"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." 

Maybe it's the vibrant music, the smell of cigars lingering in the air or the warm smiles of its people that makes Cuba an incredible destination to visit at least once in your lifetime. As I set out to plan my end of the year holiday schedule, the chance to travel to Cuba for a weekend after my Tulum trip came up and I was quick to jump at the opportunity. There was a sense of mystery to this country with its complex history and current transition and I was excited to emerge myself in it fully. After nearly 5 decades of being under a communist dictatorship, this island is finally free and a welcoming place for tourists to visit. With tourism rising there will obviously be many modern changes that are to come for Cuba, so I am glad I was able to catch it in all its old world glory. Of course it wouldn't be a vacation without the struggles that come with traveling. From missed flights, interesting accommodation choices to having a hard time finding decent internet connection, Cuba was quite the adventure to say the least.

Being in Havana was like walking into a time capsule and it was truly amazing to see a place with so little western influence; no chain coffee shops or shopping malls in sight, just glorious architecture and old school bars dotted around the centre . Coupled with vibrant colors on every corner, from brightly painted buildings to vintage cars in a variety of shades, Havana is truly a wakeup call for all your senses, not to mention the ideal backdrop to take some epic shots.

It was such fun to explore the old town of Havana and capture these two outfits.  The first look was a kaftan dress by Hemant and Nandita in a rich royal blue with embroidery and tassle details. I paired it with these Moroccan inspired slides by Raye (coincidently this style is called Kate, so obviously it was love at first sight).

The second look was a total 50s moment that we shot just outside our hotel in the heart of Havana. The white sun dress is by Red carter and I am totally obsessed with the vibrant red embroidery band on the hem. I paired it with these gorgeous laced red heels by Steve Maden to continue with the pop of color scheme. Capturing my short time in Cuba is something I treasure so dearly and I cannot wait to go back and create more memories. 

Hope you enjoyed lovelies! Please feel free to comment below.