Cuba

The Cuban archipelago comprises a surface area of 110, 992 km² and is situated in the westernmost part of the insular Caribbean, at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. Also known as the key to the Gulf, Cuba is the largest of the West Indies and one of the largest in the world.

Cuba has more than 300 natural beaches of fine white sand and crystal clear waters. The most famous of these is Varadero; however, there are others to the east of the capital city in Holguín and Cayo Largo del Sur, as well as in the northern keys of Ciego de Ávila and Villa Clara.

Cuba is the Caribbean's largest and least commercialised island and one of the world's last bastions of communism. Its relative political isolation has prevented it from being overrun by tourists, and locals are sincerely friendly to those who do venture in.

Havana is the centre of all things Cuban. There's an air of faded glory about the city, as big '50s and '60s American automobiles cruise the streets and paint and plaster peel off everywhere. The city is lined with glorious Spanish colonial architecture, much of which is under restoration.

Havana offers many cultural events and entertainment for example, Tropicana, the world classic cabaret, open to the sky with fabulous combination of lights and great show. The Havana Carnival in late February and early March features parades in front of the Capitolio or along the Malecón on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The Jornadas de la Cultura Camagneyana is scheduled for the first two weeks of February, and the Havana International Jazz Festival happens every second year in February. April sees the Semana de la Cultura celebrated in Baracoa and the Electroacoustic Music Festival in Varadero.

Cuban cuisine is a mix of Spanish and African techniques, using local produce. Dishes like Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christian; black beans and rice), arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and picadillo (minced beef and rice) are common, as are soups made with plantains, chick-peas or beans. There are, however, food shortages in Cuba and eating out can mean long waits at state-run restaurants or hotel dining rooms. Cuban beer (cerveza) is excellent and the cocktails are legendary.

African slaves brought rhythms and ritual dances to Cuba, where they were blended with Spanish guitars and melodies and then appropriated and developed throughout the Americas (the USA in the 1920s jumped to rumba rhythms, and these, fused with jazzy horn sections and drums, became the big-band sound.

Full country name: Republic of Cuba
Population: 11 million
Capital City: Havana (pop 2,200,000)
People: 60% Spanish descent, 22% mixed-race, 11% African descent, 1% Chinese
Language: Spanish; Castilian
Government: Communist republic
Head of State: President of the Council of State Fidel Castro

GDP: US$20 billion
GDP per capita: US$2,000
Major Industries: Sugar, minerals, tobacco, agricultural, medicine and tourism
Major Trading Partners: Western Europe, Latin America, Russia

Quieres saber más de Cuba? Visita la siguiente página:

http://www.cubatravel.cu

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