In Reply to: What's Cuba like? posted by Fiona on Friday, 6. July 2007 at 11:11 Bali Time:
I loved it. I stayed in Cayo Santa Maria at the Melia Cayo Santa Maria which is a quay connected to the mainland by a causeway over the ocean that runs about 100 km out. There are only 4 hotels in the area. You have a choice to stay on the "busy" beach in front of the hotel or walk ten minutes down the beach and not see a soul. The hotels have the best of everything (expensive buses from China, brand new Catamarans from France etc) but the Cubans unfortunately do not benefit from this. It really is like taking a step back in time as the cobblestone streets are still there (although the highways are well paved) and to see the old French and Spanish architecture is all original and the cars are from the 1950's for the most part. Donkey and horse carts are still very much the main source of transportation. The museums are like walking in to the European ones only everything is out in the open (with the sea breeze blowing through the open window on them). The people are so friendly. I also found learning about Communism and Castro fascinating. I really think Cuba is a gem. Definately worth seeing before Castro passes on as I am sure it will become modernized soon after.