SpanishFitnessBootCamp

Cuba: Where All Men Can Dance!!!

The most astonishing discovery I made in Cuba, was that all Cuban men can dance! Their sense of rhythm must be passed on to them at birth. Everywhere you go you see men of all ages and occupations, dancing, and not just dancing, but dancing extremely well!

www.casa-cuba.com/courses.htm

Well, if I hadn't already decided on Spain for my Spanish Fitness Bootcamp, I'd seriously consider moving to Cuba!

Why is it that the vast majority of English men just can't dance. Has the stiff upper lip transferred to their hips.  It reminds me of the film with Woody Harrelson about basketball 'White Men Can't Jump'. And then just today a friend of mine lamented the fact that he has 'white man's hips!'

My reply to that was try Ceroc! Anyone who has been following my blog knows how crazy I am about Ceroc. It's so much easier than Salsa or Jive. Ideally suited for anyone suffering from white man's hips. I've seen even seriously rhythmically challenged men (and women) come to grips with Ceroc.

But back to Cuba...

Cuba Libre

Just got back from Guardalavaca, Cuba. Pure magic! The beach at Guardalavaca was sensational. What makes it different from the rest of the Cuban beaches is the large number of trees that grow right at the shore of the beach. And not just palm trees, but a beautiful variety of tropical trees including centuries’ old mahogany trees.

So when the heat just got too much, I’d move my bed a few feet to the right to enjoy the cool shade of my favourite tree. Lying there gazing at the azure blue sky through the branches was pure bliss! (Initially I did make the mistake of choosing a palm tree, a falling coconut soon alerted me to the danger. Luckily it missed! I shudder to think of the damage it would have caused, it dropped from quite a height.)

The trees didn’t just provide shade, they also provided work for the resident sculptor who was busy transforming the trunks of the dead trees into truly amazing works of art. Juan Carlos is a sculptor and philosopher who attracts tourists and locals alike with his wise words. He is currently working on a piece that is to be presented to Fidel Castro at the Museo de Bellas Artes in August of this year.

This beautiful sculpture reflects his hope for the future, it’s about love and the unity of people and planet. It shows the world with hands reaching out, animals, plants and finally doves symbolising peace. He has modelled the hands using people from different nationalities and I felt truly honoured to be asked to participate.  So my hand now forms part of this amazing sculpture!

Guardalavaca means ‘hide the cow!’ But, just how did it get its name....