Everything about Cuba is unexpected – it defies all rationality. The country has a monopoly on the misunderstood and that includes strange statues. While a lot of the art has heavy political connotations – some of it is just downright …
A comedy of errors in search of the cigar factory
We made the mistake of doing too much walking on our last visit to Havana. Being used to striding purposefully around cultural attractions on European city breaks, we failed to adjust to the Caribbean pace, which is crucial in the …
The Museo del Chocolate in Havana
Havana is a fabulous city but sometimes it feels like an assault on the senses. After a couple of hours in the baking heat, crowded streets and hectic atmosphere I’d usually feel like retreating to a cool sanctuary. Luckily we …
How Cuba made me realise I have an internet addiction
It’s 32 degrees Celsius in central Havana, but the dust and traffic is making it feel like 40. Yet the heat alone can’t explain the bead of sweat trickling down my forehead. The situation has become desperate. We’ve been hopefully …
Street Art in Havana
In the consumerist vacuum created by the communist state in Cuba, various forms of art such as music, dance and painting have all thrived. Havana is without doubt one of the most photogenic cities in the world, as the sharp …
What changing US-Cuba relations mean for tourists
US-Cuba relations have been mutually belligerent since Spain ceded Cuba to the US in 1898. Political shenanigans keep getting in the way of moves towards more equal relations and the political influence of first-generation Cuban-Americans has played its part. The …
Travelling to Cuba as an American
So you want to go to Cuba? Although the outright ban on Americans travelling to Cuba has been relaxed somewhat, getting there is not as simple as booking a flight and packing your bags. The Straight and Narrow Path Americans …
Blaze a Trail to Cienfuegos
Julia Pamilih tells Cuban Life about her trip to Cienfuegos. Cienfuegos (or literally ‘100 fires’) is a gem tucked away on the south coast of Cuba. Its waterfront setting and Neoclassical colonial buildings make it the perfect respite from the …
How to sail from America to Cuba
Sailing to Cuba conjures up visions of pristine tropical waters, pirates and rum. As one of the few Americans lucky enough to enjoy this adventure, Krystal Douglas tells Cuban Life what’s really involved: Growing up in Florida with a gypsy-souled …
The Field of Play
While Cuba and America have vastly different ideologies, there is at least one major passion they have in common – baseball. Watching baseball in Cuba is a unique cultural experience. Cubans go crazy for the game – which may be …