Cuba’s pulsating beauty resides in the people, the culture and the island’s dynamic history. I must admit that there is something alluring about a country that has been relatively “untouched’ for decades. From the time that my Jet Blue flight landed until I reluctantly said “adiós” to new friends, the survivalist spirit of the Cuban people who powered through two independence wars and a revolution was undeniable. Prior to visiting the “Pearl of the Antilles” for the 1st time last year, Fidel Castro and Celia Cruz were two names that would immediately pop into my head whenever Cuba was mentioned in conversation. A name that is synonymous with Cuba, I was captivated with the soulful vibes of Celia Cruz even before I could fully understand her music. The unapologetic way that she boldly commanded the stage in her vibrant costumes and wigs left me spellbound as a young girl and wanting to know more about where she drew her strength from. Strolling along the Malecón, I found myself humming the Queen of Salsa’s “Guantanamera” in my head as the colossal Atlantic waves crashed over the sea wall. A mid-century time capsule, it felt surreal to find myself perched along Havana’s 5-mile sea drive as brightly hued cars from the 1950s cruised by. The bustling streets of Cuba’s leading commercial center offer up a free vintage car show with Chevy Bel Airs, Cadillacs, Studebakers and Impalas chugging along.
Cadillac convertible down, sunnies on and curls blowing in the wind; we channeled our inner Princess Grace of Monaco (remixed with a little Salsa flavor) while cruising through the countryside to a white sand beach an hour outside of Cuba’s largest city. Eager to soak up as much as I could with my limited Spanish, our guide shared historic and cultural facts about his beloved “City of Columns.” The melanin drip was real as I inhaled the salty sea air and sipped on $3 fresh fruit mojitos from a jar while watching the waves roll in. I delightfully indulged in traditional dishes which fused Spanish and African flavors in a way that awakened taste buds that I didn’t even know existed.
Excited to explore the capital on foot, my route to the beautifully restored Plaza Vieja (Old Square) was filled with music coming from the candy-colored Spanish colonial buildings that have not been touched since the 50s. My heart was full and my soul was free as I danced along to the reggaeton beat pumping into the streets. The old-world charm of the grand mansions that flanked the Plaza de la Catedral offered a vivid reminder of the country’s golden era before the revolution. Coming from an American lifestyle filled with “playdates,” encountering Cuban children playing baseball in the street on my evening walks to our apartment left me with a refreshing feeling of home that reminded me of my own childhood. No internet outside of the limited access at major hotels, no access to ATMs and no cell phone service in a region where the residents souls are deeply rooted in community forced me to take a much needed break from technology and put life on airplane mode.
Encompassing more that just its past, Cuba is embracing a blazing new future of merging the old with new. While I am excited to see what that future will hold for the hidden Caribbean gem, I do not look forward to a modern Cuba tainted with huge five-star resorts and over-the-top trappings found at other Caribbean destinations. The people captivated my heart more than anything else and reminded me of the charm that can come with simplicity.
