A - Z Challenge - S is for Santiago de Cuba. Happy Easter everyone!

Well, it's Good Friday here in Oz and I shouldn't be blogging, so this is on scheduled post. I won't be able to get around and comment back until Saturday, but I'll return your visit.

I see a couple of visitors chose Santiago in Chile, but no, today it's Cuba, that renegade state south of the US of A.

I'd love to travel to Cuba one day and I was reading a great book The Island that dared - Derula Murphy - on travel in Cuba recently, which contained the following story. I thought I would share it with you. A bit different to my usual posts.

Map of Cuba showing Santiago de Cuba Province

The Story of 'The Trio'

It happened one night in 1957. Soon after their father had joined Fidel Castro's guerrillas in the nearby mountains, three little girls were lifted from their beds by Batista's soldiers. Still wearing pyjamas, they were carried off to a military barracks to be held as hostages.

Graham Green, in Cuba at the time, reported this:

Next morning, I saw the revolution of the children. The news had reached the schools. In the secondary schools the children made their own dcision - they left their schools and went on the streets. The news spread. To the infants' schools the parents came and took away their children. The streets were full of them. The shops began to put up their shutters in expectation of the worst. The army gave way and released the three little girls. They could not turn fire hoses on the children in the streets as they had turned them on their mothers, or hang them from lamp posts as they would have hanged their fathers. What seems strange to me was that no report of the children's revolt ever appeared in Time - yet their correspondent was there in the city with me. But perhaps Henry Luce had not yet made up his mind between Castro and Batista.

A disturbing story. One I hadn't heard and will not forget. At least this time the children survived.

About Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba Province in Cuba is an area of 156.44 km 6 ² and population 1,043,202 people (2004). Administrative center of the province is the city of Santiago de Cuba. The city is the second largest city in Cuba.  The city Santiago de Cuba was established in 1515, first among the seven cities of Cuba, Santiago de Cuba is one of the most picturesque in the country. Due to its exceptional geographical conditions is the first capital of Cuba until 1556, when San Cristobal Announces De La Abano. Santiago de Cuba, capital of the province of the same name, is generally known for two features that make it unique city – its hospitable people with a lively informal temperament and rich historical and cultural achievements.

Situated around a huge bay on the Caribbean Sea and near the Sierra Maestra, Santiago de Cuba coexists with sea and mountain. This determines the climate, as warm and humid at the same time fascinates with its beautiful landscapes, rich combined with urban, marine and natural elements. In Santiago de Cuba are preserved historical values of the first house in America, the first cathedral in Cuba, the first copper mine opened across the American continent and the first museum in the country. Santiago de Cuba is the cradle of all musical genres in the country.

Magnificent carnivals are considered the most remarkable in Cuba. In Santiago de Cuba has an international airport. It is one of the most important and superb tourist hubs in the country with a magnificent hotel infrastructure on a beach, mountain and city. Santiago de Cuba is the only city – a hero in Cuba. So called because of its great contribution to the liberation population exploits. Cuba Travel is always very good, very beautifulo and will turn you back into the retro style of living.

I hope I can get me to Cuba one day just to see all those classic cars, hear the street music, look at all those beautifulo colours and meet those beautifulo people.

Meanwhile, where am I taking you for T? Oh, I can't wait!

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A - Z Challenge - R is for ROMA (ROME)

I love Italy nearly as much as I love France so I got to thinking, woh, you'd better do at least one post on the glorious, chaotic country, so I saved R for Roma.

Rome (hereafter called by its proper name, Roma, to get me in the vibe)  you either love or hate. I'm somewhere in between. It's Italy's madness encapsulated in a central position. When I first visited Italy in 2004 I drove down from Paris through various tunnels. I can still remember driving through Tuscany and just about pinching myself - boy, it was just like in the films and books. What glory! What majesty! I was transported.

The first book (but certainly not the last) I'd ever read on Tuscany was by Feranc Mate, who with his wife Catherine, an artist, travelled the world looking for their Utopia. They found it in Montepulciano, a medieval hill town in Tuscany. Their trip set me off on a wild Tuscan chase, where I inhaled the rich red wines of the region - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ...oh, but that's another story. Like Hannibal, let's get to Roma!

Being warned of the dire consequences of driving in Roma, we perched the hire car on a little precipice in a gorgeous medieval hill town, Soriano nel Cimino, 70 ks north of Roma. We were staying in a Palazzo once belonging to an ancient king, so we banded together with some friends we'd just met from Fort Lauderdale Florida and took the train to Roma. Now we'd been told to look out for pickpockets on the metro. Sure enough, one of our party got robbed of her wallet.

Chugging into Roma we had our faces out the window rhapsodising over all the old bits and pieces of bricks and aquaducts and ancient tunnels the Italians casually ignore, and stood up ready to hit Roma's soil, well, as soon as we could escape StazioneTermini. What a place!

'Do you wanna buy?' 'Here! Here!' For a quiet Aussie this was a bit of culture shock. How do you get rid of the pesky hawkers shoving cheap tacky Colosseums in your face?

'Buya this elephant and you'll have besta luck for many many year,' cried one. 'Buy or I'll set the Mafia onta you,' was the subtext.

Swatting hawkers like flies, we finally emerged into the ancient city and hit the tourist spots - The Spanish Steps, Victor Emmaneul monument, the Pantheon...All were amazing. (See at the end of post for the tourist trail.) Then we had to try the tucker, which wasn't half bad. Everything was loads of yeasty bread, thick melted cheese and tangy tomato paste/sauce/puree.

Victor Emmanuel Monument

Vatican City, St Peter's, (I never want to leave that St Pieta), buy a few Michaelangelo prints, more tucker. The piazzas, which one is this? Oh, this is where my Pat Conroy favourite novel Beach Music is set - Piazza Farnese - what are all these torched vespas doing here? When did that happen? Let's follow the da Vinci Code trail..,

Piazza Farnese, bathtub fountain (one of two)

The Trevi Fountain - 'Canna I taka your pitcher miss?' the urchin asks trying to snatch my camera from around my throat. 'Urk. Uhk. Lemme go little fella or I'll point the bone at ya,' I hiss. 'Here, I taka you pitcher with my camera. Then you can buy,' he says, trying to distract me while he tugged my trusty camera strap as hard as he could. 'Bugger off,' I say. 'Lemme go throw a coin in the fountain so I can come back one day.'  Give me the peace and quiet of the Australian Outback, I'm thinking...

Stazione Termini

(Rome's main railway station)

This is the center of railway system of Roma, as well as the cross roads of all public transportation in the city. The name ‘termini’ comes from the popular denomination of the word ‘terme’ meaning ‘baths’, from the nearest Baths of Diocletian. The architecture is characterized by the extremely long, modernist facade in travertine stone, and by the gravity-defying double curve of the roof. There is a Non-Stop train Service for the transport from the Fiumicino Airport to the Roma Termini and back. Located in the center of Italian peninsular, the Roman railway station was conceived as the center of all the railway junctions coming from north and south.

Spanish Steps

Designed between 1723-1726, these magnificent double steps combine straight lines, curves and terraces creating one of Rome's most distinctive landmarks. The steps lead up to the 16th-century church of Trinita dei Monti. Spectacular views over the city rooftops opening in front of your eyes more than warrant the steep climb (steep climb? Ever done the Cinque Terre?) The Spanish Steps acquired their name from the neighbouring Spanish Embassy. At the foot of the steps lies the boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain, designed in 1627 by Bernini.
 
Pantheon

The best-preserved ancient Roman structure in the city, built as a temple to the gods around 125AD and converted to a Christian church in AD608. It is marvelled at its domed interior with the oculus (9 meter hole in the center of the dome) which allows light and rain into the building. Inside you will find the tomb of the world-famous artist Raphael.
 
Colosseo (Colosseum)
 

Commissioned in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian the Colosseum is the most impressive and majestic amphitheater of Roman times. It was the scene for the Emperor and wealthy citizens entertainment where gladiatorial conquests between men (specially trained soldiers, slaves and prisoners), lions and wild beasts were held till the fifth century. The stadium has been pillaged over the centuries. Its rich marble facing stripped away to build palaces and churches and finaly it was rocked by an earthquakes. Now a mere skeletal framework of the former grandeur return us in time of ancient civilisations.
 
Trevi Fountain
 

Magnificent, mellifluous fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi and Leon Battista Alberti. In the middle of the scene is Neptune flanking by two tritons; one trying to tame an unruly seahorse and the other leads a docile animal, thus depicting the two contrasting moods of the sea. It’s said that if you throw a coin and make a wish, it will be fulfilled. It looks beautiful day or night.
 
Vatican City - oh my, why is there poverty in the world?
 
 

The Vatican is much more than the sum of its parts: It’s an organism that inspires and produces the very art and faith that then enrich it further—like a circular galaxy in a process of continuous expansion. —Gianluigi Colalucci

 
 
Well, I repeated the experience in Roma in 2008 and nothing much had changed. This time we travelled by train and organised a hotel behind a massive steel studded door 7 feet high and thick about 5 minutes from the craziness of StazioneTermini.  'Here, miss, buy this. Buy that!' They'd been waiting for me for 3 years! Why oh why did I throw that coin in Trevi Fountain?

A - Z Challenge - Q is for Queensland (of course!)

Before I get started on today's post, thank you to all who have visited my travel blog and left comments and to those who have followed. It has meant a lot to me. Since the A-Z Challenge began, I have upwards of 50 new followers and I thank you all. I hope you will continue to visit after the challenge. I've done my best to make the posts interesting and visual. At the moment I'm holidaying on the Sunshine Coast and it has been more difficult to visit everyone's blogs, but I've done my best to return comments and to visit a new blog or two every day.

So welcome to L'Aussie Travel and I hope you've learnt something new!

I know you'll forgive me for being a little parochial. Sure, there aren't that many places starting with Q, but I did want to do Quito in Equador, but how can I pass up the Sunshine State seeing as I'm Queensland born and bred? As you many have gleaned, I'm never happier than when I'm travelling, reading about travel, watching docos about travel, whatever, but my roots are firmly in Queensland.

This state of Australia occupies a quarter of the Australian continent and is called ‘The Sunshine State’ for good reason, it has pleasant weather the year round.

This is far longer than my usual posts 'coz I just couldn't stop once I started. I've put large text in salient parts so you can do a flick over what you want to read.  
 

Map of Oz with the States and Territories, with apologies to Tasmania who is often forgotten but Tassie is really a state of Australia!

Firstly, you may be wondering - how did we get that name? Well, unless you've just crawled from under a rock, or your school curriculum was completely skewed, chances are you know white people started life Down Under in a British colony. Where the Brits used to toss their convicts, many Irish. Well when Queensland was named, Queen Victoria was on the throne, so one thing led to another...

Queenslanders are the most laid-back of Australians, being further north we have a touch of the sun, so we don't ponder these finer points of our Empire stage, but when you start thinking about it what is going on here? Brisbane inner-city main streets have names such as Edward, Alice, Margaret, Charlotte, Elizabeth...and the centre of it all is the Queen Street Mall. Hmm. No cars, just lovely wide spaces, lots of entertainment, food havens, shops galore and many examples of Victorian architecture.

A view of the Queen Street Mall, or a small part of it.

Brisbane City Hall

Brisbane is a sophisticated multi-cultural city and capital of the state. Australia’s third largest city,has great restaurants as well as a varied nightlife. There are art galleries, movie and stage theatres, night clubs and cabarets.

Brisbane is a fabulous country-style city but there's a lot more to Queensland. Immediately north and south of Brisbane are our main beaches - Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast respectively. I have a home on the Sunshine Coast and escape there at every opportunity.

The Sunshine Coast

Queensland Coast - North of Brisbane: Just an hour’s drive from the city. Great weather, scenic countryside, idyllic beaches and a beach lifestyle beckons me every holiday (and we do have a LOT of holidays in Oz.)Extending up to Cooloola National Park, the Sunshine Coast has a varied landscape from the coastal areas to the hinterland.

With many areas remaining refreshingly unspoiled, and with beaches that rival the best in the country, the Sunshine Coast is a stunning example of contemporary coastal living.

Hmm, enticing?

Toward the northern end of the Sunshine Coast is Noosa. This aquatic wonderland is a favourite of the rich and famous who come to holiday on the beautiful Laguna Bay, staying directly on the beach. The surrounding Noosa National Park gives the whole area a feeling of peace and tranquillity. Noosa Heads (see my header photo!) is one of my favourite places to walk, eat and play.


The Hinterland areas of the Sunshine Coast are simply superb and in this case the rolling hills of Maleny and Montville are nearly better known than the coastal areas. With their quaint village atmospheres, incredible views of the valleys and amazing collections of art and crafts, they make a perfect day of sightseeing and browsing. Many B & Bs abound for a pampered weekend stay.

Green rolling hills, dairy farms and magnificent views to the Pacific Ocean -  the Sunshine Coast hinterland. I always go for a drive, visit the markets on top of the Range, and just chill.

This photo won a competition to show the iconic image of Queensland. Say no more...

The Eumundi Markets are on every weekend in the small township and are absolutely massive. I lived in my own little rainforest in Eumundi for 23 years, so I know it well. Stretching over what seems like half the town, you can find original local handcrafts, fine art and a bunch of other odd and interesting knickknacks. The street music and performers will keep you entertained while the food stalls, street cafes and traditional Aussie pubs will keep your hunger and thirst at bay.

Oil painting of the Glasshouse Mountains seen from Maleny.

Geographical landmarks include the striking Glasshouse Mountains that jut out of the surrounding landscape and whose heights take on a misty transparency against the sky. Many aboriginal legends abound on the creation of these unusual landforms.

Greater Queensland

Long, deserted golden sand beaches, islands of natural splendour, pristine rainforests, ancient volcanoes and home to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the gateway to the tropical north of Queensland. Located here are the World Heritage listed areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests. Whether you're looking for relaxation or adventure. The Whitsunday Coast and Islands - seventy four islands, eight of them have resortsm, some very exclusive where the Hollywood stars come out to play. Cruising the blue azure ocean is a wonderful way to explore this part of the world, the beaches are glorious, diving and snorkelling the Barrier Reef is a life long memorable experience.



Stretching for 2000kms along the Queensland Coast, the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 2000 species of fish and countless species of corals. Dotted with hundreds of idyllic tropical islands, much of it is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Park.

 Fell like scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef?

The glorious Whitsundays - hire a yacht and sail around. I've yet to gather up the courage. 

Although Queensland abounds in magnificent sun-drenched beaches and has many tropical and sub-tropical islands well worthy of a visit, if you ever manage to get here, try not to miss seeing the lush rainforests of the north or the stark, surreal beauty of the Australian desert regions.

A sketch of Queensland Country and the Outback

Bundaberg Coral Coast and Country

Is that a bottle of Bundy Rum or what?

Bundaberg Coral Coast and Country - Queensland Australia - known as the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with air travel and boat cruises to some 13 islands and more than 20 reefs.
Capricorn Coast QLD

Here there are beautiful rainforests, sapphire gemfields to explore, or venture out to the Great Barrier Reef or the popular Heron and Great Keppel islands.

Darling Downs

This vast agricultural region, just west of Brisbane and the Great Dividing Range has wonderful historic towns including Toowoomba, Queensland’s Garden City. The Granite Belt Wineries, some forty in all, are also here, most with cellar doors. Many of my family members hang out on the Downs.

Fraser Coast QLD

On Fraser Island the pristine beach stretches for seventy miles. A 4WD, fishers and camper's paradise.

Encompassing Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, the Great Sandy Strait and the coastal region surrounds of the Fraser Coast QLD. Fraser Island has gorgeous beaches including Seventy Five Mile Beach, sparkling fresh water lakes, multi coloured sandstone cliffs, Australian wildlife and plenty to see and do.

Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise QLD

The Gold Coast. Has a wonderful hinterland too.

South of Brisbane: The Gold Coast is extremely popular with Australians, with over 3 million visitors a year. Hinterland includes Tambourine Mountain where contemporary Aussie writer, Kate Morton pens her historical tomes.

The Outback

The Birdsville Hotel where they hold races once a year. Last year was flooded out and the rich and famous had to camp out for several weeks until they could get their planes out of the mud. The hoi polloi were stranded for up to two months. Not unusual in the Outback.

Wanna live here? Bit far from the beach for most Aussies.

The vast Outback of Queensland Australia has famous places like the Combo Waterhole, Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Boulia, the Birdsville Hotel, the Riversleigh site and the Simpson Desert. Queensland Outback Australia. (Well, just so you know you'll be hearing more about the Outback later...)

Well, that was a massive tour of a massive state, which is much larger than many countries. I think France fits into Austrlia 15 times, so a couple or three of France would fit into Queensland. But as you can see we are rich in beauty and culture.

A -Z Challenge - P is for Patagonia

Where is PATAGONIA you ask? It's in Chile. It's fascinated me ever since I read a novel (and I can't remember its name, but I remember its story) where the characters were flying over Patagonia. The descriptions were so vivid and intriguing it immediately came to mind when I had to decide on a P.

In PATAGONIA, the Southernmost part of Chile, the geography and nature emerge from the most extreme and spectacular forms that it is possible to imagine, adorned with breathtaking landscapes: a pristine concert of native forests, pampas, islands, fjords, channels, fast flowing rivers, lakes and lagoons, hot springs, majestic millenary ice fields and snowdrifts.


The Chilean Patagonia lies between the 41.5 º and 56 º latitude south. It is one of the most extensive areas of the country and yet the least populated: 1.3 inhabitants per square mile. The natural surroundings are practically virginal.

There are two sub-regions; the northern Aysen Region and to its south, the Magallanes Region. Aysen is home to Laguna San Rafael National Park and the Austral Road (Carretera Austral). The Carretera Austral has become one of the most important attractions in Patagonia because it allows you to enter into a territory that still is open to discoveries: Northern Patagonia with its large extensions of cold forests, national parks, glaciers, gigantic ice fields, lagoons, fiords, rivers, and lakes. It is an ideal territory for adventure tourism, fishing, trekking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, and observing flora and fauna in its most natural state.

The history of the southernmost point of the continent has always been linked to seamen and adventurers, frontiersmen and mythical native inhabitants such as the Patagones or “Patagonian Giants”. The Portuguese seaman Hernando de Magallanes (Ferdinand Magellan) arrived at the area in 1520 and baptized it with the name Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), after observing the bonfires the Onas or Selknam natives kept burning in their canoes to navigate by night and keep themselves warm. This is an area of vast indomitable landscapes, islands and channels that maintain their legendary characteristics of old.

So pack your Gore-tex, sub-zero-degree sleeping bag and head to chilly Patagonia. You'll see glacial peaks, active volcanoes, icy tundra. The Chilean side is Patagonia's lesser-visited: places such as Tierra del Fuego and the Torres del Paine promise adventure - imagine downing a Pisco Sour (grape-brandy cocktail) shaken with glacier ice. Something to dream of...This isa great blog site dedicated to the region should you be inspired to go or to read more...

Put yourself in the picture...