Cayo Largo, Cuba

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Cayo Largo is an island in the Antilles, cuban island, located in the extreme east of the Canarreos Archipelago. This small limestone island is 177km south from La Havana. It is also known as Cayo Largo del Sur and has 28 km long by more or less 3 km wide in its widest part. Tourists are attracted by its beaches of exceptional beauty and scuba diving sites. The beaches are almost all concentrated in the southern part of the island while there are only swamps and mangroves in the north. There is no inhabitant standing on the island. Local workers work mainly in hotels for a period of 20 consecutive days before returning home on another island (mainly on La Juventud Island) for a 10-day break. In November 2001, the island was entirely submerged by storm associated with Hurricane Michelle.

Tips

The all inclusive formula lets you enjoy several activities such as kayaking, equipment for apnea, pedalo, the scuba diving in the pool, etc. Of course there are also other activities that you need to pay. The nautical club of the hotels is Sirena Beach and the hotels include the transport to get there.
Some hotels also offer the use of a bike one hour a day, others have a net of volleyball on their beaches, others have free tennis courts for one hour per day.
Activities such as courses of basic Spanish and Latin dance are also possible.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina. Its inhabitants are largely of Italian or Spanish origin. Located on the west bank of the river “Rio de la Plata’ with Uruguay on the other bank. It has the largest port in the country with a nice walking aerea and new buildings, restaurants, luxury apartments, hotels, etc., known as Puerto Madero. Considered a tourist and cultural center famous for its nightlife, the most important streets are Corrientes and Florida, with many cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, boutiques, art galleries, etc. Its symbol is the Obelisk, which is in the intersection of Avenue 9 de julio (July, 9th) and Corrientes Avenue, marking the kilometer zero of the city. A neighborhood that is worth a visit is the Recoleta with its shopping area and quite expensive condominiums, with beautiful terraces and a cemetery where the most important people and families hold their mausoleums with many works of art made especially in marble.

Tips

Travelling by public transport and even taxi is cheap but you have to be patient because there are often traffic jams and protest marches, especially in downtown.

Get the SUBE card, rechargeable, to travel by subway and bus.

Please note, you need to make a sign with your hand to the bus to stop it or it will not do it at all.

The ‘remise’ is a safer and cheaper mean of transport than a taxi. There are small local companies with multiple cars and drivers that allow you to book your trip and with a simple phone call they will give you the price that will cost your journey, no surprises.

As Buenos Aires is a big city, plan a minimum of 3-4 days to at least see a little bit of it. For tango lovers, you will find several shows also with dinner included.

Cetona, Siena, Toscana, Italy

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Cetona is an Italian municipality of the province of Siena, in Toscana that since 2001 is included in the list of the most beautiful Italian towns. You can see Garibaldi Square in the middle of the town with an important palace with a notice saying Garibaldi and his wife slept there in 1849. You can also find two interesting churches St-Mary’s Annunciation that make part of the houses of the town with its rich interior artwork fating from the XIIth century and St-Michael’s Arcangelo just opposite it., founded in 1155. There’s also a stone fountain in the square. You can also find Rivellino Tower which is a vestige of Cetona’s wall of defence; actually, this tower is one of the entrance to the historic center. To see: the government building, the Holly Trinity church, the Monastery of St-Francis, the Civic Museum, among others.

Tips

If you visit Cetona in April, you’ll see a very beautiful festival Cetona in flower, on April, 25th. The square is full with blossoms and many private gardens are open for a visit. There are also different activities for the whole family.

Another interesting event takes place at the end of July-beginning of August with the Race of the Ceramic Pitcher where men and women take part or a race carrying water pitchers of different weights around the square and trying not to lose any water.

Enjoy going to the Belvedere Archeodromo, an outdoor park outside the town; it’s very interesting cause it’s an Archaeological Park. It’s good to visit with children.