Cuba


Havana Vinales Guama		Trinidad Cienfuegos Varadero

Discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and is approximately the same size as England.
            It wasn't until 1510 that the Conquistador Diego Valazequez landed with a small army to conquer the island.
            Spain had the run of the Caribbean until the middle of the 16th century, when the European Powers and Pirates began to enter the area and found easy pickings in Cuba's undefended towns.
            Realizing that Cuba was at the centre of the most important sea lanes Spain built forts in Havana and Santiago.
            Havana with it's natural harbour became the island's largest city and was named the capitol in 1607.The Castillo del Morro and the Castillo de la Punta were built at the entrance to Havana harbour and were completed in 1597 to protect Havana from English and French pirates, despite the forts the English raided Havana in 1622,1623 and1638.
          In 1762 the English declared war on Spain and invaded Cuba at Cojimar in June of that year, they captured Morro Castle on the 30th of July and on August the 11th 1762 the Spanish surrendered.
          In 1898 the American Battleship USS Maine mysteriously blew up in the harbour killing 260 people.

Havana

The Capitolio

Built in the 1920's and a copy of the White House. Originally to be the Presidential Palace for the Dictator Gerardo Machado, it ended up as the seat of Parliament. From the floor to the top of the dome is 300ft.

Bacardi Rum Headquarters

Built in the 1930's, the exterior is decorated with Ceramic Tiles. It is now government offices.

The Museo de Revolution

The original Presidential Palace is now a museum to the glory of the revolution.

Hemingway's Home

Is situated 10mls.South East of the city centre in the suburb of San Francisco de Paula and is now a museum. You are not allowed into the building so you must peer through the open windows into the interior.
The Stadium outside Havana was built for the Pan-American Games in 1991. The Athletes Accommodation was later given to the workers who built it.
Havana has a public transport problem that it tries to alleviate with 300 passenger Camels and, the peoples limousine, Stretch Lada taxis and bicycle buses.

Tropicana

World renowned cabaret.

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Vinales Valley

Mogotes
Beehive shaped hills that date back 150 million years and once supported a plateau. The caves were used as a refuge by the Indians after the Spanish Conquest, and later by escaped slaves.
Traveling along the valley brings you to the Prehistory Mural, started in 1959, it depicts the course of evolution from Snail to Man.

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Guama

                The Crocodile pens at Guama hold approximately 40.000 Crocodiles, and their skins are used for handbags and shoes for export. Their is also a cafe where you can try Crocodile Burgers.
Laguna del Tesoro ( Treasure Lagoon)
                The Native Indians were thought to have thrown their valuables into the Lagoon to stop the Conquistadors from stealing them.
                  At the entrance to the Guama Hotel Complex is a replica Taino Indian Village (the only warrior's now are the Mosquito's).
                Built on a complex of Islands after the Revolution, the Guama Hotel Resort is a popular honeymoon destination and also has a large number of day trippers. It is also an overnight stop on some of the Cuban tours.

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