trips:

• feel the atmosphere of freedom;
• enjoy the snow-white beaches;
• absorb the cultural spirit of Cuba by visiting festivals and carnivals;
• admire the beauty of Cuban nature;
• try cigars and rum in their homeland;
• dive into the depths of the ocean to explore its treasures;
• meet and communicate with new people.

A video about Cuba will complement our article

There is something interesting for everyone in Cuba. Expand your borders, the world is not in our apartments and phones. Travel, feel, learn new things. Fine THERE wishes you a pleasant stay on Liberty Island.

Free economic zones were created. In 1997, there were already three SEZs operating in the country (Mariel, Vahay and the city of Havana).

Cuba exports, bringing income to its country's budget, tobacco, seafood, sugar, nickel, medical goods, coffee, and citrus fruits.

Cuba's export partners are China, Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands. China invested $500 million in the Cuban nickel industry, Brazil - the same amount in the development of Cuban hydrocarbon deposits and in the construction of a plant for the production of technical oils. A large nickel ore mining plant has been built in the province of Holguin.

The country today imports food, petroleum products, industrial equipment, and chemical products. Its import business partners are Venezuela, China, and Spain. Particularly close and productive ties in terms of the Petrocaribe oil program with Venezuela. Trade turnover between states annually reaches about $10 billion.

Since 1962, the country has introduced a card system for food distribution. The “black market” is thriving, since food cards are issued here irregularly.

Cuba has a developed system of free public services: medical care, higher and secondary education.

Since October 2010, the list of types of business activities permitted by the government has increased in the country. In 2016, private small and medium-sized businesses were legalized.

Cuban branches of government

Cuba is a socialist republic of parliamentary type. Most of the deputies in parliament today represent the Communist Party of Cuba.

The head of state is the Chairman of the State Council (who is also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba), who exercises executive power in the country. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who is also the Second Secretary of the Central Committee, helps him.

The government of the Cuban state consists of two branches: the Council of Ministers and the Council of State. The ministry employs 31 ministers.

The highest authority on Liberty Island is the National Assembly of People's Power, i.e. parliament of the republic. It includes 609 deputies who are elected for 5 years. She is entrusted with forming a government and appointing the head of the State Council. The responsibilities of the Assembly also include electing the People's Supreme Court. Provincial courts are elected by the provincial assemblies of people's power, municipal courts by the municipal assemblies.

The Republic of Cuba is divided administratively into 16 provinces, which are respectively divided into 169 municipalities. Only one municipality, Juventud, is accountable to the central government; the rest are subordinate to local administrative structures.

Cuba's participation in international organizations

In recent years, having changed course in the political sphere and being squeezed by economic sanctions, Cuba has become more active in influential international organizations.

The Republic is a member of the World Trade Organization and takes an active part in international agreements: the Paris Convention, the New York Convention on International Arbitration, and the Madrid Protocol. Cuba is a member of the international organization of ACP states. For decades, Cuba has been participating in social programs at the international level.

There are 57 Cuban specialists working in 101 countries, of whom 70% are health workers. One of Cuba's programs, Operation Miracle, provides affordable medical care in 16 countries to poor, seriously ill people. In 28 countries of Latin America there is a program “Yes, I can” aimed at combating illiteracy.

Whatever direction Cuba goes, the beauty of its natural landscape, the originality of its culture and the attractiveness of the Cuban mentality will remain unchanged.

Cuba is a small and stunningly beautiful island, strongly associated with Havana cigars and Cuban rum. But besides this, the island still has beautiful women, the ever-living Fidel Castro, and many wonderful places.

Cuba - Liberty Island

Cuba is how we used to call the island state in the north-west of the Caribbean Sea, whose official name is the Republic of Cuba. At the end of the 50s. XX century The country received its unofficial name - “Freedom Island”, after well-known events. when a group of rebels captured the governor's palace, proclaimed a course for independence and, in addition, gave a good kick to the American democrats.

Cuba on the world map

In the Greater Antilles group, Cuba occupies the territory of the island of the same name. She owns Fr. Juventud and more than 1.5 thousand small islands that form the Cuban archipelago. From North America, its closest “neighbor,” Cuba is fenced off by the Strait of Florida from the north and the Yucatan Strait from the west. Water boundaries with the state of Florida (), Haiti, and.

Liberty Island Map

The territory of the Republic of Cuba is 111 thousand km². The shape of the island resembles a caiman lizard, with its head and body directed toward the Atlantic and its tail touching the Gulf of Mexico. The length of the “cayman” is 1250 km, and the width is 210 km at the “head” side and 32 km at the “tail”. Cuba is surrounded (in the south), the Gulf of Mexico (in the northwest), and the Atlantic Ocean (in the northeast). The sun-drenched island is ringed by coral reefs, and its coastline is lined with deep-water bays and numerous coves.

Havana is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Cuba.

Flag of Cuba (photo)

Cuba has a flag nicknamed the “Lone Star.” It has five horizontal alternating stripes: three blue and two white.

Cuba flag

On the left, near the shaft, there is a red equilateral triangle, in the center of which is a white star. The symbolic elements of the flag mean:

• blue stripes - parts obtained as a result of the division of Cuba by the Spaniards;
• whites - aspirations for freedom and independence;
• scarlet triangle - equality, brotherhood, freedom obtained as a result of bloody revolutions;
• white star - freedom, freedom and freedom again.

Sun, air and water of Liberty Island

Cuba is always hot and humid. January moderates the heat to +22°C, and hot August raises it to almost +30°C. The sea breeze brings freshness and coolness in the evenings to the residents. Tropical cyclones are common here, characteristic of the summer-autumn period. During the rainy season, more than half of the total annual precipitation falls. Typhoons, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rainfall, cause enormous damage to the island.

Tourists prefer to holiday here in and.

Island rivers are shallow and short. Rare forests, surviving only in swampy and mountainous areas, cover no more than 10% of the surface. Various types of palm trees and citrus fruits grow here. At the base of the mountains there are eucalyptus, pine, kaoba, sandalwood and ebony trees. Cacti and agaves have settled in arid areas. And the more humid ones are covered with sugar cane thickets.

Only a few representatives of the fauna chose the land, but the island’s waters became the abode of shellfish, commercial fish, lobsters, shrimp and other species of marine animals. There are no predators or poisonous reptiles in Cuba, but there are many terrestrial mollusks, bats and birds.

I bring to your attention the film “Cuba” from the “Golden Globe” series - about the way of life of the island, about the people inhabiting it and about the mass of beautiful places in this tropical paradise.

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This is truly an “island of contrasts,” to slightly paraphrase the famous movie heroine.

Cuba and Cubans

Cuba is inhabited by almost 11.5 million people, 95% of whom are Cubans - of mixed nationality. Before the arrival of the Spaniards on the island, tribes of Arawak Indians, Sibones, Guanahanabees and Indians from Haiti lived here. But Spanish colonization practically exterminated these tribes. According to official data, the country's white population is 65%, mulattoes - 25%, blacks - 10%, although some sources give other figures.

There is a Chinese colony on the island, which was formed after the Spanish stopped the slave trade. On about. In Pinos you can find descendants of Japanese settlers, and in the east of Cuba - immigrants from Haiti.

The official language in the country is Spanish. However, Cubans speak English, French and Russian.

Cuban rum with a Havana cigar

They say that Christopher Columbus, when he first set foot on the soil of Cuba, was amazed at the beauty of what he saw and exclaimed: “I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life!” Believe me, it is impossible to disagree with this. The piercing blue sky, turquoise sea, bright sun and snow-white beaches cannot but delight travelers who come here.

Cuba is associated with aromatic cigars, dark rum, macho men in sombreros and salsa. And all this really is on the island. The only thing unexpected is the glaring poverty of the Cubans. The capital Havana in some places looks as if it suffered a natural disaster a week ago: no one is renovating old buildings, and here and there you can see peeling facades and dilapidated houses. In grocery stores, the Soviet past is easily recalled: on empty shelves there is a single and unappetizing piece of meat, and in tourist places, black marketeers are tirelessly on duty. The average salary is 15 dollars a month, and if a Cuban receives 20, it means he is lucky and most likely works in the tourism industry.

However, the cheerful disposition and good nature of the Cubans do not allow them to lose heart. Despite their unenviable standard of living, they adore the Castro brothers - Fidel and Raul. They also love Russians here, since the USSR helped the friendly republic in many ways, including creating military bases. Local guides do not let us forget about the latter circumstance, constantly pointing out the domes of the reactors “built jointly with the Russians.” The collective farm for growing oranges here proudly bears the name of Lenin, and an ice cream seller in the Havana port talks in fluent Russian about how he defended his dissertation on scientific communism at Kazan University.

Surprisingly, the poverty of Cubans does not make this country cheap - prices are close to European ones. There are two types of pesos in circulation on the island: regular ones, used only by local residents, and so-called convertible pesos (CUC), which are used by tourists. One CUC is equivalent to one euro. You can buy currency directly at the airport, since the exchange rate is the same everywhere. At the same time, it is preferable to take euros with you; it is not profitable to change dollars here - apparently, this is due to dislike for Americans. Entertainment and shopping in Cuba are no cheaper than in Paris. For example, you won’t find Che Guevara’s “Bolivian Diary” in English for less than 12 CUC. Prices for souvenirs - maracas, sombreros, jewelry - start from 5 CUC. But don't be lazy to bargain. And you should definitely bring home some rum. The simplest Havana Club costs from 3 CUC, and a bottle of dark Santiago de Cuba, which Cubans themselves consider the best, can be bought at the airport for 8 CUC.

Havana: not a step without a tip
The capital of Cuba is a small but densely populated city. Cozy small squares alternate with narrow streets, along which lines of old female tourists mingle behind the guide. The historic center, Old Havana, is made up of blackened cathedrals and colonial houses painted in bright shades of pink and yellow. The same bright cars drive around the city - American Buicks, Russian Kopeks and Pobeda. The Cuban Capitol is an exact copy of the American one. There is a small museum exhibition and interesting souvenir shops. There are plenty of souvenirs on the main pedestrian street of Obispo, where after a walk it’s nice to relax in the Floridita bar or Bodegita del Medio, where Ernest Hemingway often went to drink his favorite daiquiri.

In restaurants and cafes, you need to be prepared for the fact that it won’t be limited to paying for food and drinks. Almost everywhere you have to tip mariachi musicians - in Cuba there is an extremely intrusive music service. In every restaurant, as soon as you sit down and place an order, a group in a sombrero appears nearby, invariably singing “Comandante Che Guevara” and other Cuban hits. After performing two or three songs, the soloist will certainly come up to your table and persistently ask for a tip. Generally speaking, everyone asks for a couple of pesos: the kind Cuban woman who offered to take a photo of you against a picturesque background, the passer-by who pointed you in the right direction, and the children on the street. If you wander around in some crowded square, a pimp or dealer will attack you, offering you a box of cigars, cocaine, or a girl for five dollars (this is a common thing in Cuba). Representatives of the fair sex will also not be saved from excessive attention - they will be asked to marry from morning to evening. In order not to attract attention, learn to look as little as possible as a tourist: put on old jeans, put your camera and map away. Move around the city with ease, without rushing anywhere, because the main credo of the Cubans is Trabajo Manana (“work tomorrow”).

Beaches of Varadero
The main resort of Cuba, located 200 kilometers from Havana, is in full swing with tourist life all year round. Along the coast of Varadero there is a strip of hotels interspersed with souvenir shops, beach bars, cafes and nightclubs. The main entertainment during the day is lying on the beach (the sun beats down mercilessly even in winter). If you are sunbathing outside your hotel, you will most likely have to pay 2-4 CUC for a sunbed. Swimming here is a real pleasure: the sand is clean, there are no sea urchins or stones, and the water is so clear that even if you go waist-deep into it, you will see what kind of varnish your toenails are painted with.

You can have lunch at the hotel (most hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis, including bars), or at some coastal restaurant. Cuban, or rather Creole, cuisine is replete with meat (mostly pork), bean and bean stews. It also contains a lot of fruits - oranges, pineapples, mangoes, papaya and guava. Creole food is generally simple, but the chefs are creative with names. For example, "Moors and Christians" is a dish of black beans and rice. Lunch will cost on average 10–12 CUC per person.

By evening the beaches are empty. When it gets dark, it’s time to go to a concert at Casa de la Musica, where a taxi driver will take you from any corner of Varadero for 5–15 CUC. Casa de la Musica hosts incendiary performances with songs and dances, and it all ends with a disco. If you want to start straight away with a disco, go to the largest nightclub on the coast - La Rumba or the smaller one - El Mambo. By midnight, all the youth of Varadero gather there. You will have to pay 5-10 CUC for entry. On weekdays the clubs are not as fun and crowded as on Friday and Saturday.

It's nice to end the fun in the Continental bar, where they prepare delicious cocktails. Drinks cost about the same everywhere - both in the hotel lobby and in the nightclub - 2-3 CUC. Rated by Russians, the mint mojito in Cuba is often prepared with the addition of red pepper, so if you're not a fan of spicy things, keep an eye on the bartender. Pina Colada is above all praise, and, of course, every visitor is simply obliged to try rum and cola - Cuba Libre.

Other cities
Cuba has many small but very cute towns that are worth a visit for the curious traveler. To learn something new about the Cuban hero Che Guevara, you need to go to the town of Santa Clara. The remains of Che, who was shot dead in 1967 in the forests of Bolivia, were brought to Cuba only 30 years after his death, when scientists managed to discover and identify them. Now his museum is located in a modest building, where you can read a letter from the boy Ernestito to his aunt, yellowed with time, get acquainted with the medical books from which the student Guevara studied, see household items of the commandant, his fighting girlfriend Tanya and other comrades from the partisan detachment. Just wandering the deserted streets, away from the tourist crowds, is pleasant in the city of Matanzas. The province is also called. Here is one of the largest caves in Cuba - cuevas de Bellamar - approximately 50 meters deep and about three kilometers long (only 300 meters are open to the public). It is literally dotted with stalactites and stalagmites, some of them more than 40 thousand years old. Bellamar was discovered relatively recently, in the 19th century. She was found by a shepherd who was looking for a lost sheep.

Tiny Trinidad seems to have changed little in the five centuries since it was founded. The pavements are made of cobblestones, the windows of the two-story houses have wooden shutters and lace curtains, where elderly Cuban women in colorful turbans chatter. Often rooms are rented out in such houses. From the bell tower in the city center you can see the whole of Trinidad at once: tiled roofs in the haze, the cotton market, palm trees on the outskirts, mountains in the distance - and feel like you are in the colonial era.

Distant Cuba –freedom island overseas. The fiery dances of Cubans, the colonial architecture of the island's cities, the turquoise waves of the ocean and white beaches invite you to take a trip to Cuba.

After a long flight, we are greeted by a friendly island. Ahead are excursions and walks around the city of Havana, several days of living in another world, on another continent, relaxing on the beach.

Here are the azure waves and white beaches of Varadero, which are so attractive to tourists. Amazing place!

Beautiful clean sea, sun loungers on the shore, sun umbrellas, warmth, in a word, chic.

This photo shows the view from the window, passing through the Matanzas area on the way to the hotel. Several days of rest flew by cheerfully and romantically, sunbathing, swimming, and generally relaxing.

We were in the capital. The capital of Cuba is the city of Havana, perhaps the most interesting place to travel.

In Cuba, they love, honor and remember their heroes. City streets and building walls are decorated with images of Che Guevara, wax figures of the national revolutionary hero are exhibited in museums.

Time on the island flew by quickly. Did we feel that Cuba is an island of freedom? It’s hard to say; for this, the trip to Cuba needs to be long, then one could get acquainted with the life and way of life of the indigenous population, but this cannot be understood during a short vacation and one-day excursions to the city.

Havana city

We were taken on an excursion to the city of Havana by minibus, and it seemed that life there flowed especially Cuban-style, calmly and leisurely.

Residents of Havana welcome foreign tourists. They love to take pictures with them, for some townspeople this is their own small business (they ask for a few coins for a personal photo).

At the Plaza de Armas Hotel there is a colorful native of the island of Cuba

In Havana, the dilapidation of urban buildings is very noticeable. The streets are crowded; in the old part of the city, crowds of tourists are visiting the sights. Cubans are used to it; cordiality can be felt everywhere.

Below are photographs of the island of Cuba, scenes from our vacation during the trip.

Rare cars flash on the roads of Havana - the pride of the Cubans, for them it is.

On the move are vintage Fords, Bentleys, and Ferraris, which the Cubans are very proud of and carefully repair.

Here in the city, you can have a wonderful rest, sit in a restaurant, and watch fiery Cuban dances.

Sights, architectural structures, green parks give a special flavor to the city of Havana.

In Revolution Square there is the famous José Martí stela, dedicated to the Cuban poet and revolutionary. There is an observation deck at the top of the stele, which offers interesting views (admission is paid).

The old square of the city of Havana is a recreation center and a favorite place for citizens and tourists; holidays are held here.

Plaza Vieja is often crowded.

Havana has its own modern opera and ballet theater.

The fortresses, cathedral, monastery, church and other buildings of the old city of Havana are a UNESCO heritage site.

This is one of the streets of the city. There we met pioneers in bright red ties, enthusiastically telling each other something.

The Capitol of Havana houses the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, and the first Internet cafe in Havana operates.

This photo was taken in San Francisco Square and features a Carr marble lion fountain. Nearby, on the contrary, is the monastery of St. Francis.

The flora and fauna of the island of Cuba are beautiful and diverse.

The island is home to many rare birds, twenty species of which are not found anywhere else in the world. One of these unusual birds is the hummingbird.

The national bird of Cuba is the Cuban trogon, its distinctive feature is its bright red, white and blue plumage, similar to the Cuban flag. We did not see this bird on the island, we met another one.

There are many reptiles and lizards in Cuba, of different colors and sizes, it is said that there are about 150 species. Our photographs showed several lizards that “froze” and posed beautifully for us.

We also liked the turtles, sitting on the rocks as if basking in the sun.

In the thickets of grass, in the enclosure, a Cuban crocodile was hiding.

The island's cuisine is replete with seafood. What's missing here!

Restaurant visitors order dishes made from fresh fish, which can be selected directly from the aquarium. Whiskered lobsters, huge fish and various sea monsters swim behind the glass. 30 minutes and lunch is ready.

Below are photos of the hotel pool.

These photographs show the flora and fauna of the island of Cuba - beautiful birds, plants and flowers.

This photo shows a journey to the modern province of the island.

It's a pity that time passed quickly. We remembered the trip for a long time, we liked the island of Cuba, and the special hospitality of the residents of the city of Havana.