| The iron hand rule of Fidel Castro has not | | | | to build a society of fun-loving, musical people. |
| obliterated the charm and exquisite beauty of | | | | Recognized by the international community for |
| Cuba, the largest and most western island of the | | | | the richness and variety of its popular music, |
| West Indies. Known for the finely textured Cuban | | | | Spanish Andalusian, French, and African music |
| cigars, technically gifted boxers and baseball | | | | have created a special blend of rhythms and |
| players, political defections, its communistic ideals, | | | | melodies that constitute the Cuban trademark in |
| Fidel Castro, and the non-Cuban Che Guevarra's | | | | such musical forms as the chachachá, |
| underlying role as a revolutionary pop culture hero | | | | rumba, and salsa. One of the most influential |
| that helped Cuba instill its Marxist foundation. | | | | sources of Caribbean popular music, its infectious |
| An archipelago or group of islands, Cuba's fertile | | | | African drumming and rhythms have inspired |
| soil and abundant sugar and tobacco production | | | | dance and song that has made Cuban music |
| made it the wealthiest island of the Caribbean. Its | | | | popular throughout the world. |
| culture and traditions are a product of its varied | | | | Many Cubans have grown into fine tuned athletes |
| ancestry being a former colony of Spain which | | | | fuelled mainly by discipline and strict work ethic. |
| ruled the island for 400 years. A tourism haven, | | | | Sports play a major role in the early life of young |
| Cuba offers a good mount of places with | | | | Cubans; it sows in their minds the seeds of |
| significant historical value and importance. | | | | patriotism. It is also particularly a nice way for an |
| Havana, the capital city, although one of the | | | | expatriate to begin his relations by joining natives |
| oldest cities in the western hemisphere, has a | | | | in playing baseball, which is a favorite pastime |
| modern section and is the largest city in the West | | | | among Cubans. |
| Indies. It is particularly one of the places most | | | | After years under communist/socialist rule, the |
| visited by foreign tourists and backpackers. In | | | | Cuba of today has risen to become an excellent |
| spite of the seemingly hard and repressed | | | | place to live in. Its traditions have been well |
| individuality prevailing in Cuba due to the | | | | preserved, arguably or in part, because of |
| government's socialist philosophy, tourists still | | | | Castro's steadfast commitment to meld Cuba's |
| cannot resist the edifying experience it brings and | | | | past with its present in order to prepare for the |
| its Eden-like nature. | | | | future. |
| Its rich mixture of people and customs enabled it | | | | |