Cuba

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Cuba - a cocktail of cultures

Cuba lies off the tip of Florida, between the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and Jamaica.

In nature, it's a Caribbean island, with white sandy beaches fringed by palm trees, lush vegetation, tropical fruit trees dripping with bananas, mango, guava and papaya.

Larger than Britain, it spans 800 miles. With a population of 11 million people, Cubans are proud of their national education and healthcare, and Cuba is more or less self sufficient from the produce it grows in addition to its coffee, cigars, sugar cane and Cuban rum.

A cool cocktail of Hispanic culture from its 400 years of Spanish colonial rule and Afro Caribbean slavery, Cuba has been cut off from globalisation, and has remained untouched by the pace of life now familiar to us in most parts of the world.

Rusty or gleaming old 1950s classic cars crank up alongside horse-and-carriage transport. Fuel comes from Venezuela and car maintenance products like 'liquid metal' imported by tourists is always welcome.

Havana

Havana is Cuba's main city, facing Miami. The legacy of the Spanish colonial era is seen everywhere in the colonnaded Spanish squares with handsome architecture – now decaying grandeur. El Malecon is the sea defence wall, a colourful boulevard where couples stroll along arm-in-arm. The fortress, once a bastion against pirates, holds the history of each era's stronghold.

Cuba's indomitable yet laid back spirit prevails, where music and dancing are the rhythm of life, and salsa is an essential life skill.

Tourists are warmly welcomed, hotels are comfortable and the country feels very safe, partly thanks to the police presence on the streets. The Cuban people are open and friendly with tourists, and sell their artwork, music CDs or embroidery handiwork to top-up their income, though hustlers are kept at bay. The bars are buzzing, and entry is free, just buy a drink and throw a few coins in the musicians' hat, and if you can speak a few words of Spanish, you can mingle and party, with the Cuban cocktail of choice, rum mojitos.

Trinidad

Trinidad is a relaxed town that oozes charm. A UNESCO world heritage site to preserve the crumbling colonial architecture, Trinidad has its very own House of the Troubadours, Museum of Romance and historic churches.

Only 4 miles from the coast, the white sand beaches around Trinidad are palm fringed and idyllic.

Flanked by farms, sugar plantations and countryside, people ride into town on their horse, or get around by horse and cart and bicycle taxis.