“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
-Anonymous
CUBA
DESTINATIONS TO ROOT FOR !
Havana
Havana is the capital city, largest city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. Old Havana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is also noted for its history, culture, architecture and monuments. Centro Habana, sometimes described as part of Vedado is mainly a shopping district that lies between Vedado and Old Havana. The city has most of the major plazas which include Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco and Plaza de Armas. Also, strolling along the Malecón (El Malecon) at sunset is a wonderful way to soak up the feel of this evocative city. Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, also known as El Morro, stands proudly at the entrance of the Bay of Havana in the Parque Historico Militar, Gran Teatro de La Habana, one of the largest opera house in the world are other tourist attractions.
Varadero
Varadero is a resort town in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, and one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. In addition to its most valued resource, the beach, Varadero has natural attractions such as caves and a chain of easily accessed virgin cays. There are also cultural, historical and environmental attractions in the vicinity, such as the cities of Matanzas and Cárdenas, the Zapata Peninsula and the resort of San Miguel de los Baños. Varadero, which is a free port, also possesses facilities for scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, yachting and other water sports.
Vinales
Viñales is a small town and municipality in the north-central Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. North of the town is the Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the outstanding karst landscape and traditional agriculture as well as vernacular architecture, crafts and music.
Attractions in Viñales include the Viñales Municipal Museum, Casa de Caridad Botanical Gardens, Museo Paleontológico, Palenque (a Maroon village) and the nearby caves (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel, Cueva de Santo Tomás) in Valle de Viñales National Park which were refuges for runaway slaves. There is also a cave that doubles as a nightclub.
MUST TRY DISHES !
Cubano Sandwich
A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich that originated in cafes catering to Cuban workers. The sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and salami on Cuban bread. The later variation of the sandwich that emerged in Miami excludes salami.
Ropa Vieja
Ropa vieja is one of the national dishes of Cuba. It originates from a Sephardic dish from the Middle Ages. Ropa Vieja is a zesty and delicious dish of beef with peppers, braised in a rich tomato-based sauce. Ropa Vieja is traditionally made with flank steak a very flavorful cut of beef and served with fried plantains and yellow rice.
Torticas de Moron
Torticas-de-Moron are Cuban sugar cookies with guava and lime. Traditionally, these sugar cookies are made with lard and, more recently, vegetable shortening, but this recipe calls for butter.
They can be made plain and sprinkled with sugar or with a guava center.