Varadero, Cuba

Posted on November 13, 2010

Varadero is a resort town about 140km east of Havana. Heavily commercialized and tourist-oriented, it is not a place to be if you want to learn about Cuban life. But it is a good starting point for me to get the first impression on the country, providing a soft-landing for someone whose life revolves around the Internet and suburban lifestyle.

It worked. Quite well. Now – why did I get on the plane back?

A bridge connecting the hotel we stayed at to the beach, forming a “passage” to paradise.

Pedal and sail boats available free for hotel dwellers.

The ruins of La Calavera (The Skull), one of the first salt works constructed by the Spanish in the New World.

Traveling on a coco taxi, a yellow three-wheeled motorbike.

On the main street of Varadero, Avenida 1ra.

A typical home in Varadero.

No trip abroad is complete without a trip on a bicycle. It was my first time using coaster brakes, which took some time to get used to.