Most people picture Cuba in colours first, faded buildings in Havana, turquoise water in Varadero, old American cars in every shade imaginable. But what stays with many visitors, including myself, isn’t what they see, It’s what they hear.
Part of Cuba’s charm, especially when it comes to its large cities is that it’s noisy. But in a way that feels alive rather than overwhelming. Music drifts out of open windows. People talk across balconies. Dogs bark, children play, and cars rumble down the street with engines that seem older than some of the buildings around them.
In Old Havana, it can feel as though there is always something happening just around the corner. You might hear a trumpet being practised from an upstairs flat, then turn a corner and find a group of men deep into a game of dominoes, laughing loudly enough for half the street to hear. One of the most striking things about Cuba is how naturally music fits into everyday life. In many countries, live music is something you plan for and buy a ticket to see. In places like Havana and Trinidad, it’s much less formal. Small bands play in cafes and bars, and it’s common to hear, jazz, rumba or Son Cubano spilling out into the street in the evening.
The atmosphere changes when you leave the cities. Vinales Valley, for example is far quieter. Horses move along dirt roads, roosters crow, and the wind moves through tobacco fields beneath the limestone hills, and tobacco farmers work the fields.
What makes Cuba stand out is how public life is. Unlike much of the world, in Cuba, people spend time outside. They talk, play music, and gather along the Malecon in Havana to watch the sea, dance and share a drink.
Long after the trip is over, many travellers find they remember Cuba through its sounds as much as its sights. The music, the voices, the engines, and the sea all blend together into something unmistakable.
Love Cuba are officially the UK’s leading Cuba tour operator. Crowned Cubas leading tour operator 2 years in a row at the World Travel awards, and 7 times British travel award winners, there’s no one who knows Cuba better. For more information on Cuba holidays please give our friendly team of Cuba specialists a call on 0207 071 3636 or e-mail us today enquiries@lovecuba.com.
