I thought that everyone would be set up for the weekend with this video from Carynd65, of Afro Cuban music and dancing in the streets of Havana on a sunny, Sunday afternoon; Rumba at Callejon Hamel.
With Strictly Come Dancing about to hit the airways for another season, the salsa beat will be getting our feet tapping and creating a desire for warm sunshine to chase away winter blues. Latin America meets the Caribbean in Cuba and what better destination is there than Cuba to escape the winter weather in the UK. Culture vultures will love the tours of Cuba organised by the Adventure Company, their tours combine fascinating culture and history with stunning scenery and tropical beaches. The adventure starts in Havana, a city full of classic American cars, echoes of Hemingway and yes, the sound of salsa beats drifting in the streets. Salsa Cubana is a 16-day trip, which takes travellers on to a walk through the tobacco fields of Viñales, explores the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad, visit colonial towns and even includes relaxation on the beaches at Baracoa. A slightly briefer tour called Viva Cuba is available, with the needs of families in mind.
December to April are good months to travel to Cuba, this period is after the hurricane season, but before the scorching summer. Prices for the 2009/10 winter, which include flights, transportation, B&B accommodation, activities as per the itinerary and the services of a local guide, start from £1,499 plus £155 local payment per person.
For full details of the Salsa Cubana trip and to reserve your place, click here.
For full details of the Viva Cuba trip and to reserve your place on this tour, click here.
With the New Year, Cuba celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Revolution, overthrowing dictator Fulgencio Batista.
The revolution, headed by Fidel Castro, developed education and universal healthcare systems that are admired throughout the world. Unfortunately, there have also been some spectacular shortcomings, there is a very bad housing shortage, exacerbated by the very system that was meant to eliminate high prices and scarcity, and personal freedom has been severely limited. Arguably, this has not been helped by the champion of freedom, the US, who decided that it did not like Fidel Castro as much as Fulgencio Batista and promptly imposed an infamous embargo.
Let us hope that the incoming administration of US President Barack Obama sees sense and at long last, lifts the embargo. Cuba has wonderful cultural traditions and is a great destination for all manner of activity holidays.
Culture vultures will love the tours of Cuba organised by the Adventure Company, their tours combine fascinating culture and history with stunning scenery and tropical beaches. The adventure starts in Havana, a city full of classic American cars, echoes of Hemingway and yes, the sound of salsa beats drifting in the streets. Salsa Cubana is a 16-day trip, which takes travellers on to a walk through the tobacco fields of Viñales, explores the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad, visit colonial towns and even includes relaxation on the beaches at Baracoa. A slightly briefer tour called Viva Cuba is available, with the needs of families in mind.
