CHAPTER TWO, ECONOMY IN CUBA

BIG MODERN BUSES ARE EVERYWHERE IN CUBA. PHOTOS ATTACHED ARE OF THE BUS OUR GROUP TRAVELED ON, PHOTOS FROM THE BUS OF CUBANS ON THE MOVE IN WHATEVER MEANS THEY CAN FIND INCLUDING WAITING ON THE ROADSIDE FOR A RIDE. YES, HITCH HIKING. I ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE FOR A GIRL ESPECIALLY. THAT QUESTION BROUGHT A PUZZLED LOOK FROM OUR TOUR GUIDE, LIKE 'WHY WOULDN'T IT BE SAFE? WITH ALL THESE PHOTOS OF CUBA MOVING ON INTO THE FUTURE WITH THE HELP OF OTHERS WHO DON'T DROP AN EMBARGO OVER THEIR ECONOMY, VEHICLES ARE FROM EVERYWHERE OTHER THAN THE U.S. HOWEVER NONE OF THEM WILL BE LOVED FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW AS MUCH AS THE OLD CHEVYS SEEN IN ABUNDANCE ALL OVER THEE ISLAND.  ALL I CAN ADD LIKE WE SAY  WHEN THERE IS NO ANSWER, IT IS WHAT IT IS AND I'M GLAD I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE IN THIS POINT IN TIME.

CHINESE BUS

CHINESE BUS PASSING OUR CHINESE BUS

STOPPING AT 'THE ALLIGATOR' CAFE FOR LUNCH. AT FIRST I THOUGHT WE'D HAVE ALLIGATOR BUT THIS IS TUNA.

COMMON MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

SUGAR ALMOST READY FOR HARVEST

NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS BUT IT WAS EVERYWHERE. RICE? MAYBE

JUST AS COMMON AS THOSE BIG CHINESE BUSES, OLD CHEVYS IN TOP CONDITION. WHY DID WE LET THIS PART OF OUR ECONOMY GO?

VALLEY OF THE SUGAR MILLS. BEAUTIFUL.

VIEW FROM INSIDE THE BIG BUS.

OUR DRIVE, IFRAN, WAS EXPERT AT MOVING THAT BIG BUS THROUGH NARROW ROADS.

CROP DUSTING

PASSING A COMMON SIGHT ON THE ROAD

WAITING FOR A RIDE

TWO BIG BUSSES