An island nation where the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean greet one another, Cuba is composed of the main island, Isla de la Juventud and some 4,195 smaller islands, islets and cays that scatter like confetti around its shores.

Cuba pulses with colorful cities, verdant hills and a cuisine that delights at every turn.

Its streets and landscapes hold several UNESCO World Heritage treasures — Old Havana with its storied fortifications, the cobbled charm of Trinidad and Valle de los Ingenios, the tobacco-scented Viñales Valley and the elegant historic center of Cienfuegos.

Once dubbed the “Sugar Bowl of the World” for its booming sugar industry, Cuba now bears the beautiful, bittersweet patina of those earlier days. During my visit, I discovered a warmth and generosity that greeted me at every turn, tempered by an undercurrent of quiet hardship.

I met a man in his sixties who, despite living just a two-hour drive from Havana, had never seen the capital; a woman who had never tasted a fresh jalapeño; taxi drivers who bought petrol on the black market. Those encounters lingered — small windows into lives lived with resilience, humor and a gentle openness that stayed with me long after I left.