Traveler's Cuba Companion (TRAVELER'S COMPANION CUBA)

Few islands excite the imagination or possess a mystique so seductive to the senses as Cuba. Famous the world over for its own brand of state socialism, Cuba is a powerful cocktail-joyous, lush and rhythmic, yet equally embattled, run-down and resilient. Here, you can marvel at well-preserved colonial architecture, enjoy its exuberant musical heritage of salsa, cha-cha-cha, mambo and son, and be intrigued by the heady nostalgia of its past. Lying only 150 km (just over 90 miles) from Key West, Florida, Cuba-the largest of the Antilles islands-is one of the United States' closest neighbors, whose long-standing embargo is one of the more enduring contradictions of history. Cuba is also one of the most Hispanic of Caribbean nations, where the cross-infusion of African culture has created a magnificent tradition of music and dance. The Traveler's Cuba Companion points you to the best the island has to offer, from the historic beauty of its colonial towns to its vibrant nightlife; from its still-pristine tropical beaches to the lush, fauna-rich forests of its mountains; and of course, you must sample the distractions of the island's sweet dark rum and cigars. Cuba is both compelling and irresistible, while the Cuban people themselves are among the most genuinely friendly and welcoming people you are likely to encounter anywhere. (5 1/2 x 8 3/4, 352 pages, color photos, maps)