
CUBA
Location - Caribbean; Capital - Havana; Population - 12 million; Currency - Cuban Peso & Cuban Convertible Peso
I managed to get a charter flight from Dominican Republic to Santiago de Cuba in eastern Cuba, in June 2001.
In 2001 the US Dollar was the main currency for tourists in Cuba, but was replaced by the Convertible Peso. The Dollar was withdrawn in 2004.
To the right is Cuba's national currency, the Cuban Peso, which westerners can use for items such as street food and newspapers
Parque Cespedes in the centre of Santiago de Cuba
The Moncada Barracks are the site of Castro's failed attack on President Batista's troops in 1953, Santiago de Cuba. The bullet holes still remain.
Looking down on the town of Baracoa
Baracoa's market
Lots of rum stalls are set up in the evening and Havana Club dominates, Baracoa
This is a local currency supermarket in Baracoa. It was sparse to say the least. The US dollar supermarkets had a lot more to offer, as long as you had dollars. Maybe things have changed now..
The countryside around Baracoa
Playa Duaba is a bicycle or minibus ride from Baracoa
The cobbled streets of Trinidad
Colonial houses in Trinidad. I stayed in a casa particular (private home) similar to these
There was a fiesta happening in Trinidad
Playa Ancon, just over 10kms outside Trinidad
1950's (?) American car in Trinidad
Poster of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Cienfuegos
The Motorcycle Diaries DVD
The cathedral and Government Palace, Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos
'Tren Blindado' - the train containing many Batista troops that was attacked by Che Guevara just after Christmas 1958, Santa Clara.
Batista fled Cuba on January 1 1959
Ernesto Che Guevara is buried here, at the monument in Santa Clara
Horse and carts near the bus station in Santa Clara
Site of the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Giron
More info from Wikipedia
CIA documents relating to the Bay of Pigs invasion
Playa Giron in the Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs)
View from the Capitolio Nacional, Havana
The government Capitolio Nacional, Havana
The tank and launch boat were used in the Bay of Pigs invasion, 1961
The missile dates back to the Cuban Missile Crisis
Museo de la Revolucion, Havana
More info on the Cuban Missile Crisis
Fortaleza de la Cabana, with Castillo del Morro in the background, Havana
A spruced up part of old Havana
But the decaying parts of old Havana have so much more character
The old town of Havana
I was lucky enough to stay at a stunning 'casa particular' in a very grand colonial house in old Havana, for about $20/night.
This was the view from my balcony
Cuban band plays in Havana
Live music and dance at the Plaza de la Catedral, Havana
Monument to Jose Marti, a leader of the Cuban independence movement, Havana
'Hasta la Victoria Siempre' - Che Guevara's image on the side of a government building in Vedado, Havana
Headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Havana
Restaurants in Chinatown, Havana
A cafe built into a Vinales cave
Mural de la Prehistoria, Vinales

Beautiful views of Vinales
The countryside close to Vinales, west of Havana
The Cuban family I stayed with in Vinales
Website and content Copyright © 2008-2010 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.
LINKS
www.cubatravel.cu -
www.supercubatravel.com - Cuban holidays and info
http://havanajournal.com - Cuban news and holiday info
I am not responsible for the content of external websites.
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