Havana, Cuba

I've been busy. I swear. But now that i'm in sunny Oaxaca, waiting for a bus to San Christobal tomorrow night (not a bad place to be stuck) i've finally decided to get my ass into gear and catch up on my blog.

Let me start with Cuba.

Spent a week in Havana, 2 nights in colonial town Trinidad, and a very uncomfortable day tour of Viñalez.

Firstly i'd like to clear up that i love Cuba. I love the spanish, though hard to understand, and the strong culture. In Havana, pretty much everything is exposed to the street... ballet classes, orchestra rehersals, salsa gigs, daily game of dominoes...in many ways it's an exciting place to be. As there aren't really any hostels, i slept at a homestay - always a more enriching experience.

Havana Vieja

Bfast at my host family - $4Beautiful art galleries/street art "Salvador's Alley" artist-run laneway
Museo de Revoluccíon An awesome Korean couple i met on the plane

But there's an underlying sadness to Cuban life. I'd have to say it's one of the most tragic, devestating places i've visited. Havana Vieja - the old city - is beautiful and architecturally sound, however sorrounding areas are full of delapidated buildings and desperate people. Under the 50 odd yrs of Castro rule, the almost communist-run country has enforced this ideology of "patria o muerte" ie "patriotism or die". Support the revolution, and your chances of getting into a good university, or getting promoted is greater. Oppose the system and you're considered a threat to the government.

Havana University

El centro - suburb next to Havana viejaOld cars from the 50s/60s

Ongoing political control has elicited fear in the quality of Cuban life... On average, a monthly wage equates to $30US/month. Emmigration involves the government taking over all of your possessions with a $1000US fine. A duo-currency for foreigners and locals has created an unbalanced system, resulting in staples like baby milk to be accesible only to foreigners. And most tragically, the government has little money (or interest perhaps) in maintaining the country's wellbeing; according to 1997 statistics, something like 250, 000 homes were ranked as defective.

Gives you an idea of how long some restorations have been postponed...

Repairing furniture on the street

So as a tourist, you can imagine how hard it is to emmerse yourself amongst people who can't afford to go to bars or restaurants etc... everything in the city is designed for foreigners which i found very hard to accept.

Didn't stop me from discovering this Afro-Cuban Rumba party upstairs in an apartment in el Centro...