June 5, 2016

Colorful Cuba

Latin America Cultural Small Ship Cruising Traveler Stories

There’s Music in the Air

When we stepped off the plane in Havana, it felt like we had traveled back in time to the 1950s. Vintage Chevys roll around the city and people gather on sidewalks, chatting and playing instruments together. Music pours into the streets day and night.

The architecture is a mishmash of styles—from colonial to neo-classical, art deco to modern—in beautiful, bright colors that feel distinctly Cuban. The beaches are spectacular, set on a true turquoise sea, and the food was very good.

We had a wonderful time in Cuba with its warm and welcoming people!

Havana

Image of a colorful street scene in Cuba with a narrow passageway on the left, showcasing posters on stair steps. On the right, a bright yellow building with blue balconies, where two people are sitting outside.

A colorful classic blue and white car with a "TAXI" sign on the windshield is parked outdoors in Cuba. The license plate reads P 142 364.

A bronze statue depicts a person riding a rooster and holding a large fork, set in an outdoor plaza with colorful buildings reminiscent of vibrant Cuba in the background.

Maria La Gorda

A tropical beach in Cuba features clear blue water, white sand, and colorful palm trees under a partly cloudy sky.

A colorful sailboat rests on the calm turquoise sea under a blue sky scattered with white clouds, reminiscent of serene moments in Cuba.

Trinidad

Left: A horse pulling a cart on a cobblestone street beside colorful buildings, evocative of Cuba's vibrant charm. Right: An ornate iron gate with a lantern above, framing a view of a courtyard with a blue building.

A cobblestone street in Cuba is lined with colorful buildings and a yellow church tower with a red dome. A group of people walks along the vibrant street on a sunny day.

Cienfuegos

White neoclassical building with bell tower surrounded by tall palm trees and lush greenery under a clear blue sky. Colorful scenes of Cuba unfold as people walk in the foreground.

A large, colorful building with a red dome, white and blue exterior, and arched windows stands behind a tree and a streetlamp in a sunny Cuban square with parked cars and benches.

At Sea

A person wearing a straw hat reads "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway on a boat with a background of calm blue ocean and cloudy sky, capturing the colorful essence of Cuba.

-Photos and text by 3-time WT adventurer Mary Nicolini, Cuba Cultural Adventure