Introduction To Cuba Cuba is unlike any other place on earth. What draws people to this fascinating Caribbean island is much more than beaches, sun, and cheap drinks, though there are plenty of all three for those who want them. One of the last Communist-bloc nations left, it doesn't suffer from the drab and desultory demeanor of its disappeared peers. Cuba's rich culture, unique political history, and continued survival through ongoing economic hardship make it one of the most eye-opening countries that experienced travelers can still discover. Seeing the best of Cuba means grooving to its intoxicating music, marveling at how Cubans improvise on a daily basis to make ends meet, and visiting a land in which the past 50 years seem to have passed by in some odd sort of state of frozen animation. Cuba is the largest of all the Caribbean Islands and one of the most fascinating. It has a unique and colorful history, presently seen in the form of its unspoilt colonial towns, lovingly nurtured vintage cars and pristine beaches. Castro’s revolution disposed of many of the inequalities of the previous era, when Cuba was a playground for rich Americans, propped up by the proceeds of gambling and prostitution. The facades of this earlier period remain, alongside increasingly efficient new hotels and resorts. Cuba is anything but bland. Music plays a huge part in daily life, with the rhythms of salsa or jazz liable to erupt in the cobbled streets at any time. Material privations have not muted the friendly Cubans’ joie de vivre - singing and dancing are high on their list of priorities, and they appreciate the quality of their excellent rum and cigars. Cuba represents a treasure trove for the...
