New houses in Santiago |
This is because it has yet to recover from the extensive damage done by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
In fact according to the Cuban hurricane organisation; "Reports from the area after the passage of Sandy spoke of widespread damage, particularly to Santiago de Cuba. Throughout the province, 132,733 homes were damaged, of which 15,322 were destroyed and 43,426 lost their roof. Electricity and water services had been knocked out, and most of the trees in the city had either been ripped off their roots or had lost all their leaves. "
Monument at General Maceo Plaza of the revolution |
These are just across from the 26 de julio museum and I had thought they were offices or some other type of official buildings until I saw the lady who works in the bathroom at the museum entering one and she told me she lived there.
Anyway, the historic districts are a must visit when you go to
Cuba as there is so much to see and learn.
On the other hand, the historic city centre is the only place I have ever seen beggars and persons pestering you to buy everything from tours to services, after four visits to Cuba.
However, the province of Santiago de Cuba itself is really beautiful, lush, expansive, with thousands of acres of healthy cane fields, billowing ranches where horses and cattle seem to roam without a care in the world while the looming, variegated and historically important Sierra Maestra mountains hover protectively on the periphery.
Anyway, the historic districts are a must visit when you go to
Cuba as there is so much to see and learn.
On the other hand, the historic city centre is the only place I have ever seen beggars and persons pestering you to buy everything from tours to services, after four visits to Cuba.
However, the province of Santiago de Cuba itself is really beautiful, lush, expansive, with thousands of acres of healthy cane fields, billowing ranches where horses and cattle seem to roam without a care in the world while the looming, variegated and historically important Sierra Maestra mountains hover protectively on the periphery.
Despite how depressing some of the city now looks however, I am indeed happy that we undertook the over 170 km ride from Holguin in our smooth running 1953 Chev (driven by Rashell) to once again visit that historic province which remains the home of so many Jamaican descendants .
Other memories
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