Knock-knock: The door sound was just a reminder that it was time to wake up. I scrambled out of my sleeping bag, packed my camera, and sauntered outside the room. Not too shabby, I spent the night at a public school right outside of Viñales, a farming town in Pinar del Río, western Cuba. The guard, a tall man with a shaggy beard, was kind enough to let me sleep in one of the empty classrooms. By law, foreigners should only stay in houses or hotels assigned by the government, but with my $10-a-day budget and being broke as a joke, I relied on people’s generosity for a place to sleep. Cubans are known for their hospitality, rightly so.
Breakfast was bread, butter, and a cup of coffee, and then I hit the road. As I walked outside of town, the crumbling buildings faded away, giving way to one of the most scenic views I have ever experienced: rugged cliffs, bright blue sky, and the occasional working cows in the fields. For a good reason, Cuba is well renowned for its nature.