Cuba in one week

My friend and I have finally flown to Cuba. 9 days and 7 nights, few holidays unfortunately, but in 7 days we saw a huge amount. We were in a "Caracol" resort run by Cubans at S. Lucia, 130 km from Camaguey. We managed to travel it far and wide. With 2 excursions we saw Las Tunas, Holguin and the Bay of Naranjo, where we swam with dolphins:) and then Havana.

We then rented a four-wheel drive and did a good 800 km, cutting across Cuba inland and reaching Trinidad: a wonderful city, passing through Ciego de Avila and Sancti Spiritus.

We also managed to get some sun: the resort beach was nice but nearby was Playa los Cocos: a true earthly paradise... where a Cuban we met on the beach showed us the wrecks near the coral reef (snorkelling).... and we danced... every night until late, and the last one in Camaguey (at the Colonial) until dawn!

What can I say, Cuba stays in your heart: the scent of the air, the smiles of the people (go and eat in the casas particulares), the music, the sun, the sea, the history (posters and murals of Che accompany you wherever you go), the landscapes: banana, sugar cane and tobacco plantations, the old people, the children. Havana is wonderful; you should stay at least 4 days!!

If you go to Cuba, let yourself be absorbed by the atmosphere; time will stop and you'll find yourself living in a country you'll recognise as wonderful.

Tips: if you rent a car, make sure it's insured and new.. don't rent the old American ones, they're beautiful but they might leave you on foot.

For the women: the Mariposa and Black Coral perfumes are excellent and cheap, and the body creams are very good too. Cuba is famous for homeopathic medicines of all kinds. Black coral, then, is the stone most used for jewellery, but buy it in a jewellery shop with a receipt; at the airport, if you don't have one, you're in trouble.. Don't take home sand, corals or shells found on the beach; it's forbidden by law and besides... they're better off there!!

Let yourself be swept away by Latin American dances and dance only with Cubans.. an excellent antidepressant.

For the men: don't pay the women who come to seduce you; if you want to make love, do it with love, otherwise avoid it...