Preview Photographs of a Visit to Cuba

Elizabeth Weintraub at Palacio de Valle mansion in Cienfuegos, Cuba, patio of lions

It would be too easy to describe our visit to Cuba as a walk back in time (except that’s too lame), and say our hotels were pulled from the set of Hogan Heroes (I swear I slept in the dime-bouncing bed of Colonel Klink), from the cheap-ass shit furniture at Las Brisas Resort near Trinidad to the kitschy Parisian style and creaky plumbing pipes at Hotel Nacional in Havana, but none of that would paint the complete picture of contradictions that is Cuba.

Besides, my husband and I signed up for this particular journey. We wanted to visit Cuba before she became new and modern, but like the chrysalis metamorphosis of the caterpillar, that clock has already swung into motion. Below are previews of our visit to Cuba, with more to follow in subsequent days.

The Tocororo (Cuban Trogan) in Havana, Cuba, is the national bird of Cuba.

A wall of water sprays over the Malecon in Havana, Cuba

Castillo de las Nubes Castle (Castle of the Clouds) near Orquideario, Cuba

Elizabeth Weintraub at Fusterlandia at Playa Jaimananitas near Havana, Cuba

Conde de Villanueva, cigar lounge, sells hand-rolled cigars onsite in Old Havana, Cuba.

Orangey-red orchid buds at Orquideario near Havana, Cuba

Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub, shot with a Canon SX 50 HS