Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 1630 July 2016 5 5 30 July 2016 Change is in the air as Sue Wallace falls for Cuba’s many charms. W alk six blocks, pass by the colourful Plaza Vieja, turn left at the second street, then right to a small craft market in the middle of Old Havana. Two weeks ago I was strolling along the cobbled streets and stumbled upon the market where I purchased several bright necklaces. This time I am back to buy more from the entertaining stallholder, Francisco. But, in the 14 days since I last visited, the prices have tripled and I decide that maybe he isn’t that entertaining after all. “Why have prices gone up in such a short time?” I ask Francisco, who is a native of Cuba’s capital, Havana, home to more than two million people. “Why… why?” he says with a grin, rubbing his hands together. “It’s simple — the Americans have landed so we can charge what we like.” I tell him I am not American so we negotiate and I leave with my gifts and a little change. That’s just one scenario that reflects the changing face of Cuba, which has recently opened up to US tourism following the easing of travel restrictions by President Barack Obama. There’s now a sweeping tide of US tourists arriving by cruise ship and embarking from planes. Rumours abound that soon up to 110 flights will arrive daily from the US. Though there are new hotels being built faster than you can say “Ernest Hemingway”, along with private restaurants opening in houses and home stays getting coats of paint, Havana’s charm remains intact. While there are many like Francisco, there’s also a desire to protect Cuba’s identity and a reluctance to “Americanise”. Cuba Photo: Kendall Fayle courtesy of Intrepid Travel