From Library Journal
Tired of the same old vacation? Eager to forgo guided motor coaches, all-inclusive resorts, and RVing? If bicycling through Cuba is the first thing you think of as an alternative to Europe in August, then the authors, experienced bike guides from Vermont, can take all the guesswork out of it for you. In this delightful and very practical guide, they outline, kilometer by kilometer-for all the Canadians and Europeans whose governments actually let them vacation in Cuba legally the best places to eat, sleep, sightsee, and even avoid. The text is divided into five parts: "In and Out of Havana," "Pinar del Rio," "Central Cuba," "The Oriente," and "Connecting the Regions of Cuba." The authors sum it up best in their introduction: "If you come to Cuba looking for evidence of a police state, inefficient bureaucracy, and dissatisfied people, you can find it. If you look for evidence of a uniquely idealistic society in which people have a strong sense of community, respect their government, and are trying to solve problems without sacrificing the achievements of their revolution, you can find that too. Let's ride!" Recommended for large public libraries.
Lee Arnold, Historical Soc. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
In this delightful and very practical guide, they outline, kilometer by kilometer for all the Canadians and Europeans whose governments actuallylet them vacation in Cuba legally the best places to eat, sleep, sightsee, and even avoid.
Book Description
Discover all Cuba has to offer in this complete cycling guide.
Wally and Barbara Smith spent 6 months cycling 8,000 miles in Cuba to provide detailed directions for 50 days of cycling. The rides vary in length, many combining to create multi-day loops. Detailed directions describe rides leaving Havana to the west and east. Subsequent rides are clustered in the three best regions of Cuba for cycling: Pinar del Rio, Central Cuba, and the Oriente. A final section contains advice on connecting the regions for a long tour of the entire island. In addition, the authors provide information on getting to Cuba, equipment and accessories, food and water, safety considerations, overnight accommodations, and more.
Exploring this fascinating country on two wheels may just be the best way to fully appreciate its history, people, and culture. 50 black and white photographs, 12-page color insert, 15 maps, index.
• Most detailed routes of any Cuba guidebook
• Well written narrative gives travelers a feel for the island
About the Author
Wally Smith, a former newspaper and radio reporter, has been a bicycle tour leader for Bike Vermont for more than 12 years.
Barbara Smith has cycled in the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, New England, and the Skyline Drive in Virginia and the Carolinas. She occasionally joins her husband in leading Bike Vermont tours. The Smiths live in South Strafford, Vermont.
