Martin's TravelAwesome Photo Series #13 - Cuba: The Only Way to Understand the Country is to be Irrational

in #travel7 years ago

As one local guide famously said about his country Cuba: "The only way to understand our country is to be irrational". The island of Cuba is full of paradoxes: the capital's history and beauty is stunning, yet at the same time you see Spanish colonial buildings and facades crumbling to the ground due to severe mismanagement and a disfunctioning government. Cuba is also a strange country in the sense that you won't find any Coca Cola or McDonalds. And wi-fi is difficult to access for foreigners, let alone for locals. But at the same time, medical care and education has some high standards and are accessible to many in the country.

Today, part three of a photo series of Cuba - featuring classical cars, colonial buildings, and the kind and warm people of Cuba.

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Planning a trip to Cuba requires strong preparation

Cuba is not some kind of easy and quick getaway location. You will need a reason to visit, and try to stay with locals. I would suggest to try to get accommodation in Old Havana where you can explore most of the capital on foot. It is close to popular cafés and bars. There is a very nice vintage book market on Plaza Vieja as well, where tourists are limited in number.

Then head out to Trinidad or Santiago de Cuba. These smaller cities reveal a very different side of this island. Trinidad is a small, walkable city with beautiful colonial architecture, while Santiago has played a very important role in the country's history.

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Follow the music!

Ever heard of the Buena Vista Social Club? I am sure you have. But this is not Cuba. Their performances cater to mass tourism, to those tourists on massive cruise ship. This is not Cuba's contemporary music scene. Instead, look for more local settings such as the Jazz Cafe or La Zorra y el Cuervo. Fancy dancing? Go to Casa de la Musica. And La Fabrica offers something in the techno scene if you are craving a wild weekend dance party. I am sure you will not be the only tourist around, but this is definitely a more local (and fun!) experience.

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Wow so beautiful and heart touching place CUBA called paradise for recreation and also shows good work

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I have followed you sir & thanks for this lovely photography of Cuba which is gorgeous country in the world I hope I will enjoy your posts @martinphoto

Cuba is such an interesting place, My dad was there a couple times, but usually tourists are only allowed to be in certain places. If you manage to sneak into those "forbidden" places for tourists (where most people actually lives) you can see the true colors of the Cuba community. Very nice place and amazing people overall (:

Amazing pictures, btw, loved them @martinphoto

OMG! no wifi for foreigners @martinphoto but i believe that its such a beautiful place why would we need wifi to entertain us. yeah I've also heard about the good education in cuba. I am a traveler and loved to visit cuba someday soon.
Great photographs dear amazing post. keep posting

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Nice photos and composition. Upvoted and resteemed.

excellent photography i like it

ganda nman. so beautiful..

That was quite a journey you took me on @martinphoto. I'm pretty impressed..

Wow very beautiful images buddy I love this..

They're wonderful people, but they live under the curse of communism, believe me, I know what I'm talking about.

This is a great post that you have taken to the photo throat is very gorgeous because the rules of taking your photos are very nice to know how to take great photos.The timing of your photo taking was very nice and because of the good weather, the pictures are so beautiful that it looks very good to see the pictures. It's a lovely enviroment i like your photo..I liked the image of statue in all of your pictures on this post

A very beautiful place ! I want to go there soon !!

Twelve years ago I was in Cuba, at that time I did not have a photographic camera or smartphone, besides, I had not yet started my love of photography. Today I would like to return to Cuba and travel that country photographically.

Great photos. Get Upvote for you :)

wow look cool

Excelente fotografía callejera, te felicito.