Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

40  INTRODUCING CUBA

Average Monthly Rainfall Rainfall
In Cuba, the dry season
MM Inches
300 12 (from November to
April) alternates with
240 the rainy season,
9 when brief but heavy
180 showers fall. In the
6 Baracoa and Moa area
120 at the eastern tip of
60 3 the island, rainfall is
heavier because the
0 0 mountains block
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec the Atlantic winds.

October Fiesta de la Cultura
Autumn Festival Nacional de Teatro de Iberoamericana, Holguín
After the August heat, when Camagüey, Camagüey (Oct). (second half of Oct). A festival
everything to do with work A national theatre competition given over to Spanish culture,
seems to slow down, life starts dedicated to Gertrudis Gómez with concerts, exhibitions,
to pick up again. In autumn de Avellaneda (see p32), with festivities and lectures.
the schools reopen and work the added participation of International Fishing
returns to a normal rhythm. The various foreign Tournament Jardines
number of tourists – Europeans companies. del Rey, Marina Cayo
in particular – decreases. Days of Cuban Guillermo (mid–late Oct).
Culture, countrywide A fishing tournament in
September (10–20 Oct). Cubans Cayo Guillermo, a favourite
Fiesta de la Virgen del Cobre, celebrate their history fishing ground of author
El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba and Cuban and Ernest Hemingway.
(8 Sep). On the feast-day of the Afro-Cuban culture. Anglers can win
Virgin there is a surge in the The main day is October prizes in exchange
regular pilgrimage to this site 20th, in commemoration for caught sailfish
from all parts of the island. of the first day that the Alicia Alonso and blue marlin.
The statue of the Virgin is borne national hymn was performing at the Contact Naútica
in procession through the streets. sung in Bayamo. Teatro García Lorca Marlin Jardines del
Matamoros Son, Santiago Literature, children’s Rey, tel (33) 301 323.
(Sep). A biennial festival given shows, film, arts and Festival Internacional
over to son (see p34). music all play their role. de Ballet de La Habana,
Alicia Alonso, Gran Teatro and
Hurricanes Teatro García Lorca, Havana
(Oct–Nov, biennial). A wide-
Hurricanes form when masses of hot air with low central pressure ranging survey of classical
move upwards in a spiral, pulling cold air in towards the centre ballet, organized by the Ballet
from the surrounding atmosphere. They cause high tides, extremely Nacional de Cuba headed
strong winds, and very heavy and persistent rainfall resulting in by Alicia Alonso. Famous
floods. The areas most vulnerable to these storms are the coasts, international artists take part
areas with little surface drainage, the valleys, the mountain areas as well. Next staged 2018.
and the cities. Most of the natural disasters in Cuba in the last See www.balletcuba.cult.cu.
100 years have been caused by these storms. Hurricane Sandy
struck the east of the November
island with devastating Festival de Teatro de
effect in 2012. Over 15,000 La Habana, Havana (Nov).
homes were destroyed This biennial theatre festival
in Santiago de Cuba and features a wide range of
11 people died. Agriculture performances, including
was also severely affected opera, dance, puppet theatre,
through out the region. It street shows and pantomime.
was one of the costliest Theoretical aspects of theatre
hurricanes to ever hit Cuba. are also discussed.
September and October Festejos de San Cristóbal
are the most likely months de La Habana (Nov). Festivities
Satellite photograph of for Caribbean hurricanes and concerts to commemorate
Hurricane Gustav over Cuba to occur. the foundation of Havana.
Festival de Raíces Africanas

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