For half a century, most Americans have not been allowed to set foot in Cuba. However, this past December, President Obama and President of Cuba, Raul Castro, finally came to an agreement on restoring diplomatic relations. “We shall open our embassies. We shall visit each other, having exchanges, people to people,” stated Castro. Although the embargo has yet to be lifted and general tourism remains forbidden, Americans have the opportunity to visit Cuba by participating in people-to-people tours ran by licensed companies. Thanks to the Friendly Planet people-to-people program I traveled with, I was able to truly experience everything Cuba had to offer.
Since the floodgates have somewhat opened up, there has been more interest than ever to travel to Cuba. The request to book a trip to Cuba has become quite popular. I had never been to Cuba and figured if I was going to start sending my clients there, I needed to explore Cuba first for myself. Let me tell you, between the thriving music scene, the exquisite historical sites, and overall colorful culture, I highly recommend partaking in an incredible people-to-people tour of Cuba!
The beautiful thing about Cuban music is there’s not just one type of music. Since being a musician is a state-licensed job, musicians post up on every street corner serenading the streets with music ranging from salsa, merengue, to rock, to hip hop, to nueva trova (common on the island). Most of the music and instruments are influenced by Cuba’s African and European traditions; hence the eclecticism of sound.
Cuba is known for their ongoing preservation of the country’s many beautiful historical sites. As Gay Nagle Myers (who I had the pleasure of traveling with) stated in her most recent article on Travel Weekly, “True, the ironwork railings and ornate facades are crumbling on many of the buildings, but I also see signs of progress in historical buildings that have been beautifully restored by a government agency called City Historians.” To the Cuban people, celebrating and preserving their history is extremely important.
For decades, Cubans were forced to apply that same ideology of conservation to their cars. After Fidel Castro became president in 1959, he enforced a law prohibiting Cubans to purchase new foreign cars. They then had to think of innovative ways to keep their American cars from the 1950’s up and running. The old-school cars have since become an emblem of Cuba, providing the sensation of traveling back in time.
After experiencing Cuba for myself, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this new incredible opportunity. Tour and explore Cuba firsthand! As many of you know, I’m just a phone call away. Leave it to me to work out all the details and you just focus on what you’re bringing with you on your amazing and unforgettable trip to Cuba.
Book your trip to Cuba today!
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