‘Cuba’
‘Cuba’ by Amy Rechner
1. Cuba is an island nation that covers 110860 sq.km of land. Havana, the capital, sits along the northwestern coast. It is 145km away from Florida to the north and Mexico is 217km to the west. Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies. Its neighbouring islands are Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, and Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
2. Cuba’s tropical climate is mild all year. Hurricanes are a yearly threat. Their strong winds and heavy rain are most dangerous from June to November.
3. Cuba is home to wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else. Rare bee hummingbirds live in Cuba’s dense forests. Manatees float through shallow freshwaters and coastal areas. Sharks and barracudas swim in the warm seas. Cuba’s national bird is Cuban trogon. Its red, white and blue feathers match the colour of the nation’s flag.
4. The official langauge spoken in Cuba is Spanish. Christianity is widely practiced in Cuba. Most people are Catholic but others are Protestant.
5. Cuban culture is a blend of the African and Spanish cultures. Singing and dancing are part of daily life for children and adults. Music is playing wherever people are together.
6. Almost three quarters of Cubans work in service jobs. People find work in the government, education and healthcare. Many work in tourism too. Farmers grow crops such as sugarcane and tobacco. Machinery and chemical products are often produced too.
7. Cuban food blends the strong flavours of Latin and African cuisines. The Cuban diet depends on beans and rice, seasoned with onions, garlic and peppers. Pork, root vegetables and eggs add variety to the dinner table. A favourite dessert is natilla, or vanilla pudding.
8. The biggest holiday is Revolution Day on July 26. Thousands of people gather in Havana and Santiago de Cuba for three-day street festivals. Around that same time is Carnival, an Afro-Cuban festival. Carnival began as a harvest celebration on sugarcane plantations.
Source: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/karin-kneffel-untitled-23
Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/renato-guttuso/cesto-di-frutta-WXI3D7YP6AYo1KXxX17nCA2
