The Good and the Bad

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Cuba is in the past, my past. I have left the biggest island in the Caraibes and its people behind me, chased up by the hurricane Rita. The memories of its beautiful landscapes, enchanting people and confusing politico-economic system will stay.

Maybe I should start with the lesser -but still interesting- news: Some policemen tried once to bribe U$15 out of Ted (well acquainted with this ‘road system’ by now) with no success when asked their name; and there was the incidence of me chasing after the thief of my camera in Old Havana… This young guy had been hovering for half an hour looking at the digital images on our cameras and when I was about to pack mine away he asked to have a last look and bolted with it out of my hands!. So here I am, remembering to shout “Ayudame” (Help me) while starting the chase and thinking in a split second that if this is like in the movies then I should be able to catch up… however my thongs certainly slowed me down and even more when I quickly ended up on his turf, one of the seedy corners of Havana -where I didn’t somehow get much help from the locals-. I discovered later on that even the Police don’t bother asking questions in this particular neighbourhood. I must say that at the main station, they were quite efficient by typing a report from our interview radioed to them earlier on (even though I freaked out when they took Ted’s passport and asked us to wait outside for ‘fresh air’??). Other frustating aspects of Cuba was the blatant rip-off of tourists with an artificial economy of a Peso valued at more than the US dollar!, pricey hotels and commodities. Cubans are suffering from it too with simple things like powder milk requiring 6 pesos (1/2 of a state monthly minimum wage!). Cuba IS expensive but this allowed me certain pleasure in finding eating spots for 50 cents for two in ‘non tourist’ restaurants. Vegetarians visiting Havana itself will find it frustrating as even tomatoes are inexistent, and roaming from restaurants menus to the next is a common occurrence -until I end settling for another pizza-. Likely Ted and I got more spoiled in the South part of the island (but more on that in next blogs).

The good part of my memories include waiting for Ted (only in retrospect) as it allowed me to spend some time with the family lodging me. They tried their best to provide Spanish lesson (1 hour did me!), accompanying me to the remote beaches, trying bars they wouldn’t normally afford, etc… I had to end up with in the house of the ex Cuba consul in Russia of course! So luckily there was a bit of english spoken. Their son helped too, a professor of Ancient Languages on holidays from uni at the time but with an ill eye, he endured my constant questions on the political system and its impact on the people of Cuba. Through some mix of Spanish, English and even French, I got to understand that the opinions are divided on the issue of Castro; which means that a change of system might start with an serious upheaval. I mean the propaganda is a serious marketing exercise here and many people have invested their life in this ideal (hard to reject now). Others are aware of some Cubans starving in their own country, and with access to the outside world, they… know better. Hard for some of my ideals but certainly an exciting topic to discuss -constantly with Ted-.

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Comments

[Madalyn]

Great news
Sandy - I've finally figured out how to use this system - well sort of anyway. Adam is in Singapore for a mate's wedding then off to Taiwan to catch up with Vivki's family. Bill has a promotion at work which he's rather chuffed about. We have water restrictions - no sprinklers - getting quite serious. I can see you chasing the thief .... crazy Frenchie! Sorry for you living off Peanut Butter with no veggies. Other wise all OK here.