Knopf Guide: Cuba

by Knopf Guides

• ISBN13: 9780375706585
• ISBN10: 0375706585
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2000-09-01
• Publisher: Knopf

Summary

TheKnopf Guide to Cuba, a close-by but long forbidden destination now open to Americans, takes the reader to a country with a turbulent and colorful history -- from its discovery by the Spanish in the 15th century to the revolution of 1953-67 to the politics ofthe 90s. The 2,000 color illustrations highlight the dramatically varied terrain from savanna to rainforest, the rich wildlife -- avian or underwater -- as well as such exotica as the popular cults that originated in Africa. The Latin music and dance and the spectacular architecture, whether religioous or colonial, are all aspects of the co-mingled European and Cuban culture that has so fascinated travelers. With the Knopf Guide, explore the local cuisine, customs such as carnival and Cuba's celebrated exports like rum and cigars. Eight detailed itineraries take the reader all around Havana from old Havana and its two showpiece squares, Plaza de Armas and Plaze de la Catedral to the Partagas cigar and tobacco factory to Plaza Vieja where local wealthy merchants once lived. From there, explore the west of the island, the province of Pinar del Rio, the verdant tobacco heartland, with rounded limestone mountains and dramatic scenery; to the north where fashionable Varadera resembles Miami Beach and Cardenas is home to the celebrated Museo de oscae Maria de Rojas devoted to Cuban coins, weapons, shells, butterflies and pre-Columbian art; to the center of Cuba is the site of the Bay of Pigs; or the East to Santiago, Cuba's second largest and most exotic city at the foot of the Sierra Maestra mountains. Portable, practical and lavishly illustrated, the guide also includes information on getting around Cuba, finding the best restaurants, nightlife and cultural spots. And as always, there is a section on the region as seen by artists and writers.

Table of Contents

Front Map Sites of special interest
End Map The Republic of Cuba
Inside Flap Key to symbols
How to use this guide	02	(4)
Introduction to the itineraries	06	(1)
The authors	07	(8)
Encyclopedia section
Nature	15	(16)
The Cuban landscape	16	(2)
The savanna	18	(2)
The tropical rainforest	20	(2)
The pine forest	22	(2)
The swamp	24	(2)
The mangrove	26	(2)
The cayos and the coral reef	28	(2)
Ocean life	30	(1)
History	31	(16)
Chronology	32	(2)
The Indo-Cubans	34	(2)
Slavery	36	(4)
Jose Marti: national hero	40	(7)
Art and Traditions	47	(20)
Sugarcane farming	48	(2)
Processing the sugar: making sugar and rum	50	(2)
Music and dance	52	(6)
Popular cults of African origin	58	(4)
Carnival	62	(2)
`Montuna' chicken	64	(2)
Cigars and rum	66	(1)
Tobacco	67	(8)
Tobacco farming	68	(2)
Preparing the leaves	70	(2)
Rolling the Havana	72	(2)
Havanas, bands and vistas	74	(1)
Architecture	75	(18)
Town-planning programs	76	(2)
Fortifications	78	(2)
Religious architecture	80	(2)
The colonial house, development	82	(2)
The colonial house, layout	84	(2)
Colonial architecture, neo-classical style	86	(2)
Plantations	88	(2)
Styles of the Republic	90	(2)
Modern architecture	92	(1)
Cuba as Seen by Painters	93	(8)
Music and sensuality	94	(2)
The figure of the guajiro	96	(2)
African heritage	98	(2)
The Revolution	100	(1)
Cuba As Seen By Writers	101	(18)
Cuban itineraries
Havana	119	(32)
Plaza de Armas	122	(2)
The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales and the Museo de la Ciudad	124	(2)
Plaza de la Catedral	126	(2)
From the Plaza de Armas to the Plaza de San Francisco	128	(2)
Plaza Vieja	130	(2)
The Capitolio and surroundings	132	(2)
Fabrica Partagas	134	(2)
From the Parque Central to the Bay via the Prado	136	(2)
Public buildings of the Republic	138	(2)
The Malecon	140	(1)
The Vedado	141	(3)
Cementerio de Cristobal Colon	144	(1)
Plaza de la Revolucion	145	(1)
Miramar, the fortresses of Habana del Este and other municipalities of Havana	146	(2)
Ernest Hemingway in Cuba	148	(3)
Western Cuba: Pinar Del RIO Province	151	(12)
The Sierra del Rosario	154	(1)
San Diego de los Banos and environs	155	(1)
Vinales valley	156	(2)
Pinar del Rio	158	(1)
The Vuelta Abajo	159	(2)
Guanahacabibes Peninsula	161	(1)
The north coast of the de Pinar del Rio province	162	(1)
The North Coast, From Havana To Cardenas	163	(8)
Cojimar	164	(1)
Playas del Este	165	(1)
Mantanzas	166	(2)
Varadero	168	(2)
Cardenas	170	(1)
Central Cuba	171	(26)
Cuba's rural provinces	172	(2)
Cienaga de Zapata National Park	174	(2)
The Bay of Pigs	176	(1)
Cienfuegos	177	(3)
Trinidad	180	(4)
The Palacio Brunet and the Museo Romantico	184	(6)
Valle de los Ingenios	190	(1)
Sancti Spiritus	190	(1)
Santa Clara	191	(1)
Santa Clara, Che's memorial town	192	(2)
Remedios	194	(1)
From Moron to Cayo Guillermo	194	(1)
Camaguey	195	(2)
Oriente	197	(26)
Holguin	200	(1)
From Guardalavaca to Banes	201	(1)
Sierra Maestra	202	(2)
Bayamo	204	(1)
Manzanillo	205	(1)
Santiago de Cuba	206	(4)
The Casa de Diego Velazquez and the Museo de Ambiente Historico Cubano	210	(8)
Nuestra Senora del Cobre	218	(1)
Parque Baconao	219	(1)
Guantanamo	220	(1)
Baracoa	221	(1)
Around Baracoa	222	(1)
Archiepelago Des Canarreos	223	(42)
Nueva Gerona	226	(1)
Around Nueva Gerona	227	(1)
From Punta del Este to the Hotel Colony	227	(1)
Cayo Largo	228	(2)
Practical information
Preparations	230	(2)
Getting around Cuba	232	(2)
Staying in Cuba	234	(2)
Entertainment	236	(1)
Nightlife	237	(1)
English-Spanish glossary	238	(1)
Festivals and cultural events	239	(1)
Places to visit	240	(6)
Hotels and restaurants	246	(8)
Bibliography-discography	254	(2)
Table of illustrations	256	(4)
Index	260	(5)
MAP SECTION	265	(11)
A-B-C Cuba
D Havana
E Central Havana
Index of Havana	276