Something Old – Something New – in Cuba

Something Old/Something New in Cuba

Time-honoured traditions  Our timing was impeccable. Arriving in Remedios to catch the annual celebration of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre was a real coo. Each year, a replica of the statue of the Virgen or ‘patroness of Cuba’ is transported to through towns to rest in cherished churches, drawing crowds of local well-wishers and visitors.

Legend has it that around 1611, Rodrigo and Juan Hojos set out to find salt to preserve the meat that fed the families of El Cobre. Halfway across the Bay of Nipe, the men prayed for protection from furious ocean waves. As the waters miraculously calmed, the duo spotted a floating clay figure of the Virgin Mary holding a child in her right arm and a cross in her left. The figure was completely dry.

In the historic center of Remedios, declared a National Monument in 1980, we witnessed a parade of costumed kids performing for an audience of proud parents and visitors, couples salsa dancing in the streets, and a grand procession to bring the Virgen to rest in the Inglesia Mayor, the favourite of the two churches in Remedios. It was almost as though the event was orchestrated just for us.

New and natural In strong contrast to the colonial charm of Remedios, Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba’s newest destination in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, off the northern coast of Cuba offers luxury and quiet seclusion, and the chance to bury your feet in soft virgin sand.

Located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve amid floating mangroves and gently sloping sand dunes, Cayo Santa Maria oozes relaxation. This protected paradise thirteen kilometers long and two kilometres wide has no permanent residents to speak of making it easier to maintain that ‘unlived in’ look.

The eight hotels on the island all back on to the powdery white sand beach and offer all-inclusive packages with meals, drinks, activities, entertainment and non-motorized watersports.

Two open-air malls, Puebla La Estrella, between the Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Beach and Memories Paraiso Beach Resort, and Puebla Las Dunas, between the Melia Cayo Santa Maria and Melia Las Dunas, tempt tourists with fine dining restaurants, a disco, shopping, and bowling. A shuttle is available to take tourists to and from their hotels. Puebla La Estrella also houses a cigar shop, a jazz café and a spa offering couples massage.

On Cayo Santa Maria, outdoor enthusiasts can snorkel or dive to find an amazing variety of fish lurking in the coral formations, or go hiking on the islands of Majá, Fragoso, Cobos, Las Brujas, Ensenachos, Español de Adentro, Francés, and Las Picúas. Other active pursuits are windsurfing, swimming, sailing, deep-sea fishing, speed boat racing and water-skiing. And history buffs will enjoy exploring the ancient caves. A clothing optional beach is located at the west end of the Sol Cayo Santa Maria Hotel.

Just one kilometre from Cayo Ensenachos and 4.5 kilometres from Cayo Santa Maria, a new Dolphinarium has recently opened and kids can swim with the dolphins and see live shows.

In nearby Santa Clara, travelers can visit the memorial museum, built in tribute to Ché Guevara and his comrades killed in combat in Bolivia.

Make your trip to Cuba a multi-destination vacation and see all sides of this beautiful island nation.

More information on Cuba, Remedios and Cayo Santa Maria can be found at www.gocuba.ca and www.cayosantamaria.info

 

 

 

 

5 Big Island Vacation-Making Experiences

My dad lives on the Big Island of Hawaii near the tiny town of Pahoa in Puna District. After hearing about hippies hanging out in the streets, family-run restaurants, off-the-grid communities and the active lava flow, I felt compelled to visit. After all, how many Canadians can claim free accommodation in Hawaii in the middle of a lush rainforest?

When my husband and I descended on my dad’s white stucco bungalow 30 minutes from Hilo, we scoured the Island for one-of-a-kind experiences to keep our two teens occupied. Fortunately, we didn’t have to venture very far. Here’s a list of our top five Big Island finds.

Curious Critters It’s 6:30 p.m. and George and Fred are right on schedule. George chirps in a three-beat cadence as night falls. His partner in crime, Fred, begins belting out a two-beat rhythm. Then the whole crowd lets lose – gathong, gathong, gathong, a less interesting, but more regular beat.

Coqui frogs, stowaways aboard cargo ships from Puerto Rico, caused quite a stir when they reached the Big Island. “Almost everything that’s here was brought over,” said my step-brother Jim. “Rats came over with trade ships so they brought mongooses to eat the rats,” he said. But rats are nocturnal and mongooses are active during the day. My kids were mesmerized by the many mongooses running wild under towering Banyan trees.

Java Jolt On the way to Kona, we stopped at the Hilo Coffee Mill in Mountain View for a hit of caffeine. “Most people think only Kona grows coffee,” said Jeannette Baysa, co-owner. “We are bringing coffee back to the area,” she said. Hilo Coffee Mill helps small local coffee farmers produce and process their coffee crops and assists with marketing.

Juannette was our barista for the ‘cupping’ or coffee tasting offering us a medium roast from Ka’u with a mild smooth finish and some Kona coffee with a smooth acidic taste. Juannette referred to the pineapple cheesecake flavored coffee as her “Sunday morning in my pajamas coffee.” The kids enjoyed the chickens running wild in the yard.

The company’s roaster produces small batches, only 30 pounds at a time, and Baysa often consults with local chefs to create custom blends that match their menus.

Surfin’ Safari With only one day to spend in Kona, we were fortunate to find Surfer Bear – a seasoned instructor with a deep tan, bleach blonde shoulder length hair and tie dyed trunks. Surfer Bear took the girls out to Kahaluu Beach Park early in the morning when the waves were reasonably tame and the beaches less crowded.

The kids learned how to handle a board on land. Then it was into the water. Surfer Bear paddled out with the girls and selected suitable waves for them to ride, steadying their boards to create balance. After about a half an hour the kids were taking the waves on their own. It was a thrill to watch from the comfort of dry land.

Superior Snorkeling Located at the rear of a private vacation community, the Kapoho Tide Pools yield some of the best snorkeling on the Big Island. You won’t find concession stands or washrooms here. Just a parking lot where your car doubles as a change room. The pools, formed by black lava rock configured into catch basins of different sizes and depths, boast plenty of underwater nooks, crannies and caves to explore. Turtles, sea cucumbers, spaghetti worms, urchins and swirling schools of fish are all on display.

Lava Lake The Kilauea Iki Trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the site of the 1959 eruption of the Kilauea Iki volcano. We packed a picnic lunch and hiked across the black rock surface to witness steam vents releasing hot air into the atmosphere. The once molten lava lake had hardened into an uneven floor where chiseled black slabs are piled on top of one another to form hills and valleys. New foliage is emerging to replace the forest that once blanketed the area.

At the end of the trip we figured we could easily come up with five or more quintessential Big Island activities for our next trip, such as a visit to Parker Ranch to learn about the paniolos or Hawaiian cowboys, an evening at the Mauna Kea Observatory, and a tour of Volcano Winery. But that’s another story.

For more information on Big Island adventures, go to www.gohawaii.com/big–island.