| Cuba…the very name produces images of | | | | Many beautiful Spanish Colonial buildings |
| Fidel Castro,Che Guevara,vintage | | | | have survived and they can be found all over |
| Cadillacs,Spanish colonial architecture and | | | | the island.Many have been restored and are |
| beautiful beaches! | | | | colourful reminders of the past. |
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| In reality,it is all of these | | | | Cuba is famed for its music and it can be |
| things…and much,much more. | | | | heard everywhere you go.Jazz and Salsa are |
| | | | played in the smallest villages and in the |
| Cuba is the largest island in the | | | | largest towns. |
| Caibbean,some 750 miles in length and is the | | | | |
| worlds 16th largest.The Republic also | | | | Cuba has pristine beaches,mountains,lush |
| includes some smaller islands,the largest of | | | | tropical vegetation and friendly welcoming |
| which is the Isle of Youth.The notorious | | | | people. |
| Guantanamo Bay has been leased to the USA | | | | |
| since 1903. | | | | In the countryside it is still possible to |
| | | | see sugar cane harvested with |
| Cuba was a Spanish possession for 388 years | | | | machetes,ploughs pulled by oxen and hedges |
| but after long,protracted wars of | | | | made of cactus.The little fincas (farms) |
| independence and with the help of the USA,it | | | | growsugar cane,sweetcorn,tobacco and a large |
| finally gained full independence in 1902. | | | | variety of fruits. |
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| Fidel Castro and Che Guevara overthrew the | | | | Things will rapidly change.As the health of |
| former corrupt regime,which was in large part | | | | Castro deteriorates,so will his his |
| financed by the American Mafia.The revolution | | | | influence.The necessity to adhere to his form |
| of 1959 saw Castro installed as Cuba's | | | | of socialism will no longer prevail. The Cuba |
| President,which makes him now one of the | | | | in the books of Ernest Hemingway and Graham |
| world's longest serving. | | | | Greene survives.But for how much longer? |
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| Since the Revolution,very little has changed | | | | As with almost all Spanish speaking |
| in Cuba.That is what makes it such an | | | | destinations,a knowledge of the |
| interesting place to visit and why you should | | | | language,however small,will be a real help |
| try to get there sooner,rather than later. | | | | and will really enhance your experience. |
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