List Price: $26.00

Tags: Travel, General,

Book Description:
Equally at home on the elegant "avenidas" of Havana and the washboard trails of the Cuban countryside, Christopher P. Baker's 1000cc BMW Paris-Dakar was as much a state of mind as a form of transportation. Gaudy and gargantuan, the lipstick-red motorcycle attracted attention, sparked conversation, and made new friends for Baker throughout his freewheeling, 7,000-mile peregrination of modern Cuba. After three months astride his powerful "moto," Baker brings back a vivid report that is a savory and surprising blend of romantic adventures, keen observation, and clear-eyed commentary. Introducing a remarkable cross section of Cubans from farmers and fishermen cosmopolitan habaneros chafing under Castro's faltering rule, Baker captures the vivacious national spirit that has beguiled visitors for centuries. He explores the rich heritage of a lovely island gripped by poverty, political uncertainty, and painful transition, all the while charting his own gradual but profound change of heart about the Cuban Revolution. And, like a knight errant cruising a sultry paradise, Baker finds fair ladies wherever he goes: Daisy in Havana, Teresa in Nueva Gerona, and Sonia in Comaguey, to name just three, exude an earthy, seductive charm that embodies Cuba. Packed with insight, humor, and some surprisingly candid encounters, "Mi Moto Fidel" will take you on a trip you won't soon forget. It's an exuberant, often unexpected, always fascinating look at our nearby unknown neighbor and the irrepressibly friendly and resourceful people who call it home.