THE ECONOMY IN CUBA

TRAIN ENTERTAINER

TRAIN ENTERTAINER HEADING HOME

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS SKIM THE SURFACE OF HOW THE CUBANS LIVE THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES. THE ADVANTAGES ARE THAT THERE IS FREE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION. EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO LIVE. THERE ARE NO HOMELESS PEOPLE. TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, THERE ARE CHALLENGES FOR THE CITIZENS. EVERYONE HAS A RATION BOOK WHICH ALLOWS EVERYONE TO HAVE STAPLES. MAKING THIS PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR THEIR FAMILIES IS DAUNTING. MONEY IS IN TWO CURRENCIES, THE 'CUC' WHICH IS WHAT TRAVELERS EXCHANGE THEIR OWN MONEY FOR AND PESOS WHICH ARE WHAT CUBANS ARE PAID IN FOR WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT OR FOR BUYING THINGS IN THE 'PESO' STORE. MANY SUPPLEMENT BY DOING WHAT THEY CAN FOR A FEW EXTRA PESOS OR 'CUCS.' AS AMERICANS, WE BEGAN OUR VISIT BY THINKING IN 'AMERICAN' BUT SOON REALIZE WE CAN'T MAKE IT CHANGE AND SOME THINGS ARE BETTER THEIR WAY FOR INSTANCE, NO STARBUCK'S ON EVERY CORNER, NO MCDONALD'S, NO TOURIST T=SHIRT SHOPS, BUT I FOUND A SHIRT AND BALL CAP AT A REST STOP, NO SUPER MARKETS, NO SHOPPING MALLS, NOR SHOPS FULL OF TRINKETS LIKE STUFFED ALLIGATORS. AMERICANS TEND TO TURN THEIR BACKS ON WHAT THEY CAN'T FIX SUCH AS THE HOMELESS IN OUR COUNTRY BUT IN CUBA NOTICE THE PHOTO OF THE ENTERTAINER ON THE TRAIN AND ALL THE AMERICANS WITH THEIR BACKS TURNED TO HIM. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS ECONOMIC SITUATION IN EITHER COUNTRY, I AM MERELY A TRAVELER. I NOTICE THE CUBANS LOVE THEIR COUNTRY BUT SOME DREAM OF THINGS BEING BETTER IN AMERICA.  HERE ARE A FEW PHOTOS.

THIS IS THE FACE OF CUBA

RATION BOOK

MAKING A FEW EXTRA PESOS SELLING NEWSPAPERS

DREAMING OF MIAMI JUST 90 MILES FROM HAVANA

PESO STORE FOR STAPLES PURCHASED WITH RATION BOOK

LIST OF ITEMS IN PESO STORE

PESO STORE

WORKER IN PESO STORE

MAKING AN EXTRA PESO OR TWO

COFFEE VENDOR

 I ASKED IF THERE WAS A DRUG PROBLEM IN CUBA. I LOST ONE OF MY SONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM IN AMERICA. HE WAS TWENTY AND I STILL MISS HIM. WHILE CUBANS WILL NOT CLAIM THERE ISN'T AN ATTEMPT BY DEALERS TO ESTABLISH A MARKET IN CUBA WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY HEAVY DRUG MARKETS IN OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS, THEY KEEP A VIGILANT EYE ON THE ATTEMPT BY CARTELS TO COME TO CUBA. FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS A CARIBBEAN CURRENT THAT COMES CLOSE TO CUBA AND WHERE DRUGS DUMPED BY SHIPS WITH FEDS IN PURSUIT WASH ASHORE. THAT SHORE IS CONSTANTLY PATROLLED BY CUBAN 'FEDS' AND THE DRUGS ARE PICKED UP AND DESTROYED. 

I THINK IT IS TIME TO LIFT THE EMBARGO BUT WHEN WE DO, CUBA MAY SAY 'SO WHAT.' THE TOUR BUS WE TRAVELED ON AND SAW MANY MORE LIKE OURS WAS IMPORTED BY CHINA. THE RICE CROP IS BEING ENHANCED BY VIETNAMESE WHO ARE THERE HELPING CUBANS WITH THEIR PRODUCTION. 

I'VE BEEN YELLED AT FOR GOING TO CUBA BUT I AM SO HAPPY FOR THE EXPERIENCE. THERE IS NO WHERE IN TO WORLD LIKE CUBA AND NO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIKE CUBANS.