Cuba

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region – North America
• Currency symbol of Cuba –Cuban peso
• Capital City –Havana
• Official languages –Spanish
• Population – 11.34 million (2018) World Bank
• Country dialling code  –  (+53 )
• Official website – Cuba
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Petroleum, nickel, cobalt
• Google Maps link –Cuba
• Where is it? –Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet.

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Cuba In Pictures

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Cuba History

• How did the country get its first name? –Historians believe the name Cuba comes from the Taíno language, but there are other theories.
• When and by whom the country was first discovered? – The Guanahatabey and Taíno  tribes were present on the island around 5000 years ago. The first Europeans landed on Cuba’s north eastern coast on 28 October 1492.
• Who were the first Inhabitants? –The first people known to have inhabited Cuba was the Siboney, an Amerindian people. They were followed by another Amerindian people, the Taíno who were the main population both of Cuba and other islands in The Antilles when Christopher Columbus first sighted the island in 1492.
• When it was first recognized as a country? – The Republic of Cuba was formally installed on May 20, 1902.
• Who was the first leader of the country? –Tomas Estrada Palma was the first President of Cuba.

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Five Significant Events 

• 1492: Christopher Columbus arrives in Cuba and claims the territory for Spain. (https://www.infoplease.com/history/world/timeline-of-key-events-in-cuban-history)
• 1898: The Spanish-American War begins shortly after the sinking of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor.
  In a short war, the U.S. defeats Spain, which cedes control of Cuba to the U.S. The U.S. military begins its occupation of the island. (https://www.infoplease.com/history/world/timeline-of-key-events-in-cuban-history)
• 1962: The Organization of American States expels Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis brings the U.S. and Cuba to the brink of nuclear war. The Soviets attempt to install medium-range missiles in Cuba—capable of striking targets in the United States with nuclear warheads. Denouncing the Soviets for “deliberate deception,” President Kennedy promised a U.S. blockade of Cuba to stop the missile delivery. Six days later, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev ordered the missile sites dismantled and returned to the USSR in return for a U.S. pledge not to attack Cuba. (https://www.infoplease.com/history/world/timeline-of-key-events-in-cuban-history)
• 1977 : Castro sends about 12,000 troops and aid to Ethiopia to support Communist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in his campaign against against Eritrean secessionists, Somali rebels, and political opponents. The U.S. establishes limited diplomatic ties with Cuba on Sept. 1, 1977, making it easier for Cuban Americans to visit the island. (https://www.infoplease.com/history/world/timeline-of-key-events-in-cuban-history)

• 2000: The U.S. passes legislation allowing the sale of food and medicine to Cuba.
  Russia and Cuba sign a deal to increase ties between the countries. (https://www.infoplease.com/history/world/timeline-of-key-events-in-cuban-history)

Five Places to Visit in Cuba

1. Old Havana (Habana Vieja): A UNESCO World Heritage site, Habana Vieja or Old Havana is a well-preserved slice of Cuban history. Strolling around the cobbled streets and gazing up at the grand Baroque and Neoclassical buildings, it’s easy to imagine what life in Cuba was like 200 years ago. Extensive renovations are now breathing new life into the historic buildings. Major attractions here include the Plaza de la Catedral, home to the Cuban Baroque Catedral de San Cristobal; the legendary restaurant and Hemingway hangout, Bodeguita del Medio; and the military fortress, Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Also in the Old Town, Plaza Vieja is one of Havana’s most vibrant gathering spots. The main building of note here is the 18th-century Casa del Conde Jaruco, with beautiful stained glass windows on the first floor. Nearby, the camera obscura offers fantastic views from its 35-meter tower. Allow at least a day to explore the Old Town and more if time permits. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/cuba-cub.htm)
2. Varadero: Varadero is one of Cuba’s most famous beach destinations, and home to one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. It stretches along the Peninsula de Hicacos, which juts into the sea off the north coast where a drawbridge connects it to the mainland. More than 50 hotels line this popular palm-fringed strip, and its magnificent white-sand beaches draw visitors from around the world. Highlights include Parque Natural Punta Hicacos (Parque Natural de Varaderos), a nature reserve with a pretty beach, and the two caves, Cueva de Ambrosio and Cueva de Musulmanes. Also in Varadero, the peaceful Parque Josone is home to lush flower gardens, a restaurant, swimming pool, and a small lake where visitors can paddle about in rowboats. Northeast of Varadero, Cayo Piedra Underwater Park is a popular diving and snorkeling area where underwater explorers will find shipwrecks and glinting shoals of brightly colored fish. Other popular things to do, besides diving and snorkeling, are deep-sea fishing, golf, skydiving, and day trips to cultural attractions. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/cuba-cub.htm)
3. Trinidad: Exploring the town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is like stepping back in time. The beautifully restored buildings and cobblestone streets in the city center exude a quaint colonial feel. Much of the architecture dates from the 17th to the 19th centuries, when Trinidad prospered from both the sugar and slave trades. Today, Trinidad is one of the best cities in Cuba to visit, apart from Havana. You can soak up its lively ambiance in the cobblestone Plaza Mayor, the city’s central square. Above the square stands the Neoclassical Church of the Holy Trinity (Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad). Other highlights are the Church and Monastery of Saint Francis (Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco), with its distinctive bell tower; the Museum of Colonial Architecture (Museo de Arquitectura Colonial); the art gallery at the Casa de Aldeman Ortiz; and the Palacio Brunet, a grand home, built in 1812 and still featuring original frescoes and marble floors. East of Trinidad, on the road to Sancti Spiritus, the lush World Heritage-listed Valle de los Ingenios contains numerous relics and monuments from the 19th century, when the sugar cane plantations and mills flourished. It’s also a great place to drive or horseback ride through the beautiful scenery of green sugar cane fields, palm trees, and mountains. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/cuba-cub.htm)
4. Guardalavaca: Rimmed by glittering beaches, Guardalavaca, in the Holguin province, is quieter and more remote than Varadero. Lush foliage fringes the sweeping strand of beach here, providing plenty of shady patches for those seeking respite from the tropical sun. Divers and snorkelers can explore a plethora of sea life along the coral reefs. Day trips from Guardalavaca include jungle adventures, sailing trips, and tours of Santiago de Cuba. West of Guardalavaca, Bahia de Naranjo encompasses a large slice of coast and three islands, including Cayo Naranjo with the popular Dolphinarium, offering close-up encounters with these gregarious creatures. Chorro de Maita is another side trip option from Guardalavaca, with its native Indian burial area and a recreated Taino Indian village. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/cuba-cub.htm)
5. Playa Paraíso, Cayo Largo del Sur: In a country known for its beautiful beaches, Playa Paraíso (Paradise Beach), on the island of Cayo Largo del Sur, is one of Cuba’s best. This sublime strand of powdery white sand and baby blue sea skirts the sheltered western edge of the island and merges with the equally ravishing Playa Sirena. The island of Cayo Largo del Sur is truly a sun seeker’s destination with a typically dry, sunny climate and few tourist attractions besides beautiful beaches and many hotels and resorts. (https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/cuba-cub.htm)

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References: 

• https://www.infoplease.com/history/world/timeline-of-key-events-in-cuban-history
• https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/cuba-cub.htm