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My Seductive Cuba
Enough books have been written about Cuba to fill an entire library, but few take the approach Chen Lizra does with “My Seductive Cuba.” Deeply personal and always engaging, Lizra — an Israeli-born dance instructor and entrepreneur now living in Canada — fuses history and politics with her real-life experiences among the people of this often-visited but little-understood island. The result is a moving portrayal of Cuba on the verge of historic change. Packed with practical information on where to go in Cuba, what to pack and the best ways to get there, “My Seductive Cuba” also helps readers ferret out persistent opportunists while finding Havana’s best reggaetón, flamenco, jazz and salsa clubs. A glossary of Cuban slang and a description of the Santería religion — along with a vivid chapter titled “Getting Possessed” — makes Lizra’s humorous travel guide even more compelling. This is one book you won't want to be without, even if you don’t plan on going anywhere!
- GenresTravelNonfiction
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 15, 2011
My Seductive Cuba is a unique travel guide.
Author Chen Lizra takes travel guides to a new level. This very informative guide will take you wherever you want to go in Cuba. She explains the people, the culture, the ambiance and the all that makes Cuba the country it is.
The reader is lead on a journey deep into the soul of Cuba and Cubans alike. You are shown the mystery of seduction and how to be prepared for it if you intend on traveling to Cuba. You are given detailed descriptions of the landscapes, the streets and how to prepare yourself for any emergency.
Everything one needs to know about traveling to Cuba is shared including customs, passports, visas, currency, and much more. You are shown what to pack for each season, opportunities to find the best dance clubs, tips on health care and water, toilets and their filth are explained and how you should always carry the basic essentials with you wherever you travel.
The author explains opportunists and what to stay focused on if accosted by such people. The different styles of dance are explained and what to expect on any dance floor. We are also given a glimpse into the history of Cuba, her politics, her heroes and her survival.
The book gives examples through pictures and extra reading suggestions are given as well as, web sites to further investigate your trip to Cuba. The author has given lists of countries that are eligible to travel to her shores as well as which airlines and travel agencies are best suited for you. This in-depth guide will give you everything you need to know about traveling to Cuba and where to find more if it doesn't.
I would give this a five out of five stars, as a travel guide it is one of the best I have ever read. I loved the charm and direction the author wrote with and her explanations of Cuban society was interesting to comprehend. Chen Lizra created a romantic ambiance within these pages that the reader finds it hard to resist the urge to travel to Cuba and investigate for yourself what Chen is tantalizing you with.
I found the explanations about the culture and the people to be excellent, something you don't find in most travel guides. Her descriptions go beyond the "cut-and-dry" approach found within most guides. You are swept up in the prose and can almost feel yourself seductively swaying beside the author as you tour the history found within the boundaries of Cuba.
My mother has had the pleasure to travel to Cuba and is looking forward to her return; she loved the people and experience and I was able to see the correlation between her memories and the words shared by the author. However, I'm not so sure about the seduction aspect of the Cuban way, I am a Canadian with old-fashioned principles and I am quite shy when it comes to any kind of attention, so I'm sure I'd be blushing a mad storm if I were ever fortunate enough to travel there myself. Thank you for the tip on that Ms. Lizra, I thought my mother was exaggerating and now I see, she was not!
Even if you are not traveling to Cuba, this book will give you a different outlook on the Cuban people with an honest and invoking approach. The political myths are explained with clarity and gives the reader a different insight into the embargo between the United States and Cuba. Thoughtful, informative and witty, My Seductive Cuba is a travel guide you won't want to miss!!
Author Chen Lizra takes travel guides to a new level. This very informative guide will take you wherever you want to go in Cuba. She explains the people, the culture, the ambiance and the all that makes Cuba the country it is.
The reader is lead on a journey deep into the soul of Cuba and Cubans alike. You are shown the mystery of seduction and how to be prepared for it if you intend on traveling to Cuba. You are given detailed descriptions of the landscapes, the streets and how to prepare yourself for any emergency.
Everything one needs to know about traveling to Cuba is shared including customs, passports, visas, currency, and much more. You are shown what to pack for each season, opportunities to find the best dance clubs, tips on health care and water, toilets and their filth are explained and how you should always carry the basic essentials with you wherever you travel.
The author explains opportunists and what to stay focused on if accosted by such people. The different styles of dance are explained and what to expect on any dance floor. We are also given a glimpse into the history of Cuba, her politics, her heroes and her survival.
The book gives examples through pictures and extra reading suggestions are given as well as, web sites to further investigate your trip to Cuba. The author has given lists of countries that are eligible to travel to her shores as well as which airlines and travel agencies are best suited for you. This in-depth guide will give you everything you need to know about traveling to Cuba and where to find more if it doesn't.
I would give this a five out of five stars, as a travel guide it is one of the best I have ever read. I loved the charm and direction the author wrote with and her explanations of Cuban society was interesting to comprehend. Chen Lizra created a romantic ambiance within these pages that the reader finds it hard to resist the urge to travel to Cuba and investigate for yourself what Chen is tantalizing you with.
I found the explanations about the culture and the people to be excellent, something you don't find in most travel guides. Her descriptions go beyond the "cut-and-dry" approach found within most guides. You are swept up in the prose and can almost feel yourself seductively swaying beside the author as you tour the history found within the boundaries of Cuba.
My mother has had the pleasure to travel to Cuba and is looking forward to her return; she loved the people and experience and I was able to see the correlation between her memories and the words shared by the author. However, I'm not so sure about the seduction aspect of the Cuban way, I am a Canadian with old-fashioned principles and I am quite shy when it comes to any kind of attention, so I'm sure I'd be blushing a mad storm if I were ever fortunate enough to travel there myself. Thank you for the tip on that Ms. Lizra, I thought my mother was exaggerating and now I see, she was not!
Even if you are not traveling to Cuba, this book will give you a different outlook on the Cuban people with an honest and invoking approach. The political myths are explained with clarity and gives the reader a different insight into the embargo between the United States and Cuba. Thoughtful, informative and witty, My Seductive Cuba is a travel guide you won't want to miss!!
October 21, 2011
This is a shockingly informative travel guide. Even if one is not traveling, it is not a bad book to pick up just to read for extra information or pleasure. The author describes Cuba along with the typical travel guide features, the reader will learn a bit about the cultures and sub-cultures. The author shows the reader Cuba through her eyes, the reader will enjoy the scents and colorful Cuba that the author portrays. The book is a definite pick-up for anyone thinking of traveling to this beautiful country.
December 10, 2016
This book, part guidebook and part travel memoir, is a fabulous introduction to Cuba and especially Havana. Instead of just flipping through like I usually do with guidebooks, I actually read the whole thing cover to cover and was very glad I did. Not only is it entertaining, telling about the author's experiences over a decade or so of travelling to Cuba for dance lessons and to visit friends, it gives useful insider info about how to navigate Cuba as a tourist but still have authentic and enjoyable experiences. Lizra really tells it like it is, so the reader is prepared for things like the state of Cuban bathrooms (BYOTP and soap), and gives extensive info about where to go for entertainment, such as hearing live Cuban music in different genres, as well as info on restaurants, and necessities like how to change money, etc. The only problem is that the book was published in 2011 and there isn't an updated version available, so of course some of the recommendations are out of date. Taken with that grain of salt though, it's a great (and useful) read before embarking on a trip to Cuba.
October 23, 2012
The mistake most guidebooks make, particularly with Cuba, is they don't fully address cultural immersion. This book gives some excellent suggestions for having that type of experience and bothers to cover more than 50's cars and pristine beaches.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews