Last year My Good Self joined forces again with the group known as The Belgian Bankers, in order to do a little wandering through the Land Of Rum and Cigars (Cuba).

Having previously conquered South Africa and Lesotho with this amiable gang I felt the urge to rejoin them when the trip to Cuba was announced.

Hooking up with the group in Brussels airport, we were soon winging our way to Havana.

Our plane landed safely in the Cuban capital. The same could not be said for approximately half of our luggage.

It was my first time to experience the ‘lost luggage’ phenomenon. Those affected had to fill out forms and were given some complimentary toiletries and clothes.

There are worse things in life.

We spent just one night in Havana before flying on to Santiago. Another night there and then it was off by minibus to the trekkking area.

Although the walking was not overly challenging I did however manage to increase my heart rate at one point when I decided to slip and somehow began to slide head first down a forest slope.

Luckily one of my fellow trekkers saw the danger, grabbed my ankle and all was well.

Falling head first down a slope of any kind is not something I recommend.

After the trekking was done we made our way back to Havana, this time by land, stopping off at Trinidad and Bay of Pigs along the way.

Trinidad is a great party town, full of music, dance and mojitos.

Bay of Pigs was quite the opposite. Historically it is remembered as the site of the failed US ‘invasion’ in 1961. For the visitor there is not a lot there to see or do.

The last few days of our trip were spent back in Havana. The old American cars were still around and many of the buildings remained very run down.

Cigars and souvenirs were duly purchased and soon we were heading back to the Land of Chocolate and Beer (Belgium).

It is often said that Cuba is changing and that it should be visited before it ‘disappears’.

I have been there on two occasions now, several years apart.

Not much had changed between my visits.

It remains a country well worth checking out. Although a very controlled state it is one that prioritises housing and health for its citizens.

Any country that has these priorities is doing something right.