As many of you know, I spent a month living and studying Havana, Cuba this summer. Of course, this doesn't make me an expert on Cuba or Cubans, but I have noticed several misconceptions that many Americans seem to have about Cuba (some of which I had before I went there as well) which I'd like to clear up! If you're planning a trip to Cuba soon, you can avoid some typical blunders, and even if you aren't planning to go anytime soon, it helps to understand better this country which has long been misunderstood or misrepresented by the US.

There are about a million reasons to learn a second language--it's a resume builder, it improves your understanding of your own language and linguistics, you can look at things through the lens of another culture or perspective, etc.--but I think it's best summed up in one of my favorite quotes. There's a French proverb that says "a man who knows two languages is worth two men". This article is not about why you should learn a second language, however. It's about why, if you want to be a world traveler, Spanish would be a good choice for your next language! Check out the eight main reasons below. 

Autumn is a great time for hikes--the beautiful fall colors, the crisp air... Recently we've been visiting some state parks and such around to do some walks with our dog. To inspire you to take a nice fall hike of your own before the snow falls, I've compiled this list of 14 quotes from poets, authors, travelers, and others!

Cuba is an amazing country to visit, and if you're interested in going, you should go as soon as you can! Big changes are coming for this nation, and while I don't doubt that it will continue to be quirky and fascinating, some of its more-unique aspects may soon be gone, once the US embargo is lifted. Need more convincing that you should book your trip ASAP? Check out these seven panoramas from my time there!

Havana is a great city for nightlife, whether you like dancing, music or people-watching. Nearly every restaurant has a band playing on weekend nights, so you can enjoy a wide variety of music just by eating dinner! There's also a wide variety of nightclubs and dance clubs. After spending a month in the city I definitely had some favorite spots, and I'd like to share them below!

Havana can be an expensive city for tourists, mostly because of Cuba's dual currency system. They use CUC, which is tied to the US dollar for most things tourists would buy--hotels, museum fees, some restaurants, alcohol, etc.--but you can save a lot of money by living like a local and using, when possible, the currency the locals use, moneda nacional (MN). Here are ten things you can do for free or cheap in Havana!

Here's a quick lineup of my seven favorite museums of the ones I visited in Havana, Cuba! I've included collage images of each of the museums as well as a description of what each offers. Hopefully it will provide inspiration for your trip to Havana!