Santiago de Cuba

Our final stop was in Santiago de Cuba, home of "son" (salsa music), "ron" (rum) and "revolución." Santiago is also the second largest city in Cuba and was the country's capitol until the late 1500s. 

Physically closer to other Caribbean islands than it is to Havana, Santiago's African influence is especially apparent in the local music, which gave birth to what we know as salsa. Desi Arnaz and several musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club were born in Santiago. 

Fidel Castro is buried here, as is his hero José Martí, the "Apostle of Cuban Independence" and author of the poem "Guantanamera" on which the popular (and ubiquitous!) song is based. 

And if that's not enough, San Juan Hill, the site of Teddy Roosevelt's famous charge during the Spanish-American War, is also located here. We took a 3-hour bus tour of the city, but could have easily spent another day absorbing the culture and tremendous history of this fascinating place.

The balcony from which three popes--John Paul II (1998), 

Benedict XVI (2012), and Francis (2015)--all addressed the

Cuban people

Mid-century architecture right next to early European

Shrine to son musicians

And the chair Paul McCartney sat in when

he came to hear the music of Santiago in 2000

Surprise salsa dance performance!

And wonderful live music!! Taken 10 minutes before Tim 

and I got up and danced.

San Juan Hill, where Teddy Roosevelt and the

Rough Riders helped win what the Cubans, by law,

call the Spanish-American Cuban war

Our final fort, El Morro, and final view of Santiago.

Adios, Cuba, y hasta luego!