Soltura Cuba Travel Blog

Written by Sophia Bass, translated below by Izzy Valdés The first time I traveled to Havana, I immediately noticed a variety of artistic expression throughout the city. From local art markets and galleries to murals, I wanted to learn the story behind Cuba's innovative art scene. I quickly learned of the Muraleando Art Project founded by Manuel Diaz Baldrich and Ernesto Quirch Paz in 2003. Founder of Soltura Cuba Travel, Ian Sergeant, assisted in funding the creation of the project through the not-for-profit organization, Cuba AyUUda.  Situated on the outskirts of Havana, the project has transformed an area of rubble and destruction into a thriving art collective. The goal of Muraleando is to bring children off the streets of Havana and inspire them to contribute to a community project. In a country where nothing is disposable and everything is useful from telephone wires, iron, to old typewriters, artists in Cuba sought an opportunity to utilize these materials and create s...

Written by Allison Viaja  Dear Momma, I have run the Malecon at sunrise, talked politics with people from around the globe in front of kitchy Trump art nuevo at Fabrica de Arte , whose line stretches 1,000 people long, but which the gift of a VIP card allowed me to bypass. I've biked 40km through fishing villages along the northern coast with doctors from Belgium, and free climbed the magotes of Viñales . I've sat 3rd row center at the Cuban National Ballet and been reduced to tears. I've been paraded around cobblestone streets in a horse drawn carriage while men yelled, "You're beautiful!," and "I love you!" up to me like adoring subjects. I've refreshed my salsa skills on crumbling rooftops to sunsets that last longer than my legs do, and to the music of everyday life. I've scuba'd the Bahia de Cochinos and played dominos in the streets of Havana, smoking cigars with men 10x my age and been schooled and taught a thing or two r...

Written by Sophia Bass, translated below by Izzy Valdés. If you're traveling to Cuba in 2018, you may want to learn about the recent election that occurred on March 11th. Cuba's election  will open a final chapter of the Castro era. This is the first time in nearly 60 years that a member of the Castro family will no longer be in charge of office. As President Raul Castro will be stepping down in April of 2018, this election marks a critical time in history for Cuba as a nation. President Raul Castro will continue as the head of the Communist Party after stepping down from office. "They're the most important elections of recent years, because we are going to vote for new people who will govern from then on," day-care center guardian Ramon Perez told AFP news agency in  Minute by minute: General elections in Cuba (II) . Thanks to special polling stations, every Cuban eligible to vote was able to participate in the voting process wherever they were in the n...

Written by Sophia Bass A younger generation of Cuban artists are beginning to express newer social conditions through graffiti art in Havana. These works of art are touching on the shifting social and political views that are straying away from Communism. Some would say that newer demonstrations of Cuban art are symbolizing growing independence and materialism on an island that has been isolated for decades. Graffiti began emerging under President Raul Castro in the last few years. As the Caribbean nation has slowly relaxed some of it's communist views and become more influenced by international culture, there has been a rise in Cuban street art. Cuban artist, Yulier Rodriquez states, "I want to create a social conscience with my work, an awareness about what we are turning into." His alien like creatures with malnourished limbs and heads, touch on the state of the Cuban people. Although Cuba has began to transform in recent years, Rodriquez expresses concern that Cub...