Cuba Pictures

After the landing of the Portuguese explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492, the population of the native Amerindians (American Indians) of Cuba began to decrease. The succeeding centuries of Spanish rule saw further decline in numbers. Several African slaves were brought over to work in the coffee and sugar plantations. Havana was the starting point for the yearly treasure ships traveling to Spain with produce from other Spanish colonies such as Peru and Mexico. Freedoms seeking rebels rose up in arms against Spanish rule but were immediately squashed by the militia.

It was not until the United States of America intervened on behalf of the native Cubans in 1898 during the Spanish-American War that Cuba finally became independent from Spain.

Four years later, in 1902, with the Treaty of Paris, Cuba gained independence from the U.S. and government was led by local military and unscrupulous politicians.

With the leadership of Fidel Castro, a rebel army took over government in 1959 and Castro became its president for almost five decades. His brother, Raul Castro, succeeded him in 2008 after he stepped down.

Cuba is an island in the Caribbean located between the North Atlantic Ocean (just off Key West, Florida) and the Caribbean Sea. It is the largest nation in the Caribbean and it is the Great Antilles’ westernmost island. The climate here is tropical though temperatures do drop when trade winds blow. Dry season is from November to April while the wet season is from May to October. The terrain is mostly flat with rolling plains and some mountains and rugged hills. Hurricanes frequently occur in the east coast of the country around August to November. Droughts occur often in the country in general.

More than half of the population is Caucasian, a fourth are mulattos and mestizos (half-breeds), and a small number are of African descent. The official language of Cuba is Spanish and most of the people are Roman Catholics even though it is a communist state.

Cuba’s capital is Havana and it is the largest city in the country. It is the most beautiful and oldest city in the west. Before the advent of communism, Havana had been a popular winter destination for tourists, particularly Americans. Buildings in the city are made of white coral limestone. The oldest part of the city is characterized by narrow streets, houses with overhanging balconies, and several historical landmarks.

Most of the city has been modernized with beautiful houses, parks, and plazas, with largest patches of greenery and tree-lined avenues. Large, ancestral homes had been converted into government facilities and student hostels.

In history, Havana had been a prime naval station by the Spaniards. Its harbors were excellent and strategically located and were used as the point at which Spanish trade ships, loaded with treasures for the Spanish king, docked. This made it attractive to Dutch, English, and French pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries. These sea-robbers often laid siege to the city, pillaging and robbing.

When the Americans occupied Havana after the Spanish-American War, the city’s condition improved. It once again became a commercial city, with its old buildings and facilities modernized and sanitation improved.

The culture of Cuba is a mixture of Spanish and African traditions. The rumba and the son are Cuba’s most distinctive forms of music as these sounds are a combination of the Spanish guitar and the African drum. However, folk music on the island such as the punto, zapateo, guajira are mainly of European influence.

Cuba is an island surrounded by sandy beaches and deep bays. Varadero, Cuba is a popular tourist destination as it is the home of the historic DuPont Mansion, an old while house located along the coast that has been converted into a restaurant. Nearby is the lone ancient Mayan figure sitting on the coast, seemingly keeping watch.

The island of Cuba has many things to offer tourists who want a taste of how life is in the tropical Caribbean. The music, cuisine, and the people are a mixture of all nations that have landed on the ports of Havana throughout the centuries. The Spaniards, the French, the Dutch, the English, and the Americans have all left their mark on the island and the best of all these countries have been blended together to form what is uniquely Cuban.

>> Other Travel Cuba Images Galleries <<

Cuba Gallery Travel Cuba Cuba Travel Photo Gallery

© Copyright www.mytravelimages.com All rights reserved