Broadening my horizons

As a young person, I think it is incredibly vital to try and broaden your horizons – whether this be through studying, travelling or just learning about other cultures, it’s important to remain educated about these matters. Recently, I was lucky enough to travel abroad to the Caribbean country of Cuba. Although I was blessed with a wonderful holiday, I was not prepared for the amount of culture that Cuba also had to offer.

Cuba is one of the last-standing communist countries and as a result, their economy is not what one may call thriving. A vast amount of the infrastructure appears to be worn and neglected, however, the Cuban attitude that I was able to experience whilst I was out there proved that their work ethic is very strong. Cuban music is evident in most places that you visit on the island, creating a beautiful soundtrack for your journey.

I was informed by a tour guide that the Cuban tourism industry truly kicked off from the 1990s onward, in areas such as Varadero. Along with the tourism industry, Cubans also generate money through the rum, cigar and seafood industry. However, tourism is a popular industry to become involved with due to its likelihood for tips.

Before travelling to Cuba, I’ll admit that I was a little apprehensive for my safety. Although I have visited other Caribbean islands previously, I still felt a little cautious even though Cuba has one of the lowest crime rates in the Western hemisphere, but opportunist theft is still evident.

Infrastructure in Cuba appears to be damaged and weak, however this should not put anyone off from travelling to the Caribbean island. The warm-hearted people and beautiful sights (especially in the city of Havana and on the white sandy beaches of Varadero) are enough to curb any keen traveller’s doubts.

I truly feel that by exploring areas of the island I was able to take a glimpse into the lives of the Cuban people, which was incredible. To me, there’s nothing more intriguing that exploring the ways in which people live and enjoy themselves.