Guantanamo: Undiscovered Jewel of the Caribbean

Sept 29, 2009, 2:10 pm

By: Lisván Lescaille Durand

Guantanamo, (Venceremos) – Upon arriving to the city of Guantanamo, first time visitors, or those who have been away a long time, begin gushing with adjective such as beautiful, unique, spacious and elegant to describe this gem in southeastern Cuba.

A colleague of mine who visited Guantanamo to learn about the progress of several environmental management projects underway was wonderstruck by the city’s beautiful architecture and warm urban spaces that welcomes in the close to 250,000 city residents.

Surrounded by the Guaso and other beautiful rivers, the city of Guantanamo is awash in a spirit of renewal. Its eclectic architecture and the functionality of the hustle and bustle of its commercial center are beginning to be discovered by Cubans and foreign visitors alike.

A big part of the city’s revitalization is thanks to the work of the Local Development Program that has brought about a complete metamorphism in dozens of public spaces that have been restored, reoriented or re-designated.

The downtown boulevard is teeming with elegant, creative and very functional services at the disposal of the public, all with the goal of creating the most humane downtown core possible.

Restaurants, cafeterias, pizzerias, shops and farmer markets are just some of the amenities offered throughout the city and surrounding municipalities.

In this age of economic crisis, Guantanamo stands out for the ingeniousness and creativity of its people to fashion a robust and positive environment, while continuing to build on its social project. With hard work and dedication the citizens of Guantanamo are forcing Cubans and foreigners to take notice of this sometimes forgotten jewel caressed by the breezes of the Windward Passage.

Source: Juventud Rebelde