Hot and steamy - languid and relaxed - Cuba has its own rythm ( music called "son") and its own unique way of life. Cuba has been on my 'places to go - with conditions - to go' list. In this case, I wanted to go to Cuba before Fidel died.

They said that Cuba would significantly change when he passed on - but the smooth transfer over power to his brother Raul - seems that perhaps it won't be as dramatic as previously thought.

So in the end a month's trip was pared back to a measly two weeks - but it was a taste.

La Habana - a step back in time

Out into the country: Vinales & Trinidad

Cuba is famous for cars and cigars - here is one of the old classics in trinidad.

I paid a dollar for this photo taken on an old fashioned glass plate camera in front of the grand Capitolio. Cuba has the surreal air of Russia and those Central Asia nations - perhaps its communism - but this grand monument and art gallery - also had an internet cafe inside - which I frequented with more regularlity than I wanted.

Copyright Ariana Svenson, 2005 - Comments and enquiries, please email us.