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Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Memories of a Runaway Cuban Slave

A former sugar plantation slave recalls fleeing to a cave in the woods and the new dangers that awaited him there

These women in traditional dress are preparing for a street performance in Havana. Despite laws guaranteeing racial equality, black Cubans are generally poorer than whites. And with fewer relatives abroad, they typically receive less in remittances.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

There’s Much More to Cuba Than Cigars and Vintage Cars

The country’s most celebrated blogger discovers her homeland anew while working as a tour guide

During an initiation ceremony for the Afro-Cuban secret society called Abakuá in the Havana district of Regla, a young aspirant depicts Aberisún, an ireme, or spirit messenger.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Venture Inside Cuba’s Secret Societies

From Masons to Santería priests, photographer Nicola Lo Calzo offers a glimpse into the island’s many subcultures

Secrets of the Tower of London

Before it was a popular tourist attraction, the Tower of London was, well, just about everything else

Six Places on Earth That Scientists Say Look Like Other Planets

The eerie resemblance these locales have to Mars and beyond has attracted researchers for years

This Champion Pumpkin Weighs More Than a U-Haul

At the annual Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Weigh-In, a pumpkin weighing 1,910 pounds took the crown

A wave splashes over the Malecón in Havana.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Homage to Havana

A Smithsonian director ponders the allure of Cuba’s capital city

Water drained from the tunnel will feed new aquaculture farms nearby.

Beneath a Mountain in Switzerland Lies the World’s Longest Shortcut

The massive structure, running 35.4 miles through the Alps, begins full operations this December

A bartender mixes a drink at O'Reilly 304.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

The New Nightspots Transforming Havana’s Social Scene

Chic is rapidly replacing gritty in many of Havana’s newly imagined gathering spots

Chock-full of smoked meats and native vegetables like corn, plantains, and squash, ajiaco is a mainstay of Cuban cooking.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Ajiaco, Cuba in a Cauldron

With origins in the island’s oldest culture, ajiaco is a stew that adapts to the times

The stacked bricks represent the people enslaved by President Thomas Jefferson in 1776 and include his own children and their mother Sally Hemings.

Breaking Ground

At the New “Slavery and Freedom” Show, a Mother Finds an Empowering Message for Her Young Daughters

A child’s shackles, a whip, and an auction block deliver a visceral experience of slavery

A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival.

Photos: Giant Chinese Lantern Sculptures Light Up Spokane

This month brings a world of colorful light to Washington

Armenia

Armenia: Smithsonian Guide

The National Zoo's resident cassowary in 2010.

Behind the Scenes at the National Zoo With the World’s Most Dangerous Bird

The zoo’s cassowary “still has that mysterious aura about her—that prehistoric, dinosaur-walking-through-the-rainforest-quality.”

Global Cities by Norwood Vivian, 2015

Mapping the World’s Great Cities in a Most Unusual, Yet Visually Arresting, Fashion

Part urban planner, part cartographer, sculptor Norwood Viviano uses state-of-the-art mapping tools to make powerful works of art

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Discover Cuba’s Unspoiled Shores

Thanks in part to government conservation efforts, Cuba’s 3,500 miles of coastline are a wealth of beauty and history

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

What to Read, Watch and Download Before Your Trip to Cuba

Know before you go

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Traveling to Cuba? Here’s What You Need to Know

While travel between Cuba and the U.S. is now possible, restrictions remain in place

A rehearsal takes place at Teatro América, on Galiano Street in Havana. From the outside, the theater is nothing special, concealed behind a dull screen of gray polygon concrete. But step inside and you’ve entered the museum that is Cuban architecture.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Havana’s Hidden Architectural Gems

The city’s eclectic architecture is both extraordinary and imperiled

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Explore the deepest corners of Cuba’s culture and history, and discover the startling transformations happening now

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