Fodor's Expert Review Museo Playa Girón

Propaganda aside, this museum celebrating "the first rout of Yankee imperialism in Latin America" is a sobering testament to the harsh social conditions that provoked the Revolution, especially in this historically poorest part of Cuba, where there were no schools or hospitals pre-Revolution. The main focus is on the counterrevolutionary events after 1959 leading up to the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the story of the invasion itself. Particularly affecting are the photos of fallen Cuban soldiers, accompanied by such personal effects as photos of their families or an old-fashioned fob watch. There's also a 15-minute film to watch. For military buffs, a restored British Hawker Sea Fury plane, used by the Cuban Air Force, stands guard at the museum entrance. For an extra CUC$2, you can hire a guide to elaborate on the exhibits.