Passionate Cuba
After flying across the Caribbean Sea, I set foot on Cuban soil. Having applied for a visa (tourist card) online in advance, entry was smooth. The warm welcome the staff showed Chinese tourists was a far cry from the "dark room" experience I'd had at my first stop in Mexico.
Havana, upon arriving, I excitedly went out for a stroll early in the morning. Passing by a local home, a woman standing at her door greeted me with a beaming smile. Her energy was instantly infectious. Cubans are so welcoming!
The morning sun was gentle and bright, illuminating the city with vibrant colors that were particularly bright and dazzling. As I was walking, another woman suddenly stopped me and spoke a torrent of Spanish. Her rapid pace, rhythm, and harmonious tone made it sound like a song. I didn't understand a word, but from her expression and the body language she was trying to communicate, I understood what she meant: seeing me walking with my phone in hand and looking down, she was worried I'd be robbed and reminded me to put my phone away and be careful. I was actually looking for directions using Maps.me, a pre-downloaded offline map. The hostess met a female friend, and when they met, they kissed loudly on the cheek. Seeing my surprise, he laughed and said it was normal; Cubans kissed their same-sex friends on the cheek after shaking hands. Okay, forgive my fuss.
The gap between the rich and the poor in Havana, Cuba's capital, is stark. The old districts are utterly dilapidated, with ordinary families living in ramshackle buildings, and clothes and linens hanging out to dry on the "roofs" of the towering buildings. A friend saw a photo I posted on WeChat Moments and left a message asking how to achieve a post-war "Syrian style." Besides the trash cans in the main square, it's hard to find one on the streets. Residential areas are littered with garbage, and sewage accumulates in potholes along the uneven roads, swarming with flies and mosquitoes. The squalor and poverty are palpable. But just across the street stands the magnificent National Congress Building, the National Theater, and other stunning European-style buildings. As the main tourist area, the old town is also homeless, with plenty of beggars and rough sleepers. One day, I went to a restaurant recommended by a friend. The portions were so large I couldn't finish them, so I planned to take some home for dinner. As I was leaving, I was stopped by someone asking for food. While there were plenty of homeless people, there was also a single player happily playing Go on the ground, his concentration radiating an air of undisturbed indifference.
Watching travelers in brightly colored convertibles zipping around the city... The contrast between old and new, rich and poor, was particularly striking. Havana is a place of contradictions.
Havana Tips
🎈Food: Recommended: Los Nardos Asturianito Trofeo, located diagonally across from the National Congress (4 JMR + RM9, P. de Martí, La Habana, Cuba).
🎈Chinese Restaurant: Restaurante Tien Tan (17 Ave Carlos Manuel Céspedes (Avenue del Puerto), La Habana, Cuba).
🎈Internet: Download a VPN before entering Cuba. Cuba has just launched internet, and many online payments may not work due to regional issues. Also, book accommodation and outbound transportation in advance for your next destination. You can queue up at the telecommunications company in the last photo to buy a SIM card for internet access.
🎈Offline Map: MAPS.ME
🎈Note for carpoolers ⚠️
Don't drink too much water! There are no restrooms along the way. Even if there are stops, they're mostly mobile vendors in converted cars offering snacks, bread, and drinks, but no place to relieve yourself. I asked the driver and my group where the restroom was, and they all pointed to the back of the car. Everyone was relieving themselves outdoors, which was a bit sheltered.
#Cuba #Havana