My first solo trip to Cuba started out as a way to jostle things up.

My life had taken an unexpected hard right turn 10 years earlier, and I still hadn’t found whatever alternate direction the universe had in store for me.

I figured travelling on my own, to a place vastly different than my home country of Canada, would be a great way to crack open the pod and toss myself out of my comfort zone into the unknown. Maybe it would help me find my way, maybe not. But I’ve always loved stepping off the beaten path when I travel, interacting with local people and connecting with different cultures. The thought of going it alone for the first time ever – deciding where to go and what to do without compromise – was very appealing to me.

My original plan was to backpack around the western end of Cuba, spending a couple of days here and there to get a taste of local life in different cities and towns. That idea quickly gave way to slowing down and sinking in, because I realized it was a better way to understand and to genuinely connect with the culture.  I left Cuba two weeks later in a very different state than when I arrived.  Say what you will about the stunning beaches and the famous Malecón -- the Cuban people are, by far, the most fascinating aspect of this island and the only real conduit past what you see in the marketing material.  

They’re generous despite their lack of stuff, skilled beyond reason at problem-solving, and decades of austerity don’t stand a chance against their ability to dance and sing and celebrate life.  They're also complicated and imperfect. They’re full of complexities stemming from an extraordinary history and an ever-challenging present, and they warrant a closer look. 

Local in Cuba is a work in progress. This site is meant to inspire travellers to engage with Cuban locals in their everyday lives in an effort to inch just a little closer to understanding them.

It takes time to grasp this place. I suspect it may be a perpetual learning curve. 

Travel slowly, dig deep and allow yourself to be changed.

- Kelly