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<table border=1 align="right">
  <tr>
      <td colspan=2 align="center">  <b><font color=4C18B4>Cuba</font></b>
  <tr>
      <td align="center">
<br>[[Image:CubaFlag_40_per_cent.jpg]]<br><br>
Flag
      <td align="center">
[[Image:Cuba_coa_smaller.png]]<br>
Coat of Arms


<!-- Matt - Go to the discussion page - Elín --->
<!-- [[Image:flag.jpg]][[Image:coatofarms.jpg]] -->
<!---flag link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Cuba.svg
coat of arms link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cuba_coa.png----->
  <tr>
      <td colspan=2 align="center"> Motto: Spanish: Patria y Libertad<br>
(English: "Homeland and Freedom")
  <tr>
<td colspan=2 align="center"> Anthem: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bayamesa La Bayamesa] (The Bayamo Song)
<tr>
<td colspan=2 align="center"> [[Image:LocationCuba.png]]
<!--- Link to Map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:LocationCuba.png -->
<tr>
<td> <b><font color=4C18B4>Capital</font></b> <td>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana Havana]<br>
23°8′N 82°23′W
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Largest City</font></b> <td>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana Havana]
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Official Language</font></b> <td>Spanish
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Government:</font> </b><br>
President of the <br>
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_State_of_Cuba Council of State of Cuba:]
<td>Republic <br><br>
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro Fidel Castro]
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Independence</font> </b><br>
- Declared from Spain <br>
- Cuban Republic declared<br>
- Date recognised in Cuba
<td>
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Years%27_War Ten Years' War]<br>
October 10, 1868<br>
May 20, 1902<br>
January 1, 1959
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Area</font> </b><br> - Total<br> - Water (%)
<td>110,860 km² ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_outlying_territories_by_area 104th])<br>
42,803 sq mi <br>
negligible
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Population</font> </b><br>
- 2005 est.<br>
- 2002 census<br>
- Density
<td> 11,345,670 ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population 70th])<br>
11,177,743<br>
102/km² ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density 73rd])<br>
264/sq mi <br>
 
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>GDP</font></b> <br>
- Total<br>
- Per Capita
<td> 2004 estimate<br>
$33.9 billion ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29 89th])<br>
$3,000 ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita 126th])
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Human Development Index</font> </b>
<td> 0.817 ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index 52nd]) - high
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Currency </font></b>
<td>Peso <br>
Convertible peso (see ~1~)
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Time Zone</font></b> <br>
- Summer (DST)
<td>EST <br>
(Starts April 1, <br>end date varies)
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Internet TLD</font></b>
<td> .cu
<tr>
<td><b><font color=4C18B4>Calling Code</font></b>
<td> +53
<tr>
<td colspan=2 align="center"> <font color=4C18B4>~1~</font> 1993–2004, the U.S. dollar was used in<br> addition to the peso until the dollar was<br> replaced by the convertible peso.
</table>


Check out the discussion board
Check out the discussion board

Revision as of 13:53, 7 May 2006

Cuba




Flag


Coat of Arms

Motto: Spanish: Patria y Libertad

(English: "Homeland and Freedom")

Anthem: La Bayamesa (The Bayamo Song)
Capital Havana

23°8′N 82°23′W

Largest City Havana
Official Language Spanish
Government:

President of the
Council of State of Cuba:

Republic

Fidel Castro

Independence

- Declared from Spain
- Cuban Republic declared
- Date recognised in Cuba

Ten Years' War
October 10, 1868
May 20, 1902
January 1, 1959

Area
- Total
- Water (%) 		110,860 km² (104th)

42,803 sq mi
negligible

Population

- 2005 est.
- 2002 census
- Density

11,345,670 (70th)

11,177,743
102/km² (73rd)
264/sq mi

GDP

- Total
- Per Capita

2004 estimate

$33.9 billion (89th)
$3,000 (126th)

Human Development Index 0.817 (52nd) - high
Currency Peso

Convertible peso (see ~1~)

Time Zone

- Summer (DST)

EST

(Starts April 1,
end date varies)

Internet TLD .cu
Calling Code +53
~1~ 1993–2004, the U.S. dollar was used in
addition to the peso until the dollar was
replaced by the convertible peso.

Check out the discussion board

Cuba

Introduction:

Cuba is the largest Caribbean island [16th largest island in the world :-) ]. Of its 11m inhabitants, 60% are of Spanish descent; there are also substantial African and mixed-race minorities. Spain colonised Cuba in 1512 and decimated its indigenous population of Arawak Indians. In 1898 the US occupied the country, but relations soured in 1959 when the charismatic Fidel Castro came to power. The ban on US tourism has its advantages: apart from the coastal resort of Varadero the island remains non-commercial, and the people genuinely friendly.

November is the start of the dry season in cuba. Temperatures are normally around 27 Celsius. We will also miss the peak tourist season (mid Dec. to mid-March, & all of July & August).

Things to do in Cuba, generally:

- smoke Cuban cigars

- take a ride in a Vintage american car

- stay in a 'casa particular' - a common phenomenon in Cuba - for locals to rent out a room or 2 of their houses for tourists, this is the best way to gain an insight into the country

- drink 'Mojitos' - 'just the ticket after a hard day on the beach, Cuba's quintessential cocktail, a refreshing concoction of rum, limes & mint'

Havana

The capital, Havana, with its colonial architecture and ostentatious 50s and 60s cars, is the biggest Caribbean city (pop. approx. 2.2 million) and the hub of Cuban nightlife.

We will spend a good 2 or 3 days in Havana.

Things to do in Havana:

- Fabrica de Tobaco Partagas - famous Havana cigar factory, offers a fascinating insight into the skills behind cigar making and lays bare some idiosyncratic Cuban working practices.

- La Guarida restaurant - where the excellent food is matched by Baroque surroundings,

- Visit Habana Vieja (old Havana) - including a visit to Edificio Bacardi - A slice of dazzling art deco architecture, the Bacardi family's pre-revolution HQ is a fitting place for to enjoy a Cubre libre

Other potential places to visit

Maria La Gorda - approx. 5 hrs drive from Havana - this seems to be the best place in Cuba for scuba diving. And also, you don't have to know how to scuba dive already!

Varadero - Fantastic beaches, and also good for scuba diving

Trinidad - a world heritage site, the country's most perfectly preserved colonial city, and also close to the beach & mountains.

Useful Links:

For practicalities - health, visas, climate etc. The Guardian

For geography, history & culture: Encarta

Wikipedia

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