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I just spent 3 weeks in Cuba.

AlphaOmega said:
Sounds breathtaking. I wonder why their citizens risk their lives trying to float here.
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Considering many of them struggle to feed their families, life can be very difficult for many.
 
ecofarm said:
You're treated as a tourist. A money bag just waiting to spend. Killing the Golden Goose would be bad form.

It's hilarious when tourists think they're anthropologists.

Cuba is a ****hole. Don't let the regime lie to you.
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you appear to have a strong opinion about that island. tell us about your experiences while in cuba
 
SDET said:
$800 for a solid 168 hour week of having my every whim catered to is well worth it.
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Yes, yes, we've all heard your stories of developing world impoverished prostitution.

Sex tourism does not make one an anthropologist.
 
justabubba said:
you appear to have a strong opinion about that island. tell us about your experiences while in cuba
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So stupid.

The dumbass "no crime" claims are the emotional BS. They had their hands held and were fed BS by a murderous regime and now they think they know something.

I employ stats and empirical research. Not a regime-tailored anecdotal experience.

Some fools would go to NK and come back spouting regime rhetoric.
 
ecofarm said:
So stupid.

The dumbass "no crime" claims are the emotional BS. They had their hands held and were fed BS by a murderous regime and now they think they know something.

I employ stats and empirical research. Not a regime-tailored anecdotal experience.

Some fools would go to NK and come back spouting regime rhetoric.
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The very low crime claim is true in Cuba. Everyone is so tightly controlled, that there's not much opportunity to engage in criminal activity.

Cuba is an exhilarating specifically because the dictatorship has conditioned at least some people to obey without question. It's a unique and thrilling experience to be served in such a way. As a "rich" tourist that will provide them in two weeks with more than what the state will provide them in TWO YEARS, you become more valuable than the state that they have been conditioned to obey without question. Think of how tempting it is to serve a tourist's every smallest desire for two weeks in exchange for not needing to work for two YEARS.

If NK wanted to raise some cash, they could provide the same experience. However, not speaking the language would impede things considerably.
 
SDET said:
Cuba is an exhilarating specifically because the dictatorship has conditioned at least some people to obey without question. It's a unique and thrilling experience to be served in such a way. As a "rich" tourist that will provide them in two weeks with more than what the state will provide them in TWO YEARS, you become more valuable than the state that they have been conditioned to obey without question. Think of how tempting it is to serve a tourist's every smallest desire for two weeks in exchange for not needing to work for two YEARS.

If NK wanted to raise some cash, they could provide the same experience. However, not speaking the language would impede things considerably.
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Anyone that would rely on your powers of observation is a fool. You can't bring anecdotal sex tourism evidence and expect anyone to respect it.

There's a reason you go to Cuba. It's destitute. There's a reason you can't do here what you do there - poverty.

Having lived in rural Africa, I'm aware of what developing world poverty looks like. I'm just not interested in exploiting it. And I'm certainly not interested in denying the horror of it.
 
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ecofarm said:
So stupid.

The dumbass "no crime" claims are the emotional BS. They had their hands held and were fed BS by a murderous regime and now they think they know something.

I employ stats and empirical research. Not a regime-tailored anecdotal experience.

Some fools would go to NK and come back spouting regime rhetoric.
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then it would appear you have never been to this island you have such strong opinions about
weren't you pursuing a scientific major?
 
ecofarm said:
So stupid.

The dumbass "no crime" claims are the emotional BS. They had their hands held and were fed BS by a murderous regime and now they think they know something.

I employ stats and empirical research. Not a regime-tailored anecdotal experience.

Some fools would go to NK and come back spouting regime rhetoric.
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Hating on the Cuban government and its misinformation is one thing. But visit the Island, its people and walk freely in even the poorest neighborhoods. And then tell me you didn't feel safe there.

Then when you're done, rinse, lather and repeat in Miami, Chicago, etc.

There is no comparison IMO.
 
Top Cat said:
Hating on the Cuban government and its misinformation is one thing. But visit the Island, its people and walk freely in even the poorest neighborhoods. And then tell me you didn't feel safe there.

Then when you're done, rinse, lather and repeat in Miami, Chicago, etc.

There is no comparison IMO.
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Thanks for the informative post.


Like most people, I have read that crime is rampant in Latin America, even worse than it is here in big American cities.


So it was uplifting to learn that crime is not a concern in Cuba. The people should be very proud of themselves.
 
Never been to Cuba but I'm told they have innumerable cars from the 50's and 60's still running the streets.

Very little rust :mrgreen:
 
Xelor said:
Glad you had a good time.

Those are the reasons to travel to all sorts of places other than Western Europe/Eurozone countries. Many places in the Caribbean Central America, and South American are similarly amazing. A few are pricey, but most aren't.

Curious:
  • Do you speak Spanish?
  • Did you find you needed to speak Spanish?
  • Was the majority of your visit spent in/doing touristy, ex-pat or central-city area "stuff" or spent interacting with locals in venues hardly visited by non-Cubans?
  • Did you see any obvious signs of extensive and abundant remaining damage from last year's hurricanes?
  • What kinds of cars did you ride in/drive?
  • What thoughts have you to share on the endogenous and exogenous juxtaposition of modernity and the 20th century Cuba presents?
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Xelor said:
Glad you had a good time.

Those are the reasons to travel to all sorts of places other than Western Europe/Eurozone countries. Many places in the Caribbean Central America, and South American are similarly amazing. A few are pricey, but most aren't.

Curious:
Do you speak Spanish?
Did you find you needed to speak Spanish?
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I do not. My wife is fluent in Spanish and Italian. And for the most part, you can get buy with just English. But it is always easier to get the inside scopp when you do speak the language.


Was the majority of your visit spent in/doing touristy, ex-pat or central-city area "stuff" or spent interacting with locals in venues hardly visited by non-Cubans?
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We stayed in AirBNB's for the majority of our trip. Our first 4 nights in Havana, then we shared a Taxi to Santa Clara for 1 night, two nights in Trinidad (Hotter than hell there), 2 nights in Cienfuegoes and 4 nights in Playa Large (Bay of Pigs). Then we spent 4 nights at the Blue All Inclusive Resort in Varadero, then one last night in Havana before flying home. .. Visited numerous neighborhoods by walk, taxi, intercity mostly by bus. Visited some museums, but mostly we hung out in the real neighborhoods.

As to Varadero, it's touristy. But the Blau is super nice and their beach is breathtaking white sand, aqua blue water and gentle waves to either swim in or just soak.

Did you see any obvious signs of extensive and abundant remaining damage from last year's hurricanes?
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No but one of the property owners told us they lost their roof and were trying to save up enough money to buy a new one.

What kinds of cars did you ride in/drive?
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We got around by Taxi particulars (privately owned), buses and walking. The 50's cars are ubiquitous. So many of those. Although most of the really nice ones are reserved for tours.

What thoughts have you to share on the endogenous and exogenous juxtaposition of modernity and the 20th century Cuba presents?
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I think what's happening in Cuba is similar to what has happened in China and Russia. Where capitalism is creeping in. Cuba is loosening its posture on privtae business ownership for fear of continued brain drain. So restaurants and tourism type businesses are popping up all over Cuba. The young people want a better life and they are not really blindly loyal to the government.

And one thing that makes me nuts. We do business with the Japanese, the Germans, the Italians, the Russians, the Chinese and we're afraid of a small island?

Insanity.
 
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penthouse pic.jpg

This is the view from our Penthouse in Havana. ($50 a night) First day we got there, literally across the street from a baseball stadium and of course a game was going on. And in the far right corner was a baseball jamboree. The boys playing coach pitch were maybe 7. And they hit the hell out of the ball. These parents go ape ****. Fun times.

cars.jpg

more cars.jpg

These cars are ubiquitous. And many are gorgeous.

bicitaxi.jpg

These is a common form of taxi referred to as a Bici" (Bicycle) Not the car stereo mounted over his head and the remote in his right hand.

fishing boats.jpg

We stayed at Playa Large (On the Bay of Pigs). PL is a quaint fishing village. There's a sizable fishing fleet of 80 or so boats. Not a single one has a motor. Cubans are not allowed to own motorboats. Orwellian for sure. But look at this ragtag boat. These people are ingenious.
 
blau.jpg

This is looking out of our room at the Blau resort.

And this is the beach. First building on the right is the bar ha ha.

blau beach.jpg

More images of the beach. Heavenly.

varadero-beach-13915-2560x1440.jpg
 
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Winston said:
Is Cuban approval for their government higher than U.S. Congressional approval?
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All Cubans love their government until the opportunity presents itself to escape.
 
Top Cat said:
What a gut wrenching choice to have make.
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Indeed. All of Cuba is not like the resorts, and the realities in those areas drive the decision to set themselves adrift rather than stay.
 
Top Cat said:
Yep comrade. I'm a pinko commie now.
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LOL Ive never been to Cuba but Im curious about the food- its one of the things I try whenever I travel. How was it?
 
PoS said:
LOL Ive never been to Cuba but Im curious about the food- its one of the things I try whenever I travel. How was it?
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If there was a disappointment, it was the food. The quality was excellent. Very fresh seafood. But it was honestly rather bland. I prefer food that has lots of flavor. Mexican, Italian, middle eastern, asian, etc.
 
Top Cat said:
Hating on the Cuban government and its misinformation is one thing. But visit the Island, its people and walk freely in even the poorest neighborhoods. And then tell me you didn't feel safe there.

Then when you're done, rinse, lather and repeat in Miami, Chicago, etc.

There is no comparison IMO.
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Ask any researcher about tourist data. You were fed a routine. And you were safe because you were walking money being spent.
 
ecofarm said:
This is your defense of a totalitarian regime's lies? How sad.
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that was my objection to an assessment of an island you had never visited

hardly a process followed by someone acquainted with the scientific process
 
justabubba said:
that was my objection to an assessment of an island you had never visited
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Employing anecdotal BS to gas-light is the work of scoundrels.

Cuba is crime-ridden and the totalitarian regime lies to tourists and protects them.

It's not a magical land unaffected by its extreme poverty. Communist regimes do not, in fact, take the crime out of poverty. That's a lie, and an obvious one. One cannot take the crime out of poverty with any government policy. There is no silver bullet. The only way to reduce crime is to reduce poverty.

Think for a minute and stop buying any crap spewed by a tourist. People come back from NK with the same stories.

Poverty = crime. Period. No government can stop it. Not even the Castro Regime.
 
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