La ciudad que mas me gusta a mi (the city I like the best) singer Benny More once said of his home city in the song “Cienfuegos”.  He wasn’t the settlement’s only cheerleader.  Cuba’s so called Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South) has long seduced travelers from around the island with its elegance, enlightened French spirit and feisty Caribbean panache.  If Cuba had a Paris, this is most definitely it.  It is a very romantic city.  We started off with a walking tour of the town.

Then we had drinks on the terrace of the Palacio de Valle.  Built in 1917 by Acislo del Valle Blanco, a Spaniard from Asturias, the structure resembles an outrageously ornate Moroccan casbah.  Batista planned to convert this colorful riot of tiles, turrets, and stucco into a casino, but today it’s an aspiring upscale restaurant with an inviting terrace bar.

 

We had dinner on the rooftop terrace at a restaurant called Dona Nora. The full moon over the city and the water was so beautiful, I will never forget it.

 

After dinner, we all went for a stroll and hung out on the Malecon.

 

This is the family that hosted me in Cienfuegos.  I was the first American to ever stay with them.  They made me the most amazing breakfast- note the USA spelled out in cheese.  If you ever need a place to stay in Cienfuegos- look for the Hostal Sullet & Nelson- #4121 on Ave 44. cel. (53)58262031.