Cuba Final thoughts

Just a few final thoughts on Cuba:

The transport never failed to entertain us in one way or another, Varadero is full of tourist targeted vehicles, this includes immaculately kept 1950’s cars were the outside as well as the inside are beautiful and these are used as Taxi’s along with cars that look like they are Model T Fords, they are actually some sort of replica but still pretty.  We were told by a Cuba that some of the well maintain cars are worth $40,000-$50,000.

Lovely Cheryl posing by lovely car

Loved seeing this pink Cadillac outside the local burger van 

Not quite a Model T Ford but looks fun

The horse and carts troll up and down the main strip, these are the pretty carts where the passengers sit on comfy seats facing each other not the more interesting local carriages which have benches running down the sides these are still used by the locals as taxis.  In the town bicycles taxis are also widely used by the locals, it was great to see them all waiting at the central transport hub.

Cars, horse and carts and bike taxis all waiting for passengers

So many horse and cars

There are still lots of old 1950’s cars on the road but funny that you see them with tied down boots or doors that don’t shut and if you drive at night do not expect these to have any lights but cars are still a rarity outside of the more touristy areas and large towns.  Cubans mainly use public transport which come in various forms and mainly people stick there thumb out and hope for a lift, can you imagine having to do this everyday to get to and from work.  The trucks and transport vehicles are used between the larger towns and villages but there is little comfort.  You also can’t imagine the fumes from the traffic in Cuba, we often rode our bikes locally, you came back filthy and often with a sore throat from inhaling the smog.

This is a local bus filled with locals

Waiting to board the bus

Another bus, we have seen these crammed full of workers in the mornings going into Varadero

It was great to see and for us it made us appreciate what we have at home when you have your own car to drive to work, yes you have the massively frustrating traffic but you can get there without having to rely on other and the public transport available is much more luxurious!

Politics – On leaving Cuba people constantly want to understand more about how people live in Cuba, the effect of the relationship with the US, how and when it will change.  Many of these points we just can’t answer but by visiting Cuba you do get a better view on how the long term politics in the country have affected the Cuban people both now and in the future.  It is difficult to explain how you feel about things that you see as an injustice or the inconsistency of the every day living in Cuba, these best way is to provide some example.  You visit Varadero and other tourist areas and the locals expect you to have you hand in your pocket all the time, whether that is using the toilets in a local building, parking a scooter at the side of the road where the local cars do not pay, giving you directions if you have taken a wrong turn or generally tipping for service, and yes many of these things you would be happy to pay for if they suddenly didn’t look at you like a bottomless wallet or refuse when you offer them less that they expect – 1 CUC to use the bathroom is only the equivalent to 60p UK/ 1US$ but when you know the local doctor, vet, trained professional is getting paid 15-30 CUC a month!! Why is the toilet attendant not happy with the 50 peso that you gave her!  You also know that if you visit a bar in Varadero one day you might get charged 1CUC for a beer, the next day it might be 1.50 CUC, yes amazingly cheap and happy to pay 1.50CUC if that is the price but not to think you have just been ripped off, these happens everywhere you go.

So these things do start to irritate after 2 months trying to get to understand the locals and how they live, also the service that is often provided in the tourist areas is nothing special but more frequently outside of the area the locals can be amazingly helpful, generous and welcoming.

The Americans often think that Cuba would change for the better if the embargo was lifted and perhaps it would but things need to change so much more, potentially the Cubans working in the tourist industry would just get more money through tips and everyone else would still remain on the same level of wages. It is difficult to accept that a chambermaid is the richest person in a family when there are others who have spent years at university getting a profession and are then too proud to do a menial job. You hear stories all the time that make you want to know more but you would need to be in Cuba a lot longer that 2 months to really understand how things are, how they have progressed and what the Cubans hope to see change in the future.

Corruption,  just a word of warning to any cruisers who might visit Cuba, yes there is still corruption and people may want you to give them something from your boat or cash but this did not happen at Marina Darsena and the staff her made you feel safe and secure in the marina environment.

Ismelli (might have spent that wrong) the manager of the marina is a genuine and welcoming person that it was sad to say goodbye to, his English was really good and he made life easy for us. The amount of security they have at the marina is ridiculous with possibly 4 people working 24 hours a day which was bit overkill BUT they were all lovely and again made you feel very safe – it was slightly odd at night when we had a security guy sat outside the boat all night!  And to make life even easier for cruisers in Cuba, Debbie Armstrong is a Canadian who has lived in Marina Darsena, in Cuba for over 10 years and just makes the transition so easy by providing you with maps, explaining the currency and generally helping you live if Cuba, just such a generous person.

Ismelli and Mark, couldn't have been nicer

We were sad to say goodbye to Cuba and yes even on the last day when we had to have the coastguard and immigration come to the boat to check up out and ensure we were not smuggling anyone out and were inevitable late and held up our departures, it was still really nice that all the security guards on the night duty came to wave us goodbye along with the coastguard and immigration, we can never say we didn't meet so really lovely people in Cuba, if we ever return I will make sure I make more of an effort with my Spanish – adiós amigos.

Oh one final thought, Rum Yum J