{"id":1426,"date":"2017-08-14T09:30:38","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T13:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/?p=1426"},"modified":"2024-02-22T11:13:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T16:13:35","slug":"finding-beauty-in-historic-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/finding-beauty-in-historic-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Beauty in Day to Day Life in Historic Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ben Schuyler, AFAR Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve often found that when you mention visiting Cuba to someone, it\u2019s undoubtedly the case that you will be asked about a combination of the following things \u2013 communism, cigars, rum, music, and classic cars.\u00a0 It\u2019s not without good reason that these are common topics, but the diversity of this unique Caribbean island avails so much for adventurous souls looking for new paths to explore.<\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-44<\/a><\/p>\n

My time traveling to Cuba with smarTours <\/a>began at the heart of the country\u2019s biggest city \u2013 Havana. Greeted by a local guide and expert on the history of the surrounding architecture in Old Havana, we walked cobblestone streets and learned about the Spanish influence on the colonial-era buildings. I was fascinated by the information being shared, yet I couldn\u2019t help but be distracted as I watched locals navigating their morning. A young couple walked by drinking caf\u00e9 cubanos, carrying a newspaper and briefcase. A group of construction workers hauled materials in a wheelbarrow for a restoration project. An old man swept in the park. Each little vignette revealed a more intimate reflection about what daily life as a Cuban could look like. Capturing these moments in my photographs became a theme of how I enjoyed my travel experience.<\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-39<\/a><\/p>\n

The next step in the journey with my travel companions brought us from Havana to the city of Sancti Sp\u00edritus, one of the oldest settlements in Cuba and the capitol of the Sancti Sp\u00edritus province. We arrived at our hotel to find it perfectly positioned on the edge of Parque Seraf\u00edn S\u00e1nchez, the central park of the city and a meeting place for visitors and locals alike. Late into the evening children gleefully chased one another around a fountain positioned in the middle of the park. Nearby speakers pulsed familiar songs as karaoke patrons did their best to sing along and entertain the on looking crowd. The recent addition of Wi-Fi to the location has made it a popular spot for people to connect for a moment to search the Internet or communicate with loved ones. The pleasant warm breeze paired with a delicious Cuba Libre made for a relaxing time of reflection and people watching.<\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-76<\/a><\/p>\n

Rich in cultural history, Cuba is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of those, we had the pleasure of visiting Old Havana, Cienfuegos, Camagu\u00eby, and Trinidad. A town that thrived in the boom of the sugar cane industry, Trinidad sits adjacent to the Valley de los Ingenios and is now known for producing tobacco. Breathtakingly preserved, I found myself transcendently returning to a time when the sugar trade drove life in the colonial town. The Afro-Cuban influence can be felt and experienced through art, music, and dance in Trinidad at Palenque de los Congos Reales. The performance center exhibits centuries old traditional folklore performed to the steady beat of conga drums. Volunteers keep these stories alive while working other jobs in different fields.<\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-106<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s without question that one of my favorite moments during my time in Cuba was visiting the home and studio of Bernardo Valeriano Casanova Fuentes \u2013 ceramic artist based in Camag\u00fcey. He spoke only a few words, instead allowing his son to share his story, as he attentively formed piece after piece at his workbench and potter\u2019s wheel. In a matter of ten minutes, Bernardo produced a diverse collection of artifacts from single slab of clay. His property was modest, well lived in, and beautiful. It wasn\u2019t flashy or showy, but encapsulated the sustainable life he has found doing what his loves everyday.<\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-141<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-144<\/a><\/p>\n

Cuba has something to offer to all kinds of visitors \u2013 classic car enthusiasts, cigar aficionados, history buffs. More than anything, I found for myself that the daily life of the Cuban people was the most intriguing and beautiful facet to my visit.<\/p>\n

\"Schuyler_Cuba_AFAR_USTOA-126\"<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Interested in learning more about Ben\u2019s journey?<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0Read more about it on\u00a0AFAR.com<\/a>, the\u00a0USTOA blog<\/a>\u00a0and check out<\/i> check out\u00a0<\/i>smarTour\u2019s\u00a0The Best of Cuba tour<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

A Pacific Northwest native, Ben has spent his life drinking coffee, hiking the Cascade Mountains, and breathing the salty air of the Puget Sound. Ben\u2019s inspiration includes dirt roads, flora, and fauna, and his photographs capture a sense of adventure in warm colors that produce an ambient nostalgia. He recently traveled America to document mobile living: When the Road Is Home.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ben Schuyler, AFAR Ambassador I\u2019ve often found that when you mention visiting Cuba to someone, it\u2019s undoubtedly the case that you will be asked about a combination of the following things \u2013 communism, cigars, rum, music, and classic cars.\u00a0 It\u2019s not without good reason that these are common topics, but the diversity of this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1440,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[8],"class_list":["post-1426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba","tag-live-like-a-local"],"yoast_head":"\nFinding Beauty in Historic Cuba - USTOA Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover The Best of Cuba with AFAR Ambassador Ben Schuyler as he travels with USTOA's Tour Operator member smarTours.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/finding-beauty-in-historic-cuba\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Finding Beauty in Historic Cuba - 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