CUBA - a step back in time!

a year ago i was asked what my dream destination was. my response? cuba! so when the opportunity arose, i jumped on it and knew i had to make this dream of mine come true! 💫 huge thank you to marimar travel and my amazing host for the week eduardo! 🙌🏾 they made the entire process a breeze! from visa application, to itinerary planning, and even some amazing recommendations! 🍴
we traveled through about 5 different cities, basically covering the eastern side of the island!
get ready for a lengthy read and tons of photos! 📸📝

we started off the trip in havana! we hopped in a 55' Buick and took the tour around the city. 📍 we hopped off all around and got to see so many gems all around old havana. one of the first stops we made was at la bodeguita del medio 🥃 (the birthplace of the mojito and was one of hemmingway's fav spots to hang!) it was PACKED with tons of people, all enjoying the live band and rum!
take a look at the gallery below to see some photos of the city!

after havana, the next city we moved on to was vinales! 🌄 we got to take in amazing views at the valley, which included an amazing mural. 🎨 i then got the opportunity to meet a tobacco farmer and get a closer look at what life is like for a cuban tobacco farmer. 🌱 this man and his family were some of the most humble people i have ever met. such a dedicated man, with a son that was so content with the simple life. ♥️ it was definitely kind of a culture shock. from seeing kids in america with phones at 10 years old, to now seeing his family here in cuba fulfilled with so little. super thank you to this family and my tour guide for allowing this experience to be an amazing one. 🙏🏾 forever thankful! take a look at the typical farms and houses below!

for the last part of the trip we headed to the beach! 🌊 varadero was such a beautiful city! very cancun-esque! blue waters and soft sand! 🤩 i stayed at melia varadero - cuba! 🏢 an all-inclusive resort, complete with a private beach and tons of restaurants! as soon as we had free time at the resort, i went down to the water! 🙌🏾 (funny story: i planned on swimming in a different outfit, but when i put my feet in to feel the water, i got SOAKED by a wave! 😭 so, i dropped down, told my man to grab the camera, and we just went with it! LOL!)

overall, this trip was definitely a life changing one. ☝🏾 it has made me take on a whole new perspective. i've literally never experienced a country with such rich colors and incredible sights. 🌴 it was absolutely a once in a lifetime trip! being able to see these different cultures, connect with people from different backgrounds, and listen to so many languages is what keeps inspiring me to travel and share my experiences.

here's to more! - c