Cuba

In 2017, went to Cuba with my son Kenan! We had such a blast traveling to this quirky and cool destination. Here was our itinerary with Cuba Adventures Travel:

Day One:

Took a private walking tour of Old Havana with our guide. Checked out the art, architecture, cultural, history, and took lots of photos.

We visited the four main plazas of Plaza Vieja, Plaza de las Armas, Plaza San Francisco and Plaza Catedral

Afterwards, had lunch at a café with University of Havana political science professor, and continued to explore Parque Central, Museum of the Revolution and Havana Fine Arts Museum. 

Had dinner at one of Cuba’s top paladares (“Paladares” – private, family-run restaurants that have fueled rapid growth since 2008 in Cuba’s middle class through entrepreneurship) and after dinner took in the Tropicana Nightclub show.

Day Two:

Took a Classic American car tour of greater Havana – 1 hour ending on the Malecon

Visited the “Embarcadero,” Havana’s social gathering place, with a brief walk to the iconic Hotel Nacional, HQ of the Cuban Revolution, home to the Mob, Mafia, international movie stars and glitterati through Havana’s “Roaring ‘50’s”

After lunch, visited the Havana community of Jaimanitas for a walking tour through “Fusterlandia,” neighborhood ceramic art project of “The Picasso of Cuba” Jose Fuster and checked out another Paladar for dinner. 

Day Four:

Took a boat ride across the Harbor to deliver gifts of badly-needed OTC medical supplies and children’s medicines to the community of Regla.

Austria

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São Tomé and Príncipe

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Hungary

Went to Hungary with my father in 1997, as part of a 12 day GATE 1 tour through Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary, and also visited this lovely city in 2009 with my MBA classmates from the University of Tennessee. Dad and me in 1997 from high up on...