Final Thoughts On This Cuba Visit
10 May 2016
Susan
I’ve finally posted all the blog entries - dated April 13 to May 1 - and most of the photos. Traveling all of the way to the east coast, Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa, and back by bus is a long trip. Over 1,200 miles and 42 hours, not counting the hours spent waiting for the bus to arrive and to depart. It was helpful to have only 1 checked bag and 2 carry-ons between us; less is more when keeping track of belongings in rushed and crowded bus terminals.
Outside of Havana, we met only one other American however several Canadian and European travelers. The Cubans we met were universally excited about the improving relations with the US and hopeful the changes it brings are positive for them personally. Many also expressed the realistic view that little is likely to change until their political leadership does.
With one exception the cases particulares were as advertised. 25-35 CUC per room per night is a lot of money in today’s Cuba, especially if they have 2 or 3 rooms to rent. Competition for customers is fierce, with scams abundant (e.g. taxi drivers taking people to the wrong house). Most casas were trying to expand by extending the footprint of the home and/or building a second or third floor.
Our friend and fellow traveler, Saundra, penned the following impressions of Cuba:
1 Clip clop of horses on the streets
2 Bad beds and worse pillows
3 Ahhh...the music!
4 Beautiful scenery
5 Horse carts (some were even "taxis")
6 Old cars
7 Bici taxis
8 Broken down buildings
9 Revolution signs along the roads with Fidel and Che's pictures on them.
10 No soap, no washrags
11 Trinidad's clean streets
12 Being able to walk around at night with "no worries".
13 Good Rum
14 Good Cigars
14 Leiocephalus cubensis (Cuban curly tailed lizard)
15 Friendly people
I’ll add:
16 Beer for breakfast (even the little old ladies drink a beer along with their morning coffee!)
17 Ice cream (not unusual to see people double-fisting cones)
18 Ham & cheese sandwiches
With that, onto another topic!