Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/370921
(top) mischa oak a commanding view of the harbour, and the nearby Yacht Club, now a restaurant. Asked to choose between a road trip to Playa Giron (the Bay of Pigs) or a visit to a nearby beach, Panorama's passengers vote for local colour. Rancho Luna Beach turns out to be a bustling, well-worn location popular with Cubans as well as tourists. But a casual 45-minute seaside stroll from the parking lot sheds the crowds and offers a glimpse of the Escambray Mountains to the east. Our last stop is the central Cuban town of Trinidad, and in keeping with the cruel axioms of travel, our morning arrival in the nearby fish- ing village of Casilda is lit up by the most mem- orable sunrise of the entire trip. Trinidad, a UNESCO site and the so-called "Museum of the Caribbean," is even older than the other Cuban cities we have visited and celebrated its 500th anniversary in January 2014. Here the cobble- stone streets are treacherous and we spend as much time watching our step as taking in the views of the Palacio Cantero, Palacio Brunet and Casa de Alderman Ortiz, all former private fam- ily homes built with the proceeds from slavery and sugar cane, and since converted to muse- ums and an art gallery, respectively. On our departing bus ride northeast to the airport in Varadero – marked with a thick blue dotted line on Lissett's wall map to suggest the road is not exactly the Trans-Canada Highway – we pass several sloganeering billboards, although we have encountered surprisingly few since our arrival in Cuba. "End injustice. Liberty now," states one. "With a loud voice: socialism!" declares another. "One can always do better," proclaims a third, attributed to Fidel Castro. This last message is a positive sentiment we can easily agree with, but for us this week has been very good indeed. GP Exclusive travel tips from CAA Spice it up. "Many people think Cuban food is spicy, but it can actually be really bland because everything there is home-grown and nothing is imported from the U.S. So for those clients wanting more fiery food, I always recommend bringing your own spices from home." –Selena Harrison, CAA Travel Consultant Visit Selena at our St. Anne's Service Centre for more insider tips on visiting Cuba. Touring Tips All-inclusive resorts offer controlled, self- contained experiences in Cuba. Here's what to consider if you journey beyond. • Identification Carry your passport at all times. Nothing sinister here: you just never know when you will be asked to produce it. • Transportation Try a horse-and-carriage or a cute, three-seat cocotaxi for sightseeing. Taxis are best for longer drives, but secure an authorized Cubataxi to avoid being overcharged. • Dress Wear long pants in the winter months when the winds blow. Cubans do, and so should you. • Money Convert Canadian dollars at a CADECA (Casa de Cambio). There are two currencies in the country: the Cuban Peso for residents, and the Convertible Peso (CUCs) for visitors. You want the convertible version, which is roughly one peso to the dollar. • Shopping Buy souvenirs and liquor at state-run stores, and cigars at specialty shops known as La Casa del Habano. • Liquor Buy Cristal if you like your beer light, Bucanero for a heavier flavour and kick. Havana Club is a justly famous rum, but Cubans prefer Santiago de Cuba. • Panhandlers/Street Hustlers A simple "No, gracias," said with a smile will persuade the few street people who might pester you to move on. –R.S. Horse-drawn carriages in Havana.