If I may:
I've been to Cuba several times. I've been to Santiago de Cuba area, to the coast north of Camaguey (Santa Lucia) and been to Holguin.
Our first trip there was quite eventful as we missed the flight and had to book another, to a different airport and then take a 3-1/2 taxi ride from Holguin to the resort east of Santiago. I had done quite a bit of research and talked to people who had been there, so kind of knew what to expect, but my wife was shocked at the "apparent" squalor these folks lived in. I found we had much to learn.
Over the course of our trips there, we've befriended many Cuban Nationals and have sat at their tables, sharing beer and food with them, and many interesting discussions.
First off, you must define "Poverty". If you look at poverty as; not having a 6 figure salary, not owning a 2400 sq ft house with immaculate grounds and decorated in & out with the latest colours & fashions & appliances, not having the latest iPod / cell / BlackBerry, latest sports car / motorcycle, latest fashion trends, yadda yadda, then yes, they live in poverty. But you know what?? I think the average Cuban is happier with his lot than the average North American. They're a fiercely proud people who will help each other out in a heartbeat. They'll share their last crumb if necessary. They're very proud (for the most part) of their appearance and to see the resort staff and school kids and the way they dress, it's amazing. They have a wonderful sense of family and that's of utmost importance in their lives. Many live in open houses with no glass in the windows, only shutters that are open the majority of the time. My wife said "They don't have any glass in the windows!!" I said "It never gets above 85 or goes below 65, so why in hell would they need glass???"
There are many things that are very hard to come by there, things we consider basic necessities, like toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, make-up for the ladies, etc. These are rationed for the main reason of balancing the country's exports / imports (or so I understand). Can the locals buy them? Yes, but not as easily or as cheaply as we can. That's why gifts like toiletries to staff are appreciated so much. they're worth more than money to them.
The resorts (as mentioned in a post above) are not close to North American standards. I've stayed in 4 star resorts that compare to a Motel 6 or a Super 8 with 30 year old decor. But they're spotlessly clean and the folks taking care of them take pride in what they do. Basically, many who go to Cuba don't like the place mainly because of the food. Their cuisine is very bland, where black pepper is considered a fairly heavy spice. The quality of beef is poor there. Personally, I believe beef there (for the most part) is an oxen that was killed because it was too old to be worked any more. Only tough Tenderloin I ever had was in Cuba. (Hint, stay away from the beef if you ever go.) But man oh mac, can they ever cook the be-jeezuz out of a pig, a chicken or something that swims. I'll be honest and say that some of the best meals I've ever had on a vacation was there. You get the taste of the meat mildly spiced, if at all, and IMHO, that's not like the N. A. culture. So, you don't like their cuisine, OK, then would you go to India if you don't like spicy food?? (Give me a break.)
Do I support Castro's policies?? For the most part, NO. However, there are some that make sense. A post-secondary education is mandatory there, and those who don't go, are looked upon like deserters. Unfortunately, the education they get doesn't necessarily lead to a high paying job. Someone above mentioned doctors, teachers, etc, working at other "jobs" (legal or otherwise). This is because Tourism basically pays more. Look at it this way, decent jobs there pay 40-60 People's Pesos a week. I always leave a Convertible Peso (CUC) as a tip each time I go to the bar. In his / her money, I just gave them a 24 peso tip (in their currency.) When I was there November past, I paid $1.05 CDN for CUC. What's a buck to me?? Nuttin, I can't buy a coffee for that here, but it's a couple of days wages to them. I'm not saying it's right that a bartender makes more than a doctor, but that's just the way it is!!!! Look at fake smokes (and there's no way this is to be taken as me approving of the "Trade") but I saw a guy pay 40 CUC for a box of (99.9999999999999% chance) Esplendidos. That's nearly 1000 Pesos in their currency. Let's be honest, can you blame 'em???
Let's look at the medical system for a second. Free medical care is a fact there. Unfortunately, for various reasons, the drugs often prescribed aren't available. But the theory behind the system is awesome. Let's take a new mother. She's hospitalized 2 weeks before the birth to rest, be taken care of, and to learn how to care for the Bambino. Then she (and the baby) are kept in hospital for a week after the birth so she can rest, allow her body to start to come back to normal and care for the baby under supervision. Compare that to our society where often the mother works PAST that 2 week period and is then kicked out of hospital a day or 2 after the birth. You tell me who's right in the way they look at some things.
Do any Cubans hate Castro?? Yes, of course they do but they very VERY seldom admit it. Some say (possibly lip service, I know) that they enjoy their way of life and don't want the North American way of life. Some long for the life their "Brothers and Sisters" abroad live and want more from life. In that respect, they're just like us ........ at least, some of them are.
Drew mentions how "creepy" it is to walk along the Malecon at night. I can't speak to that because we always go away from the cities. I'd love to visit Old Havana, but for the most part, if I want hustle & bustle on vacation, I'll stay in Ontario or Detroit.
As for a decrease in National support in tourism, only based on what I've seen, I say "BULLSHIT", and remember, that's only from what I've seen with my own eyes.
Ladies and gentlemen, please don't take this as support of their way of life or Governmental foreign policy. I just want to say things as I see them on my visits there, and until something changes, it will still be first choice as a place to go on vacation.
If anyone has questions or comments on any of the above, please feel free to post here or PM me and I'll answer with honest opinions.
Thanks for reading, and sorry for the length!!!!
Do they hate Americans?? No, no more than the average American hates the Cubans. However, their hate for the US Government may be stronger than an American hatred of Castro, because that's bred into them.
I've been to Cuba several times. I've been to Santiago de Cuba area, to the coast north of Camaguey (Santa Lucia) and been to Holguin.
Our first trip there was quite eventful as we missed the flight and had to book another, to a different airport and then take a 3-1/2 taxi ride from Holguin to the resort east of Santiago. I had done quite a bit of research and talked to people who had been there, so kind of knew what to expect, but my wife was shocked at the "apparent" squalor these folks lived in. I found we had much to learn.
Over the course of our trips there, we've befriended many Cuban Nationals and have sat at their tables, sharing beer and food with them, and many interesting discussions.
First off, you must define "Poverty". If you look at poverty as; not having a 6 figure salary, not owning a 2400 sq ft house with immaculate grounds and decorated in & out with the latest colours & fashions & appliances, not having the latest iPod / cell / BlackBerry, latest sports car / motorcycle, latest fashion trends, yadda yadda, then yes, they live in poverty. But you know what?? I think the average Cuban is happier with his lot than the average North American. They're a fiercely proud people who will help each other out in a heartbeat. They'll share their last crumb if necessary. They're very proud (for the most part) of their appearance and to see the resort staff and school kids and the way they dress, it's amazing. They have a wonderful sense of family and that's of utmost importance in their lives. Many live in open houses with no glass in the windows, only shutters that are open the majority of the time. My wife said "They don't have any glass in the windows!!" I said "It never gets above 85 or goes below 65, so why in hell would they need glass???"
There are many things that are very hard to come by there, things we consider basic necessities, like toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, make-up for the ladies, etc. These are rationed for the main reason of balancing the country's exports / imports (or so I understand). Can the locals buy them? Yes, but not as easily or as cheaply as we can. That's why gifts like toiletries to staff are appreciated so much. they're worth more than money to them.
The resorts (as mentioned in a post above) are not close to North American standards. I've stayed in 4 star resorts that compare to a Motel 6 or a Super 8 with 30 year old decor. But they're spotlessly clean and the folks taking care of them take pride in what they do. Basically, many who go to Cuba don't like the place mainly because of the food. Their cuisine is very bland, where black pepper is considered a fairly heavy spice. The quality of beef is poor there. Personally, I believe beef there (for the most part) is an oxen that was killed because it was too old to be worked any more. Only tough Tenderloin I ever had was in Cuba. (Hint, stay away from the beef if you ever go.) But man oh mac, can they ever cook the be-jeezuz out of a pig, a chicken or something that swims. I'll be honest and say that some of the best meals I've ever had on a vacation was there. You get the taste of the meat mildly spiced, if at all, and IMHO, that's not like the N. A. culture. So, you don't like their cuisine, OK, then would you go to India if you don't like spicy food?? (Give me a break.)
Do I support Castro's policies?? For the most part, NO. However, there are some that make sense. A post-secondary education is mandatory there, and those who don't go, are looked upon like deserters. Unfortunately, the education they get doesn't necessarily lead to a high paying job. Someone above mentioned doctors, teachers, etc, working at other "jobs" (legal or otherwise). This is because Tourism basically pays more. Look at it this way, decent jobs there pay 40-60 People's Pesos a week. I always leave a Convertible Peso (CUC) as a tip each time I go to the bar. In his / her money, I just gave them a 24 peso tip (in their currency.) When I was there November past, I paid $1.05 CDN for CUC. What's a buck to me?? Nuttin, I can't buy a coffee for that here, but it's a couple of days wages to them. I'm not saying it's right that a bartender makes more than a doctor, but that's just the way it is!!!! Look at fake smokes (and there's no way this is to be taken as me approving of the "Trade") but I saw a guy pay 40 CUC for a box of (99.9999999999999% chance) Esplendidos. That's nearly 1000 Pesos in their currency. Let's be honest, can you blame 'em???
Let's look at the medical system for a second. Free medical care is a fact there. Unfortunately, for various reasons, the drugs often prescribed aren't available. But the theory behind the system is awesome. Let's take a new mother. She's hospitalized 2 weeks before the birth to rest, be taken care of, and to learn how to care for the Bambino. Then she (and the baby) are kept in hospital for a week after the birth so she can rest, allow her body to start to come back to normal and care for the baby under supervision. Compare that to our society where often the mother works PAST that 2 week period and is then kicked out of hospital a day or 2 after the birth. You tell me who's right in the way they look at some things.
Do any Cubans hate Castro?? Yes, of course they do but they very VERY seldom admit it. Some say (possibly lip service, I know) that they enjoy their way of life and don't want the North American way of life. Some long for the life their "Brothers and Sisters" abroad live and want more from life. In that respect, they're just like us ........ at least, some of them are.
Drew mentions how "creepy" it is to walk along the Malecon at night. I can't speak to that because we always go away from the cities. I'd love to visit Old Havana, but for the most part, if I want hustle & bustle on vacation, I'll stay in Ontario or Detroit.
As for a decrease in National support in tourism, only based on what I've seen, I say "BULLSHIT", and remember, that's only from what I've seen with my own eyes.
Ladies and gentlemen, please don't take this as support of their way of life or Governmental foreign policy. I just want to say things as I see them on my visits there, and until something changes, it will still be first choice as a place to go on vacation.
If anyone has questions or comments on any of the above, please feel free to post here or PM me and I'll answer with honest opinions.
Thanks for reading, and sorry for the length!!!!
Do they hate Americans?? No, no more than the average American hates the Cubans. However, their hate for the US Government may be stronger than an American hatred of Castro, because that's bred into them.
