Cuba, SiCuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, has much to offer -- royal palm trees spotted throughout the island, white sandy beaches, rugged hills and mountains in the southeast, and Old Havana with its magnificent colonial buildings. The people are friendly without any hint of anti-Americanism. And it is cheap. A full course meal in most areas will cost under 5 dollars. A bus ride, regardless of its length will cost less than 1 dollar.
You'll probably have to pay for these meals however in US Dollars. It is the currency of choice in Cuba. Cubans don't even like to accept their own currency, the Cuban peso. Forget the television commercials and leave your credit cards home. The only cards accepted are those drawn on non U.S. banks. Varadero
Old Havana's side streets, narrow and cobble-stoned, are another picture, one of urban decay. The walls of many of the buildings are literally propped up with wood. Walking these narrow streets one is struck by the absence of commodity shops. Don't look for a 7-11, Burger King, or McDonalds -- they don't exist in Cuba. Except for the cigar shops there is little to buy outside of the local outdoor markets which sell t-shirts and other clothing. I was looking for a t-shirt of Fidel Castro. Much to my surprise I couldn't find one anywhere. What I did find was t-shirts of Che Guevara whose picture was plastered all over the buildings. (Guevara was one of the most important leaders of the Cuban Revolution and in the Cuban government.)
Traveling throughout Cuba I was struck by the almost total absence of
Anti-American go-home-imperalist posters. Although they do exist in the smaller and less developed areas, they are badly faded and no one seems eager to replace these tattered icons of what was once virulent anti-Americanism. My advice is get to this beautiful island, enjoy the people, the views, and, after a long day of sightseeing, sit back relax and order a Cuba Libre. It is certainly appropriate. Bill Brown is a retired elementary schoolteacher. Being a botanist by avocation he has traveled extensively to many of the mountain ranges in the
U.S. and Europe in search of wild flowers. When not traveling in search of
wild flowers he is always on the lookout for interesting places here and
abroad where food and wine are the main priorities and where a beautiful
beach is a decided asset.
Photos by Bill Brown
© 2004
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Old Havana
If you need a reminder of the American influence in Cuba, watch the highways and you will see caravans of American vintage cars of the 1950s. And you thought your old 1956 Oldsmobile went to the crusher.
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