These fortresses indicate that the Spanish settled in Cuba, while providing protection to house a sound economy. The National Museum in Havana houses collections of both classical, modern art, and relics of native cultures - they are still trying to preserve the culture of the aborigines that came before the Spanish. Memorials such as the Memorial Flame, honoring the heroes that defended Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion of April 16, 1961, and the Statue of the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus which reflected Spanish influence of Christianity, are just some of the memorials of Cuban nationalism.
Culture vs. the Environment in Cuba is a very important aspect. Considering the importance of environmental issues, people adopt certain agricultural/money making methods, building adaptations, and ideologies, etc. Since Cuba has very fertile soil, the economy predominantly relies on agrarian ideals. The major component is sugar cane, while another important product is tobacco - these goods are both major international exports. Heavy tourism further funds the country - the beautiful landscapes which incorporate important historic sites beckon to many). Cuba's history is littered with many revolutionary wars. As a result, many people have more liberal and revolutionary visions. The U.S. economic blockade on Cuba has had quite an effect; there are not very many new cars in Cuba. Most are old American cars that are falling apart quickly and are hard to replace. The majority of Cuba's population live in urban areas, so the most popular form of transportation is the bicycle- it is cheap, reliable, and an excellent way to get around in congested areas.
It is said that possibly coming from the very heart of the American continent of the Orinoco-Amazonas region, arrived the first inhabitants of the island (remember that where these peoples actually came from is all but theory. Where they actually came from still remains a controversial question facing archeologists).
