Mention Cuba and I immediately think of the US Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Ask me further then Fidel Castro and its socialist government, cigars and then rum will come to mind ... and of course the classic American cars. With socialist Cuba opening its doors to the Americans again, it was time to get there before Starbucks and McDonalds invade Cuba. In fact a McDonalds does exist in Guantanamo Bay just for the base staff.

Having also seen TV programmes showing:
- the classic American vintage cars of the 50's
- Havana's architecture
- the high 99.8% literacy rate
- how the state has provided a free world class health system.

Then reading how the locals are turning their homes in Casas Particulares (Cuban B&B) or opening paladares or privately run restaurants and business and that one doesn't go to Cuba for its gastronomic delights plus the internet is still in its infancy.

Generally it was only:
- 7 years ago Cubans were allowed to own mobile phones or stay in hotels that were for overseas tourists
- 4 years ago Cubans able to buy homes and sell cars
- 3 years ago travel overseas.
 (There were exceptions.)

Yes, it is time to get there before capitalism catches up.
 
With a narrow window of travel this year, it was Explore's (a UK base company) 15 day Cuba Libre! (CL2015) trip that caught my eye.

I make no apologies that blog serves various purposes:
- my travel diary plus I have found that I'm writing much more armed with an i pad and on this trip with limited evening Wi-Fi access.
- a web base photo storage for my many images.
- has my photo books images and text.

So perhaps it is my "photo diary"?

Plus I say for when I am no longer able to travel, bed bound in some rest home, that I can relive this trip!

So join me as a virtual traveller as I try and describe in pictures and words this 21 day 2015-2016 trip to Cuba (16 days in Cuba as I stayed an extra day after the tour finished) via a brief stopover in Chile and Peru (Lima = 1 full day on my way home).

To those who have followed my previous blogs know that I break each day into bit size entries and at the end of each day will be a HIGHLIGHTS entry which is also the basis of my photo books. Choosing these photos I suspect will be difficult for this trip and it was ... so sorry, no HIGHLIGHTS entry as most of the photos are in my 4 Snapfish photo books.

I've included hyperlinks mainly to Wikipedia, Lonely Planet and a few other web sites so that you can look up more details and images of some of the places.

Do feel free to make "comments" but remember that they are public.

Plus do rate this blog by clicking onto the stars at the far right.

Enjoy Cuba Libre!

Friday 18 December – Leave Auckland 4:55 pm, Lan Chile, LA 800
Arrive Santiago, CHILE, 12.15 pm (11 hours 20 mins)
Leave Santiago, 2.05 pm, Lan Chile, LA 2654
Arrive Lima, PERU, 3 hours 55 mins) – Residencial Miraflores B&B

Saturday 19 December – Leave Santiago 8.50 am Lan Chile (LA2596)
Arrive Havana CUBA, 2.25 pm (5 hours 35 mins) - Plaza Hotel

Sunday 20 December - Day 2: Havana
Tour of Havana's highlights, free afternoon - Plaza Hotel

Monday 21 December - Day 3: Havana to Trinidad
Bay of Pigs Museum at Playa Giron, Cienfuegos - Casa Particulares

Tuesday 22 December - Day 4: Trinidad, or Playa Ancon's or boat trip to Cayo Las Iguanas - Casa Particulares

Wednesday 23 December – Day 5: Topes de Collantes Nature Reserve Park - Hacienda Topes

Thursday 24 December – Day 6: Topes de Collantes National Park - Hacienda Topes

Friday 25 December – Day 7: To Camaguey
Valle de los Ingenios, also known as the Valley of the Sugar Mills. Torre de Manaca Iznaga, Sancti Spiritus, Camaguey - Isla de Cuba Hotel

Saturday 26 December – Day 8: Camaguey to Bartolome Maso - Villa Santa Domingo

Sunday 27 December – Day 9: Bartolome Maso to Santiago de Cuba
El Alto de Naranjo, La Comandancia de La Plata - San Juan Hotel

Monday 28 December – Day 10: Santiago de Cuba - San Juan Hotel

Tuesday 29 December – Day 11: Santiago de Cuba to Santa Clara
Che Guevara Memorial - Los Caneyes

Wednesday 30 December – Day 12: Santa Clara to Vinales - Rancho San Vicente Hotel

Thursday 31 December - Day 13: Boat trip to Cayo Levisa - Rancho San Vicente Hotel

Friday 1 January – Day 14: Vinales to Havana
Cueva del Indio, Laguna del Piedra lake - Plaza Hotel

Saturday 2 January – Day 15: Havana
Tour over - Plaza Hotel

Monday 3 January - Havana 
- Plaza Hotel
 
Sunday 4 January – Leave Havana 4:40 pm, Lan Chile, LA 2597
Arrive Lima, PERU, 10.05 pm (5 hours 25 mins) Residencial Miraflores B&B

Tuesday 5 January - Leave Santiago, 12.0 noon, Lan Chile, LA 631
Arrive, Santiago, CHILE 5.35 pm (3 hours 35 mins)
Leave Santiago 11.10 pm LA801

Wednesday 6 January - Cross International Dateline lose a day
 
Thursday 7 January - Arrive Auckland, NEW ZEALAND 5.20 am