Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

282  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

concerts. The Holguín and
Santiago branches are
particularly active and host
cultural debates, art shows
and music shows, as well as
poetry readings.

Children
Cuba has plenty of children’s
playgrounds, including rather
basic fairgrounds in Santiago
and other major cities.
The most complete fairground
Live music and dancing at an intimate Casa de la Trova is Varadero’s basic Todo En
Uno, which has a tiny roller-
Casas de la Trova Faustino Oramas “El Guaya- coaster, carros locos (bumper
The traditional and intimate bero” Osorio performed. cars) and other attractions.
Casas de la Trova are clubs In some towns, traditional Nearby, Parque Retiro Josone
where people can listen to live trova activities are held in the (see p166) has a miniature train
music, dance or just relax over Casas de la Cultura, charged among its attractions for
a cocktail. First opened in 1959 with a more broadly based children. At the Delfinario de
in almost all Cuban provincial mandate to preserve traditional Varadero, daily dolphin shows
capitals, these were originally culture. In Baracoa and Sancti delight children; swimming with
places where older musicians, Spíritus, for example, they put these creatures is also permitted.
interpreters of traditional trova, on performances by repentistas Cuba has four other provincial
could perform and educate (improvisers). The Casa de la dolphin shows: at Delfinario de
younger people in their Cultura in Pinar del Río hosts Rancho Luna, near Cienfuegos;
musical skills. Today, Casas de perfor mances of punto guajiro, Delfinario Cayo Santa María,
la Trova are found in virtually country-style music centred located near Cayo Ensenachos;
every town and even in rural around improvisation. Acuario Cayo Naranjo, at
villages and are usually the A less touristy alternative to Guardalavaca; and Acuario
most important musical the Casa de la Trova is the Casa Baconao (see p239).
venues. Many also organize de las Tradiciones (see Night­ Several cities – notably
lectures, conferences, poetry clubs, Cabarets and Discotheques) Santa Clara and Bayamo –
readings and art exhibitions, in Santiago, a good place to have goat-drawn cart rides for
thus maintaining their original see up-and-coming local groups. children in the main squares.
spirit as keepers of tradition. The Teatro Guiñol is a
In some places, such as in noted children’s puppet theatre
Santiago and Trinidad, Casas Cultural Centres founded in 1959. All year round,
de la Trova have geared The Casa de la Cultura is plays and puppet shows are
themselves to tourists, an institution in every Cuban performed, as they are in many
with a bar offering different city. These cultural centres other Cuban cities. Holiday
Cuban cocktails, and a shop foster various forms of artistic villages provide safe play areas
selling CDs, DVDs, books and expression: the figurative arts, for small children, as well as
souvenirs. Whatever the style, poetry and music. Trinidad and shallow swimming pools and
Casas de la Trova continue Santiago are the most active children’s activity programmes.
to be popular with Cubans cities culturally.
of all ages and offer plenty In Santiago, those interested
of atmosphere. in anthropology and religion
The most important Casas can visit the Centro Cultural
de la Trova are in Santiago, Africano Fernando Ortíz,
home of son, and Trinidad, dedicated to the African
where the classical tradition of influences in Cuba, and the
the trova prevails. The trova at Casa del Caribe, which org-
Bayamo has a faster rhythm anizes an annual Caribbean
and stronger Afro-Caribbean Cultural Festival. The eclectic
overtones, while Camagüey fare at the Ateneo Cultural
focuses more on melodic ranges from poetry readings
tunes. Some Casas de la Trova to rap performances.
are associated with venerated UNEAC (National Writers and
musicians, such as Casa de Artists’ Union), with branches
la Trova “El Guayabero” in in a number of cities, puts on Exterior of Casa de la Cultura in
Holguín, where the esteemed exhibitions, confer ences and Pinar del Rio

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