Cuba Riffs. . .Volume 1

Well, it’s been two days since I got to blog, and we’ve seen and done so much, I’m not sure where to start, so it seems some riffs are in order. . .

The food is much better than I expected. . .they allow some private enterprise, and suddenly quality increases.  Shocking. . .capitalism works. . .not much traffic even now here in Havana. . .but the old cars from the 1950s are loving restored and in beautiful shape. . .took a ride in a 1958 Ford Fairlane convertible. . .we felt like the King and Queen of the world. . .last night after dinner got a ride in a 1958 Chevy taxi. . .much cooler than the 1990s taxis that abound. . .just seeing all the old cars on the streets is amazing.

Cubans working in the tourism business are all quite friendly. . .they make more money doing this than working field like medicine.  There is so much opportunity in this country. . .Havana is one of the most impressive cities we have been in the new world. . .and even the old.

One complaint. . .the exchange rate is unrealistic and terrible. . .there are two currencies in Cuba. . .one for the people and one for the tourists. . .dollars are worth ninety cents to the CUC. . .the convertible unit of currency, also pronounced “kook.”  I do wonder if there is a growing resentment between the government workers (those who get paid a salary from the government to do anything not in tourism) and the entrepreneurs who drive taxis, have a restaurant, work as tour guides.

Many of the traffic lights in Cuba have large countdown clocks in red and green that count down the amount of time left in a red light or green light.  While it is great, let’s not do that in the US.  First, they don’t have yellow lights.  Second, I can see people leaving early when there are only two seconds left in a red light, or gunning it through just after the countdown ends on a green light.

I hope to post some pictures soon, but it have to wait till we are back in the US of A. . .internet is not speedy here!

Find a reason to come to Cuba. . .it is easy to fall in love with this island and its people.  Before coming, a long-time friend noted he had been here ten years ago, and said it is a sh*thole.  Thankfully, that is no longer true. . .not every works great in a workers paradise, and you have to endure the nonstop images of Che Guevara, but the people are great and the island we’ve seen so far (Varadero and Havana) is amazing.