Hi Charlie:

It's difficult to answer your questions directly, and most especially to avoid getting into politics.

Cuba has been my sole destination since 1998 when I first visited. There's something about the "atmosphere" of the island and it's people that is most captivating. I'm NOT a resort person, but spend my time wandering the island and especially Havana. I stay in Casa Particulars (Bed & Breakfast) private accommodation and have always felt very safe travelling in Cuba.

If your interest is architecture, I'd highly recommend Havana and also Trinidad as two of the best cities I have visited. Also I hear (though I've never been there yet) that Santiago de Cuba at the island's eastern end is also has great architecture.

In Habana Vieja (Old Havana) there has been a concerted effort over the last decade to preserve and restore much of the old city. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and while much is restored, there remains much still to do. Also Trinidad on the southern coast is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been nicely restored.

As to cleanliness and poverty in Cuba, I will say that it is no better and no worse than many of the other cities of Central and South America that I have visited. I wouldn't call it "minimal" nor is it in your face in many areas. But there are indeed areas of any city or country that have quite depressing poverty. But without doubt, it is much safer IMHO but again, I wouldn't walk down dark alleys at night. With a modicum of common sense, you'll be totally fine in Cuba.

To give you a little idea of what to expect, feel free to check out my website at.....
http://photopilot.tripod.com

It doesn't have any Trinidad images yet (just got back from a 17 day trip) but it does offer you many views of Havana and some other areas along with full descriptions of what you're looking at. It's a free-hosted website to bandwidth is limited and if you can't get in today, try again tomorrow. Depends on how many people view the site.

Cuba is definately a place that is unique to visit, though somewhat of a dichotomy due to the last 45 years of politics and embargo. It's like stepping back in time to the 1950's as if nothing has changed, though with some more modern touches.

I've always enjoyed myself and look forward to my next trip.

Steve

We were fortunate to be able to go to Havana for the international Jazz festival a couple years ago. It was a wonderful and memorable trip. As an American, I never thought such a trip would be possible, but we managed to go with a group as a 'cultural exchange'. I think such trips have now been stopped by the Bush administration.

I found Havana to be a very safe city. There are quite a few tourists in the old part of the city, and many police. As a tourist, you will be very safe, but it's somewhat disconcerting to watch the police stop someone (local) and demand to see their papers. I have no idea whether those checks were random or they were looking for someone.

The architecture is beautiful, but there is so much that needs to be done and I fear that many of the buildings will collapse before they can be restored.

We stayed at the Parque Central Hotel, which really was like staying in a city hotel any where. It has a rooftop pool and the views of the central part of the city from there were pretty amazing. Sitting around that lovely pool, and right across the street I could see rooftops where if you walked too close to the edge the roof/ceiling was gone and I'm not sure how far you would fall in. The entire central business area appears grey, even with a color camera, they look black and white. It didn't help that we took pictures on a cloudy day.

That said, it's an amazing city. Very little traffic. We were all over on various tours, and there aren't even many stoplights.

I would love to go back, hopefully the US will relax their travel restrictions soon.

There was just a very informative article in the NY Times about Cuba. Here's the link, you may have to register to view.

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/travel/27cuba.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1133289475-ZKjL/d+jfwmNu2iK9HI+ww

Hi Charlie,
if you are interested in architecture you should also go to Cienfuegos which is beautiful and has very well restored colonial buidings with a French influence quite different from Havana and Trinidad. I would suggest renting a car and driving from Havana down to trinidad stopping along the way. Also stop in Remedios which is less touristy and almost as good as Trinidad with its little cobbled piazzas. It is a beautiful safe country and in recent years so much has been done to preserve the buidings that it is really worth visiting. There is nothing comparable to Cuba in the Americas architecturally speaking. Wherever you go try and stay in the old restored hotels or b+b's rather than in the new canadian or spanish owned chain hotels which could be anywhere. Good luck!