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Visiting Santiago de Cuba

I really had no idea what to expect of Santiago de Cuba, afterall the next biggest city in Cuba is always overshadowed by Havana. So Santiago was going to surprise us - it could only leave a good or a bad impression right? We showed up in Santiago with no plan except a booked casa particular and hearing how super hot it is year round.

 

What did we learn? On one hand Santiago is a HOT melting pot with a completely different vibe to Havana that immediately draws you in like quicksand and on the other it's a cultural capital proud of the part it has played in Cuba's evolution.

 

With 40C (104F) midday temps there was time for siestas and many late nights out on the town. And if you're there in July, you're lucky to experience Revolution Day and their Carnival which lasts for over a week in Santiago.

 

Five days of relaxing and slowly exploring in and around Santiago we couldn't help but fall in love with this former colonial city. It may be more "modern" than Havana but has a charm of its own, from the beautiful colonial buildings, cathedrals and charming people to the music houses with some of Cuba's finest improv musicians.

 

We let Santiago surprise us and here's what we loved the most!

 

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Early morning walks through the streets, Santiago isn't flat so uphill streets made for a good workout with a reward of fantastic views of the harbour, port and surrounding Sierra Maestra mountains in the distance.

 

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There may be no grand celebrations on Revolution Day, July 26th, but everyone is glued to their television watching the televised speech by Castro and the government. Santiagueros (as the locals are called) are proud of their city's rebellious history.

 

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

 

Cuba may be popular for vintage cars but the trucks are equally impressive, especially these "uso particular" ones that are a popular form of people transport.

 

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

 

Jose Marti fountain monument with the early morning sun shining on it, is the perfect spot to people watch as Santiago woke up. It is directly across from the Moncada Barracks, the site of an armed attack by Fidel Castro and the beginning of the Cuban revolution.

 

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Casa de Diego Velazquez, the oldest house in Cuba and one of the oldest in the Americas, is a remarkable colonial building and historical museum and well worth the visit. It was built in 1516 as the residence of the founder of Cuba’s original seven towns and overflow with period furniture, carved woodwork and­ two lovely courtyards.

 

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

 

The famous music hall Casa de la Trova, has hosted nearly all legendary Cuban musicians and a stop in (to also hide from the heat if you go in the daytime) gives you a good appreciation of different styles of Cuban music as groups play different styles all day long - from salsa to guarachas to boleros.

 

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

 

About 18 kilometres northwest from Santiago de Cuba in the old mining town of Cobre, is one of Cuba's most famous churches - the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre. It's an easy day trip and getaway to this beautiful lush area outside of the city. The magnificent church with its red domed towers, is a pilgrimage site and attracts people from all over Cuba who come seeking the purported healing powers of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobra (Our Lady of Charity).

 

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

 

About 25 kilometres southeast from the city, another day trip we enjoyed was La Gran Piedra (Grand Stone) which is a large volcanic rock perched atop a mountain with some spectacular views of surrounding peaks and coastal plains. Some say on clear days you can see as far as Jamaica. It is worth the climb up the seemingly never ending set of stairs that leads up to the 1,234-meter-high peak of Gran Piedra for these breathtaking views before visiting the nearby old coffee estate and botanical gardens.

 

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

 

And without a doubt Carnival in Santiago de Cuba is grandly celebrated over a week of activities. We enjoyed being out each night enjoying the parades, creative floats, costumes, music and joining in with the locals too!

 

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Good insight into Cuba and its people.

They love their Fiesta celebrations.

And they're a very religious country too.

I wasn't expecting to see that when I first arrived.

Very proud Roman Catholic people and all attend church regularly.

Heart of gold. Most people have so little but  they want to share it.

Humbling experience.

Originally Posted by PortMoresby:

I'm amazed at the high temperatures.  Having spent time year round in the Caribbean, I never experienced such extreme heat.  I wonder if it's somehow a trick of geography? 

Even I was shocked, since I grew up in the Caribbean I figured it can't be that bad since Cuba is located higher up in the Caribbean too. But turns out Santiago is built on the edge of the bay and is surrounded by the Sierra Maestra mountains, this is the cause for the extreme heat and humidy especially in the Summer period.

Another way we're different, DrF!  I've tried extreme cold and will avoid in future at any cost.  I have, however learned to cope with heat - a chaise longue on a shady terrace, a good fan, a great book and I can be perfectly happy (see blog on A House in Bali for more information).  The key element is to not move, except when absolutely necessary.  So, I suppose the key to cold is to keep moving.  I prefer the former, but not conducive to touring.

Originally Posted by PortMoresby:

Another way we're different, DrF!  I've tried extreme cold and will avoid in future at any cost.  I have, however learned to cope with heat - a chaise longue on a shady terrace, a good fan, a great book and I can be perfectly happy (see blog on A House in Bali for more information). ...

As is a crackling fire, a comfortable chair, a cute puppy on my lap and sips of a warm cup of tea when it's nippy outside ......  It's much easier ( and feels better) to warm up from the cold than to try to cool down from severe heat.

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

Last edited by DrFumblefinger

While I love my seasons (and therefore do not want to retire to somewhere without them, even though right now I could do without winter), I would not consciously even think of going anywhere NEAR 40 or -40.

 

Maybe that's a new feature for Accuweather: Put in your preferences and your destinations and let it tell you "when to go."

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

Paul, I don't think most people purposely go somewhere where it's -40 or 40C, unless they have a specific reason to.  But if you're there and it happens, you make the best of it, right?  If it's hot you try to cool down and if it's cold you try to warm it. 

 

They beauty of our world is that we can use information about weather (eg. hurricane season) to make travel plans.  We still have tremendous freedom to go where and when we want.

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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