gefunden bei lp
After several delays for my long expected Cuba trip I yesterday returned home after 3.5 weeks of Cuba. I had a good time in Cuba, but I really don't understand why some people keep returning to that country.
As said, I had a good time. It was very nice to go back to old times with the classic cars or at some places even virtually only bicycle/horse and carriage as means of transport. I really liked the live performances that I've seen though the repetion of the same set of traditional Afro-Cuban music started to annoy after 3 weeks. With respect to ballet I've seen, unexpected, some excellent performances. The nature was nice specially around Baracoa and Vinales though at some places (mainly Moa and Havana City) I was struck about the amount of polution too.
There were two main drawbacks for me. The food with little variety and often poor quality. Even diner in more upmarket restaurants was often no better than reasonable. While peso restaurants not always served the poor quality I expected. Though peso restaurants are by definition basic, the quality was sometimes excellent but sometimes real crappy too. Diner at a casa particular guarantee's a fair price/quality but they usually offer little variety too. The drawback of many casa's is that they want you to order well in advance which consequently limits you in your freedom.
The most important drawback of Cuba were the people. At first they seem very friendly, but I learned that genuine friendlyness is rare in Cuba. I had a couple of times that casa owners were extremely friendly, were prepared to do anything for me untill I had payed then they didn't even have time to say goodby any more....
There's virtually always an edge to make money out of you. As soon as they understand they're not going to make money out of you they're not interested any more. Where in other countries it's possible to have a good time with touts/jineteros in Cuba they're only annoying. Saying no doesn't work (they'll offer anything else or insist), not reacting result often in anger and the same often happens when you try to apply humour. Humour (as at most places) is nevertheless the best way to handle them. If you answer the standard questions where you're from with "La Luna" they usually are so stunned they don't bother any more to offer a casa, cigars, chicas or whatever:-) Another well working trick is to tell them you don't have dollars (and act accordingly). One chica who asked me to be her novio sighed deep and nearly pushed me into the ditch when I told her "No tiene dollares"
A Swiss guy I met told me there are two kind of Cubans. Prostitutes and pimps. As with all generalisations not a really fair remark. Nevertheless not a very bad characterisations of the Cubans considering how many people offer sex by themselves or other people.
I think it's good that I've seen Cuba before Fidel dies and things (at least I expect so) will change dramaticly. Cuba is definitely an experience but imho it's no return destination as it has nothing really going for it. I think there are many countries offering a better mix of people, culture, food and nature, the main things I travel for. Cuba may do for a beach (resort) vacation and/or sextourism but that's not my cup of tea.
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