Cuba

One of the driving forces for the adventures we've been on is to experience new, exciting places, and cultures. Cuba wholeheartedly met this criteria. While we had some pre-conceived ideas of what Cuba might be like, most of those were blown right out of the water once we got there. Sure, there is poverty, and buildings in need of repair, but the warm, friendly, and upbeat attitudes of the Cubans was totally unexpected. We were constantly treated like long lost cousins wherever we went. And the ingenuity of the people to keep everything running smoothly, including 50-90 year old automobiles , especially when parts were sparse due to the U.S. Embargo, was fascinating to watch (including mechanics sitting curbside taking engines apart to reburbish them).The best part of this trip was enjoying the Cuban culture. From the upbeat music, the fantastic dancing, the artistry of sculptures, painters, and potters, to the delicious food, it was all delightful.

The group getting ready to head to Cuba.

The city of Havana as seen from the old fort across the bay...

...and is full of beautiful churches...

...and elegant homes for the wealthy. This is the Acisclo del Valle Blanco, home of a wealthy merchant in Cienfuegos, Cuba.

The old fort overlooking Havana harbor.

Legend has it that canons that don't perform well get buried upside down.

Russian style housing could be found everywhere, and basic housing did not appear to be well maintained, at least on the exterior.

Shops not much bigger than our corner grocery stores, tried to provide everyday items for sale.

As tourists, we ate well...

...even in the very same restaurant that President Obama and his wife ate in shortly before our visit.

This is the room, we were told, in which the Obamas ate, situated next to our own room.

Fixing a motorcycle engine curbside. The ingenuity of the Cuban people was amazing.

This valley was once full of sugar cane fields before the collapse of the Cuban economy.

While there are farmers' markets, food is not that plentiful. Cuba imports approximately 70% of its food resources.

And everyone gets a food-ration book.

Kids everywhere love to have their picture taken.