Cuban Lifestyle

[Discontinuity]

I am quite sure that many of you, at least the leftist ones, have a warm place in your heart for Castro and Cuba.

I'm curious, however, to know how many have been to Cuba, and (whether you've visited or not) what your opinion of the country is. Also, if you'd like, what sort of experiences you had there.

I've been, once, and found that conditions were much better than American propaganda would make them out to be. Since my background's Guyanese, maybe I just find it easier to accept a lower standard of living (compared to North America), but I believe that it is quite a success story for socialism.

So, please, add your comments and your opinions.

(And I'm sorry if this isn't the right forum for this, I wasn't sure where would be best to post it. I'll delete it if it should be elsewhere.)

[*~Silver-Back~*]

I've been to Cuba it is by far a better way of living...simple yet with all the glory in life...you only need what you require...no pigging out i believe. For me i grew up in the slums of my country Pakistan....my family being fortunate enough got into business and moved to Canada....looking back at my childhood i can see why ppl in the "Third World" envy Cuba mainly because it is the only country of that kind with a successful revolution that ousted colonialism but also maintained stability without civil war and allowed it's citizens to prosper. Now that i live in Canada and have seen teh Western ways of material wealth and happiness I agree that most ppl in teh West really have no real idea what is in Cuba because face it they aren't allowed to go there. And those Cuban in Miami are those who are mainly supported by US backers and ppl who are part of the Mafia who are linked to the old Batista regime. I went to Miami and saw the ppl there and talked to them...some of them just came because they wanted to be with relatives who ran away during the revolution plus hell think about it....if i had a choice to get a Green Card just by saying i'm poor and Castro is bad i'll be set for it!! :P So in conclusion i think that mainly there is all this hype....look at places like South Africa....the US didn't bat an eye during the Apartheid because it suited them with cheap labor...resources and a holiday spot for tourists...then when people like Mendela came along immediately to look good in the international arena the US dons a costume and dances to the tune. Now look at South Africa while still a dangerous place especially Johannesburg the US feels like it got a good deal because mainly of the Diamond industry that opened to its own suppliers like De Beers who is majorly supported by the US. So really all in all its all about how the Media portrays someone and who does the portraying.

[Comrade Ceausescu]

i really want to go to cuba.however,i have talked exstensively with people who have been and they loved it.just as *~Silver-Back~* said,everyone there has the neccesities:free education,free health care,98% literacy rate,housing,clean water,etc,etc.

[Red Flag]

just imagine how much better the economy of Cuba would be if the U$ lifted their trade embargoes

[Comrade Ceausescu]

yea,bush is planning to crack down on american tourism to cuba!!!right now,thats one of cuba's biggest industries,even when it went down after 9/11.I think of it this way:The U.S. is strangling cuba,but then they scream"They Cant Breath,They Cant Breath!!"

[Danton]

I'm sure people are bored of me recounting my Cuban trails - I know I am...

I'll be making my third trip late November, I hope to post live from Havana... My first trip was as a curious tourist, all rose tinted and romantic, Rum, Salsa, cute Habanera's.
Cigars, bearded revolutianairies, shiny old motors etc...

Second time round I got down and dirty with the natives..Slept in a rotten old bed, ate stale bread, witnessed Santeria sacrifices and traveled around the country a bit, even flew to Santiago in a rusty old Cubana jet, defying death in a smoke filled cabin whilst cockaroaches poured out the arm rests and a travelling band played high volume Son....

I love Cuba...

[Comrade Ceausescu]

it dosent bore me at all.i'd like to know as much as possible.

[Fidelbrand]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2003, 08:33 AM
I'm sure people are bored of me recounting my Cuban trails - I know I am...

I'll be making my third trip late November, I hope to post live from Havana... My first trip was as a curious tourist, all rose tinted and romantic, Rum, Salsa, cute Habanera's.
Cigars, bearded revolutianairies, shiny old motors etc...

Second time round I got down and dirty with the natives..Slept in a rotten old bed, ate stale bread, witnessed Santeria sacrifices and traveled around the country a bit, even flew to Santiago in a rusty old Cubana jet, defying death in a smoke filled cabin whilst cockaroaches poured out the arm rests and a travelling band played high volume Son....

I love Cuba...
Danton, i m never bored to hear ur fruiful experiences u had in Cuba~ ;)

i haven't been there myself... but i know ( i guess) the rural areas are not too well-equipped~ As Castro said in the 90s " Habana is like the New York of U.S. " ......

anyone knows any improvements in rural areas in Cuba? any new highways to connect them to the outer Cuba? :)

[Discontinuity]

I travelled a bit in the rural areas, I found them quite nice.

I didn't see idiotic white-picket-fence styles, and I didn't see abject poverty.

What sort of improvements do you mean?

Also, I got approached by a guy trying to sell me cheap cigars. I'm pretty sure the Cuban government wouldn't approve of... speculators, I think they're called? I should have reported him to someone.

[Fidelbrand]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2003, 05:22 PM
I travelled a bit in the rural areas, I found them quite nice.

I didn't see idiotic white-picket-fence styles, and I didn't see abject poverty.

What sort of improvements do you mean?

Also, I got approached by a guy trying to sell me cheap cigars. I'm pretty sure the Cuban government wouldn't approve of... speculators, I think they're called? I should have reported him to someone.
I watched the documentary "FIDEL" (pretty outdated stuff) , Cuban rural people complained in front of Fidel about no buses, no highways, as Fidel said with highways, it comes everything.....etc.

so just wondering how it is improving or the situation is remaining stagnant.

thanks! :)

[Collective]

I've been to Cuba a couple of times and hope to go back next summer.

I heard a great quote once along the lines of...

"In this country there is no fuel but everybody is going somewhere, there is no food but everybody is cooking dinner, there is no money but everybody is partying."

That sort of sums it up. I love the place personally.

[Discontinuity]

Nice quote.

We got our tour guide drunk on rum, and got a very detailed explanation of Cuban politics. ;)

Unfortunately, I have no family there, nor do I know any resident Cubans...

Speaking of that, I've never met one online. Anyone here Cuban living in Cuba?

I would love to meet you... and stay with you... :D

[Yazman]

Do you need to be able to speak Spanish when you go there? Or to live there?

[Danton]

Cubans speak rapid fire spanish and have embellished the language with their own idiosincracies... A friend of mine from Vigo could'nt understand a word....
It's more like Mexican or Andalusian Spanish..

Many Cubans speak at least elementry English and language should'nt be a barrier especially if you learn some basic Spanish which they really apprieciate...

To live permanently in Cuba you will need to marry a Cuban, something I seriously considered last time round..

[Fidelbrand]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 10:24 AM
Cubans speak rapid fire spanish and have embellished the language with their own idiosincracies... A friend of mine from Vigo could'nt understand a word....
It's more like Mexican or Andalusian Spanish..

Many Cubans speak at least elementry English and language should'nt be a barrier especially if you learn some basic Spanish which they really apprieciate...

To live permanently in Cuba you will need to marry a Cuban, something I seriously considered last time round..
Damn ,~~ so i should quit my Spanish lessons~~ even a guy from Vigo cldn't comprehend their "neo-Spanish" (joking) :ph34r: :P

[ComradeRobertRiley]

oooo lets all marry cuban women :D woo hoo

[Danton]

Damn ,~~ so i should quit my Spanish lessons

No, no, the basics are the same it's just the speed...That and some words shortened etc... I prefer it, I dont speak with the thththh......

[FistFullOfSteel]

in tv people talk about cuba like this:we cant say what we feel etc..so thats not true?

[Fidelbrand]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 12:47 PM
Damn ,~~ so i should quit my Spanish lessons

No, no, the basics are the same it's just the speed...That and some words shortened etc... I prefer it, I dont speak with the thththh......
thanks.. ;)

like "th"iudad Habana~ "th"inquienta y nueve~~ ?? haha.. i hate the "thththth" too~~~

Comrade Danton, so does the Cubans use the "ththtthththththh" ~~ ?

[Danton]

No, it's pronouced like an S throughout Latin America I beleive and also in Andaluz Spain...

[Fidelbrand]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 04:28 PM
No, it's pronouced like an S throughout Latin America I beleive and also in Andaluz Spain...
great! i hate the "th" .. .... sounds spastic.. ~ :lol:

But my teacher is a genuine Spanish, so for the time being, i still have to pronounce the "th" ~~ haha~

thanks, Danton. :)

[Danton]

De nada amigo....

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 06:58 AM
in tv people talk about cuba like this:we cant say what we feel etc..so thats not true?
They wouldn't be saying it on TV if it was. Think about it.