GUANTANAMO
The Province of Guantanamo, Cuba, at Cuba's east end has seen many invaders. Christopher Columbus raised a cross here in 1492 and mentioned El Yunque mountain near Baracoa in his journal. The Spanish conqueror, Diego Velasquez, established the first European settlement in Cuba at Baracoa in 1512.
Centuries later, Jose Marti and other freedom fighters landed near Baracoa to launch a war of independence against Spain. In 1898, the United States intervened in Cuba's independence struggle and snatched away Guantanamo Bay for use as a naval base. In our time, the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and its detainees have often been in the news.
Our Guantanamo travel pictures focus on the pleasant city of Baracoa, 150 kilometers east of Guantanamo Bay via "La Farola" highway. Baracoa has many historical relics, including the cross implanted by Columbus pictured in one of our photos. The laidback atmosphere and musical traditions are appealing, and the setting is lovely with a panorama of mountains, ocean, bay, and colonial buildings visible from many points.
All the photos on Cuba-Pictures.com are by David Stanley, original author of Lonely Planet Cuba. The images on this page are details. To view the complete photos, click on the thumbnails. |
