Luxe Beat Magazine Special Edition Put a Pin in It! | Page 28

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ny reason is a good reason
to visit Cuba. Maybe it’s the
island’s legendary music
that’s the allure. Perhaps
it’s the colonial architecture
and wonderfully preserved history
that offers the appeal. Or possibly,
the country’s political situation is
of great interest to you. Then, of
course, there are the people.
Comprised of a colorful melting
pot of cultures from Spain, Africa,
Asia and elsewhere, they represent
diversity at its finest.
Cuba has been a forbidden fruit
for Americans for more than a
half-century and the mystique
surrounding it has continued to grow
over the years. It has captivated our
attention and piqued our interest,
which is why I jumped at the chance
at visiting our neighbor to the south
when given the opportunity. The
main reason I decided to journey to
this complex country was to satisfy
a long held burning curiosity,
coupled with the sense of urgency
I felt in regard to unknown future
events. Put it bluntly: I wanted to
see Cuba before the Golden Arches
and Starbucks made their entrance.
For those Americans who want to
explore this unique destination, it’s
legally possible, but you still must
play by the rules despite the recent
thawing in relations between the
U.S. and Cuba. If you go, you will
need to participate in an
educational, cultural or religiousoriented program that fosters
people-to-people experiences,
operated by one of the dozen or
so companies that have licenses to
bring U.S. citizens to the country.
Though the idea of being on a tour
might deter you, know that it’s the
only way at present to get an
up-close and personal look at this
enigmatic and fascinating place.
I chose to join a music and artsthemed tour entitled “Jazz in
Havana” with Insight Cuba, a
non-profit organization that has
a stellar reputation for providing
quality programs. The company is
the most experienced provider of
licensed people-to-people Cuba
travel in the industry. It has sent
over 12,000 Americans to Cuba since
its inception in 2000 and is a pioneer
in this arena, offering a broad
selection of tours spanning the
country. My fellow travelers, twelve
total, were a diverse group, but
we shared one common quality –
curiosity – plus we all had Cuba at
the top of our travel bucket list.
It’s only a mere 93 miles from the

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U.S., yet Cuba is a world away. Leave
your Western certainties behind as
you travel to a land that seems
frozen in time, and where expecting
the unexpected is the optimal
attitude to embrace. Each adventure
you’ll have, and I guarantee there’ll
be many, from crazy midnight rides
with cab drivers who spend more
time practicing their English and less
time with their eyes on the road, to
wandering down shadowy alleyways
at night in search of unmarked
private restaurants, will serve to
increase your understanding, while
confounding your perceptions, of
this country.
The first thing you might notice upon
arrival are all the vintage Americanmade cars roaming the streets.
There are hundreds of these museum
pieces such as Chevy’s Bel Air and
Impala models, Ford Thunderbird,
Plymouth Belvedere and Mercury
Monterrey among others. They’re
vestiges from the 1950s when they
were brought into Cuba before the

style with the top down, hands over
their heads, as if they’re on an
exhilarating roller coaster ride. And
if there’s a catchy salsa tune playing
on the radio, even better.
You’ll be surprised to find that a
number of these classic cab drivers
are well-educated folks. One man we
met was actually a trained clinical
psychologist, who unfortunately
could not earn enough money at this
profession to support his family.
Another was a professor of sports,
who also had the same problem.
Driving a taxi provides a way for
these individuals to make ends meet,
as their previous jobs netted them
on average a meager $25 a month.
The second observat