{"id":369,"date":"2016-12-02T19:00:32","date_gmt":"2016-12-03T00:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exploringed.com\/?p=369"},"modified":"2022-12-13T10:20:37","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T15:20:37","slug":"what-we-did-in-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exploringed.com\/what-we-did-in-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba: Living in the Past – Evolving to the Future."},"content":{"rendered":"
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean with great beaches, impressive (though often deteriorated) architecture and friendly, stylish people. It is renowned for its music creating genres such as: rumba, mambo, trova and others; and for its musicians including the international famous Buena Vista Social Club. However, the single item that most likely pops into your mind when you think of Cuba, is its abundance of classic cars ranging from the 50s and 60s. Amazingly, all of this and more just 90 miles from the US.<\/p>\n
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In a world of harmony and peace there would have been a continuous flow of millions of Americans touring Cuba in the last half century. However, events such as the US embargo which began in 1962, had stopped all but a handful of Americans from traveling there. In 2015, the US re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba, which made it easier for Americans to go with just a little extra paperwork than other Caribbean destinations. While the uncertainty inevitably discourages travelers from going, those that are brave enough to explore will experience fewer tourists; though you will always encounters travellers in the more frequented locales like the capital.<\/p>\n
My wife Khadija, daughter Ayan and I traveled there from Christmas Eve 2016 to January 2 of the following year. We found that the independent traveler has challenges to deal with, one in particular being that credit cards are not widely used and US cards are not accepted at all. Other challenges include two different currencies, limited basic information and small amounts of internet access. Despite these difficulties, we would rate it as one of the most compelling and inviting places we have been too.<\/p>\n
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and about the size of Tennessee. Like Tennessee, it is long (almost 800 miles) and narrow (widest point is 120 miles). The population is over 11 million. Many have relatives abroad, especially in the US . The population is ethnically diverse with all skin shades present.<\/p>\n
Prior to Spanish colonization in the late 15th century, Cuba was first inhabited by Amerindians called Taino, but the culture was wiped out mostly by disease. Cuba became independent from Spain after the Spanish\u2013American War of 1898, in which the US had a high degree of influences; especially in the first couple of decades. In 1959, Fidel Castro ousted the dictator Fulgencio Batista. Fidel and his brother Raul have ruled the country ever since. It is undergoing a slow transition from a rigid communist country to one with increasing economic freedom.<\/p>\n
The country has high rankings for health care and literacy, but is poor with per capita income of 1\/20 of the US. Yet it is one of the most egalitarian countries in the world, as citizen incomes do not vary much by profession. Cuba has an extremely rich artistic culture and has performed very well in the international sports, especially considering its population.<\/p>\n
The US allows its citizen to travel to Cuba under the following 12 authorized categories (called general licenses)<\/p>\n
1. Educational activities in Cuba for schools, including people-to-people exchanges open to everyone<\/p>\n
2. Professional research and professional meetings in Cuba<\/p>\n
3. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions in Cuba<\/p>\n
4. Religious activities in Cuba<\/p>\n
5. Humanitarian projects in Cuba<\/p>\n
6. Journalistic activities in Cuba<\/p>\n
7. Family visits to close relatives in Cuba<\/p>\n
8. Activities in Cuba by private foundations, or research or educational institutes<\/p>\n
9. Any type of support for the Cuban people<\/p>\n
10. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information technologies or materials<\/p>\n
11. Certain authorized export transactions including agricultural and medical products, and tools, equipment and construction supplies for private use<\/p>\n
12. Official business of the US government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations<\/p>\n
These are broad enough to cover everyone, especially #3 and #9. Travelers may be asked to sign an affidavit by the airline or tour operator indicating the one you are traveling under. You do not need any written authorization from any US governmental agency. When we returned, there were no questions or issues about traveling to Cuba. From my experience, talking with others and online research, this experience is same for everyone.<\/p>\n
We took a non-stop flight from New York City to Havana on JetBlue, one of eight carriers authorized to fly from the US to Havana. We completed the general license affidavit online when we bought the tickets. At John F. Kennedy airport, there was a dedicated check-in area for the flight. At the check-in desk we completed a form for the Cuba Visa and was given a receipt. We arrived about two hours before takeoff and check-in, including waiting in line, and took less than 30 minutes. Of course, the later you come, the longer the wait.<\/p>\n
Cuba has two currencies:<\/p>\n
\u25cf The convertible currency ($CUC): Foreigners almost always us $CUC and during our stay, it fluctuated daily and equaled about ninety cents to a US$. Cubans also use $CUC for certain items such as cell phones and nicer shops and restaurants. Despite the name, it is not convertible to a foreign currency.<\/p>\n
\u25cf The national currency ($CUP), which is about 1\/25th of the value of $CUC. State pensions and salaries are paid in $CUP, but sometimes with a portion in $CUC. Locals use $CUP to buy food and pay rent, which are subsidized by the government, and also for some local restaurants.<\/p>\n
How did this happen? In 1993, Cuba was no longer receiving massive subsidies from the Soviet Union and interestingly legalized the US dollar for purchases made mainly by tourists and later for other goods ranging from oil to toothpaste. In 2004, the $US was replaced by the $CUC. The Cuban government has set a goal to have one currency in the future, but it is complicated by the enormous negative effect it would have on the poor. Most tourists stick to using $CUC, but someone on a budget could eat very cheaply using $CUP if they put in the effort to buy it and use it where it\u2019s accepted. As this is confusing, you must be cognizant of the two currencies and your own money. For example, you could go to a local food market and pay in $CUC and get change back in $CUP.<\/p>\n
You can exchange currency at a CADECA (change bureau) or certain Cuban banks. Our experience changing money usually consisted of long lines and a wait time anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour. For $US there is a 10% fee which really eats into your stash. Starting with our first lodging, we were able to pay in $US, thus avoiding the 10% charge. Eventually we realized that many restaurants will also take $US. We really wished we had known that from the beginning of our trip,<\/p>\n
Internet access is very restricted in Cuba, which makes traveling in the country difficult. It is banned in private homes, but you can buy wifi for a duration from a ETECSA telecommunications center (usually with long lines) through a card that you use to access an online internet portal. Public wifi hotspots are very easy to identify, because of the comical concentration of people on a block looking intently at their phones.<\/p>\n
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These cards can also be used in hotels which have wifi hotspots and cyber cafes..The cost for an hour is about two $CUC, which is expensive for Cubans considering the average salary is $20\/month. In our experience, we received less than half of the time we bought and the speed was slow. With all these obstacles, we accessed the internet only a few minutes a day and not every day.<\/p>\n
There is no written information for most of the things you need, such as bus times and stops. Using the internet is usually not an option. If your Spanish is good enough, you can ask locals. If it isn\u2019t, it will be hard to research where you would like to go, how to get there and the associated times and costs. To deal with this situation, you should research as much as possible before you arrive in Cuba. Also, all of the Cubans we came in contact with, from hotel staff to pedestrians on the street, were very helpful and I suggest that you seek them out for any information you might need.<\/p>\n
Cuba is mostly a cash economy. Most places, with the notable exception of tourist hotels and restaurants, do not accept credit cards. US credit cards cannot be used, apparently because US companies have not figured out how to do it through the Cuban government and partners.<\/p>\n
Cuba is cheap. For example, Havana good restaurants are often half the price of comparable ones in New York City, so there is a natural tendency to order more than you would back home. So you have to keep this in mind as it is not hard to run through hundreds of dollars a day for lodging, food and transportation; especially for a couple or a family. (I must note though, a careful and flexible budget traveler could get by on $25 to $35 a day.).<\/p>\n
There are few places to get cash from and it would be time consuming to figure how to do it, and you might not be able to. My advice is to make a liberal estimate of what you think you will need and take twice as much. This will leave money for unexpected situations and to buy gifts for the folks back home.<\/p>\n
Cuba is one of the safest countries I have travelled to. Locals are friendly and open and do not hassle tourists as they go through their daily lives. Probably this is a combination of the culture and an authoritarian government which makes sure the police let tourists move in peace.<\/p>\n
You do have to watch out for petty scams, such as being charged way too much for something. As you are in a foreign environment and often jet lagged, this can happen to anyone. But it happens relatively infrequently and nothing to lose any sleep about.<\/p>\n
There are also jineteros\/jineteras (male\/female touts) who can approach you to show you places to stay or eat. We did not encounter them, but they do exist. Also, some jineteras also approach usually older men and ask them if they want company, which can mean a number of things. We saw some young local women socializing with foreign men twenty to forty years their senior.<\/p>\n
You will run into some people who let you take their picture and then ask for money. My opinion is that life is hard on the poor in Cuba, with little money and many shortages for basic goods, so I do not mind giving something. I usually gave $1CUC to a cooperative person who looked like they needed it.<\/p>\n
Before going, I read that you must show proof of health insurance from your home country or buy a policy from a Cuban insurance company at the airport, port, or marina where you enter the country. JetBlue assessed $25 \/ person for Cuban health insurance. No one asked us to show proof of health insurance, but maybe Immigration knew if the airline carrier required that we purchase it. For $25, it was well worth it in case something happened and to avoid delays in Immigration. Also, on any trip, I also urge you to buy travel insurance (it\u2019s cheap) covering medical emergencies and other unforeseen events.<\/p>\n
Be sure to take everything you need, as there is a good chance you cannot buy it in Cuba. I did not take contact lens solution because I did not have a four-ounce bottle which I could carry on. I thought I could buy it at JFK, but none of the stores had it. When I got to Cuba, I spent two hours looking for a place to buy it. I was worried, because not having it would have greatly affected my trip. No pharmacy carried it for soft contact lenses (apparently they still use hard ones there). I went to a place which prescribes glasses and they had none. After they saw the distress in my face, one of the assistants went to the back room and found a half used bottled which expired four months prior. I gladly took it. I knew I averted a disaster of my own making.<\/p>\n