1. Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot on Cuban soil in 1492. Of all the places he saw in the New World, he was particularly fascinated with Cuba, and baptized it “The Pearl of the Antilles.” He became enchanted with the richness of the land and what he perceived as the naïveté of its natives, the Taínos, a branch of the Arawak Native Americans. How did Columbus describe the island in his journals? And its people?
   
   
   
   
2. Cuba has two seasons, verano and invierno. How do the seasons differ from one another? Approximately what months correspond to each season? What’s the best time to visit Cuba? During what months can you visit Cuba without having to worry about hurricanes?
   
   
   
   
3. What are some of the frequent subjects of Wifredo Lam’s paintings? What were some of the important influences on his paintings?
   
   
   
   
4. When is the Havana Carnival held? And the Santiago de Cuba Carnival? What does the latter commemorate? What does the Carnival time traditionally represent?
   
   
   
   
5. Look for the recipes of these typical Cuban dishes and explain what main ingredients are required to prepare them.
   a. congrí
   b. tamales
   c. tostones
   
   Note: To speed up your search, add the word recipe after each dish.
   
   
   
   

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