May 15, 2017 by Bailey Freeman –Bailey Freeman, Lonely Planet’s Destination Editor for Central America and the Caribbean, recently took a trip to Cuba to check out two of the country’s historic cities: Havana and Trinidad.
Tell us more… Over the course of a week, I got a Cuba crash course. I had the chance to explore the famously beautiful streets of Havana, attend a performance at one of the capital city’s most famous jazz clubs, road trip across the country in a 1950s Bel Air, take a salsa lesson in Trinidad and go swimming in a crystal clear pool in rural Cuba.
In a nutshell… Cuba is one of those places you can read about over and over, but nothing compares to hitting the ground and experiencing it first-hand. Havana’s striking visage is the first thing you’ll get wrapped up in, and when you start digging a little deeper, you’ll find all sorts of unique surprises. I was most impressed by Havana’s thriving art scene; fantastic galleries, boutique shops, artisan crafts all fuelled the creative energy. Trinidad is like Havana’s laid-back cousin – the streets are quieter and the town itself feels more tropical and southern, but it’s home to just as much interesting history and plenty of fun nightlife.
