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the rhythm of salsa and rumba. The Floridita, a famous Hemingway haunt, is known for its fabulous daiquiris. A vibrant art scene thrives in Cuba. The Museo Nacional de Bella’s Artes is a must-see for anyone traveling to Havana. This world-class museum boasts a huge collection of fabulous contemporary and Spanish colonial art. On Calle Obispo and throughout the city, independent art galleries and shops abound. Many restaurants offer authentic Cuban cuisine. Cuba has a thriving tourist business from Europe and Canada, and as of 2011, the island became more accessible to American visitors. That said, the communist nation still doesn’t have diplomatic relations
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with the U.S., and a visit is subject to visas and myriad rules and regulations (American money and credit cards are not accepted here). Students and journalists are allowed in, although it is still illegal for individual U.S. citizens to travel independently to Cuba. Most Americans wishing to visit the island sign up for a “person-to-person” cultural exchange tour (offered by companies authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury) to gain access. n For more information about travel to Cuba, visit the websites of the Treasury department (treasury.gov/ resource-center) and the U.S. State Department (travel. state.gov). To see more of the author’s photos from Cuba, visit tutudivine.com.
From daiquiris to mojitos, the rum flows freely in Cuba’s restaurants and cafes (top left); but coconut milk is also easy to find (top right). The beautiful Xanadu Mansion in Varadero (bottom left), built in 1927 by the DuPont family atop the San Bernardino crags, offers a spectacular view of the Caribbean (below right). (Opposite page) A cascade of bouganvilla highlights the Spanish Colonial ironwork and stained glass of a building in the Plaza de la Catedral.