Havana, Cuba - Walking along the Prado

by Walt Hollander
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

I was hooked the first time that I encountered a few Cubans in my native country of Canada. Their stories about life in Cuba attracted me and gave me the desire to visit their country.

I reflect on the mindset that brought me to this colorful, and exciting place. I sit on a bench on the Prado, a pedestrian boulevard that doubles as a park; it links important parts of Old Havana, providing an enjoyable means of getting around on foot.

I hear music coming from strategically placed speakers. Prado is full of people of all ages, from vendors displaying their own crafts -- photos and paintings -- to passersby, school children, and tourists. I'm enchanted by the happy play of girls skipping rope.

As I watch, a dance performance group assembles. Young girls in vivid costumes. They exhude rhythm and expression; they are a perfect represention of the vitality I see displayed by the Cuban folk I have met.

I've fallen in love with this place, its people, and its culture. Read the details of my adventures in Cuba.