"Cuba - The Land of Ironies" a Cuba Travel Page by TOFFY

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Coffee in the Pines of Mayari

There is no arguing that the island of Cuba is a fascinating country to travel around and worth the little amount of money it is going to cost you. Every corner you turn offers you a surprise package. It is the most varied of all the Caribbean islands, with 4500 miles of empty beach, hundreds of indigenous species of flora and fauna, fascinating eco-systerms of deserts, rainforests, oceans, mountains and fertile valleys - a photographers dream. Now add in the world’s best rum and cigars, beautiful women and men that are incurable romantics…..the home of some of the best baseball players, Desi Arnez and Hemingway, It is a land of colourful history, where American Presidents have fought and lost, a land of adventure and peace, and now a land of little crime or violence. It is a land that emotes so much discussion and yet no one agrees. It is forbidden to the world’s most powerful people, yet is only 90 miles away from them. Some Cubans have abandoned it in anger, while others have remained to live (and die) for the Cuban way.

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Havana

But to enjoy travelling in Cuba, it is necessary to acquaint oneself with its people, and in order to understand its people, it is necessary to know how they got to where they are, and what they have endured to get there. Cuba is an independent communist country, and it has been a long road getting there.
(Read any books you can get your hands on - and be sure to read about both sides of the coin.)

Cuba’s past was dominated by the Spanish, who imported Africans for slaves. This was followed by an occupation by Americans who imported the Mafia and the “American Playground” culture. This was followed by the 1957 revolution of the people, led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, to throw out the dominators and any Cubans who wanted to go with them. Their leader promised (and delivered) equality to all - no homelessness, no starvation, free health care with a doctor for every 170 people, free university, subsidized food and shelter, a land of world class science and health research (especially in cancer and transplants) , an educated people rich in culture and literary tradition.

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But what was the price they paid for all of this?

Cuba stopped in time. When the Americans were forced out of Cuba, the economy stopped. Those who stayed, stayed for the cause, but it left them all poor- no food, no supplies, no oil and gas, no parts for machines and farms. Determined to save Cuba, Fidel turned to socialism - poor, but equally poor. While he stuck to his promises, frustration and suffering grew. Freedom of speech had to be limited and freedom to leave was restricted. The rights of the individual were traded for the good of the society.
Enter the U.S.S.R. - a trading partner that would keep Cuba floating, and weigh heavily on the Americans. But with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the hardship returned to the Cuban people, and starvation stared them in the eye. Given the hopelessness of the situation, Fidel compromised and turned to tourism - a necessary evil that brought with it a pocketful of American dollars, necessary to supplement his dying economy.

And there the irony starts.
What you will find in Cuba is a people in great hardship, but sincerely warm and friendly, ready to assist at any time;
Alluring billboards that announce “Cuba’s waiting for you…….we knew you were coming” followed by one that says “Socialism or Death” ;
The world’s best 50’s car show and architectural masterpieces falling down, yet the brokendown-ness is the adventure and the beauty;
An army that stands on guard, yet is willing to cha-cha if the music plays;
The Bay of Pigs, a bad piece of American history, now a tourist resort;
Whole towns that are museums, where you can feel the memory of the old styles of life that have passed through;
Resignation but resilience; Frustration but total trust.
A taxi driver who is a professor or doctor

Do not miss Cuba - the natural beauty, the live music in every town square, the adventures and the beaches. But be generous and understanding as you wave goodbye.