So I went to Cuba

[KurtFF8]

And it was quite a great experience. Some folks had "warned me" that my Marxist "ideals" may be challenged by visiting the island, but my trip just reinforced those "ideals." It seems that the Cuban revolution is still indeed quite popular from my perspective and interactions there.

Anyway, here's some pics, and ask me questions

http://i55.tinypic.com/2meuyk5.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/2ms3m7s.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/5oegye.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2qlfqz8.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/radlc9.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/eg2rrd.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2rr6rts.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/141ljph.jpg

[Smyg]

Say what you will about Cuba, they have funky art.

[Pioneers_Violin]

Wow, congratulations.

Here in the US, we were raised on anti-Castro propaganda. It is generally assumed that Cuba is a wretched place and the Castros rule by iron fist.
We hear only the worst possible news about Cuba here.

How are they doing over there? How are things when the USA has been trying to destroy the country for the last fifty or so years?

Did you hear anything about Eleien Gonzolez? He was a little boy some time ago who was returned to his father in Cuba some years ago.

[KurtFF8]

Gonzolez was hardly mentioned other than when they talked about groups in the US they supported his return during that situation.

It was interesting seeing it as an American. They certainly love the American folks, just not the state. The embargo is certainly quite present throughout the consciousness of the Cuban people and the Cuban state.

The economy is lacking in resources and it shows. They focus on the embargo as a major variable in why although they are the first to admit that the embargo isn't the source of all of their problems.

[HEAD ICE]

How did you go to Cuba? Did you go through Mexico or Canada or somewhere else? Did you have to bribe somebody not to stamp your passport on your way back? (am i making sense)

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I don't see why going to Cuba would affect your Marxist ideals. After all, it's more of a leftist/progressive state, rather than anything to do with Marxism.

But yeah, some of the art is great. The architecture, not so great!

Overall, to go there as a backpacker was for me a great experience and, irrespective of politics, its a beautifully situated island, the locals are genuinely a friendly bunch, the drinks and smokes are fucking ace and there's not a Maccy D's/Coca Cola sign in sight!:laugh:

[manic expression]

That's awesome. :thumbup1:

[Susurrus]

Did you hear anything about Eleien Gonzolez? He was a little boy some time ago who was returned to his father in Cuba some years ago.

I actually met him last year. he was sixteen then, so I guess he's seventeen now. He and his father seem to be doing quite well, and he is currently attending a military academy, I believe.

In Havana, there is a statue of Jose Marti holding Elian as a baby and pointing a Florida.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/32846633_b1d2ef9f6a.jpg

[Bardo]

I've been hearing a lot about privatization reforms throughout Cuba. Did you get any kind of sense of the public attitude regarding these changes, or if it's happening on a large scale as the US media reports?

[KurtFF8]

How did you go to Cuba? Did you go through Mexico or Canada or somewhere else? Did you have to bribe somebody not to stamp your passport on your way back? (am i making sense)


Canada. And no, Cuba doesn't stamp US passports because they know we may get in trouble in the states. Although I went with a group that publicly announces that we go ever year.


I don't see why going to Cuba would affect your Marxist ideals. After all, it's more of a leftist/progressive state, rather than anything to do with Marxism.

But yeah, some of the art is great. The architecture, not so great!

Well Cuba is ruled by a party that is a Marxist Party, so I don't see how that's irrelevant. And even if it weren't ruled by such a party, progressive states are always relevant to Marxism in some way (directly or indirectly)

And I thought the architecture was quite interesting myself.


I've been hearing a lot about privatization reforms throughout Cuba. Did you get any kind of sense of the public attitude regarding these changes, or if it's happening on a large scale as the US media reports?

We went to a workshop on it. And yeah it is a large scale, but there was mass participation in the decision making process. The reforms are kind of seen as a "necessary evil" and the workshop presenter said something along the lines of that they would of course prefer coops to private investment if given an opportunity, but that's just not possible for every sector.

[MarxSchmarx]

How did the meeting with the local IWW or Trot group go?

[KurtFF8]

How did the meeting with the local IWW or Trot group go?

Hah good one.

[Fulanito de Tal]

Canada. And no, Cuba doesn't stamp US passports because they know we may get in trouble in the states. Although I went with a group that publicly announces that we go ever year.


I've had them stamp my US passport, but I had to ask them to and they asked me if I was sure. This was on direct flights from Miami to Havana, so it's no secret that I went. There is a file on me in the agency showing all of my trips as required by US law.

Many people that go to Cuba are scared about silly paperwork issues coming up and being stuck in Cuba. They hide their passport, visas, show up to the airport half a day early, coordinate with the most expensive taxi a a ffw days earlier to pick them up super early, etc. I work the other way around. I hope something comes up so I can stay longer in Cuba. I stay with family which means that I should get a family visa and not a tourist visa. They check to see if you complied with the visa requirements on our way out by looking at where you stayed at. You should have a receipt or something that shows you stayed at a hotel if you're on a tourist visa. If you have nothing, you can have them call the hotel. The last time I went, I used a tourist visa which is much cheaper, and I stayed with family. When I went to Jose Marti airport to leave, I showed my tourist visa to the airline people (not immigration) and when asked, told them that I stayed with family. They said, "Uh oh, you need a family visa. Let me see if I can get you one." I said that it's going to have to be for free because I have only enough money to pay the 25 CUC airport tax. I was like, "Yes! I did it!" and imagining the call I would make to people in Havana about the great news. But, to the demise of my plan, the Cuban people are too nice and let me slide anyway. She asked for my visa and authorized it by saying that I stayed at a hotel and to tell immigration that.

[Red Commissar]

Nice stuff. Anything surprise you about Cuba?

[Delenda Carthago]

you learned anything about real estate bussiness?

[Magón]

You just hit up all the little touristy spots, didn't you? :lol:

[Rusty Shackleford]

please tell me you brought me some cuban cigarettes. most delicious motherfucking smokes around.

that being said.

did you check out the night life? i heard that havana is a very late-night city.

[Dzerzhinsky's Ghost]

How did you manage to go there? Like, how did you set up said trip? Just curious as I've always wanted to visit but had no idea how.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

How did you manage to go there? Like, how did you set up said trip? Just curious as I've always wanted to visit but had no idea how.
He said he went via Canada, with a group that goes often.

[Fulanito de Tal]

How did you manage to go there? Like, how did you set up said trip? Just curious as I've always wanted to visit but had no idea how.

Do you live in the US?

[KurtFF8]

Nice stuff. Anything surprise you about Cuba?

The apparent lack of homeless people. There were a few people "begging" at points but no more than any city in America I'm familiar with.

Also see my anecdote about night clubs below


you learned anything about real estate bussiness? No, that reform has yet to take place.


You just hit up all the little touristy spots, didn't you?No, as I explained earlier, I went with a solidarity group. I didn't go on vacation.


please tell me you brought me some cuban cigarettes. most delicious motherfucking smokes around.

that being said.

did you check out the night life? i heard that havana is a very late-night city. I'm not a smoker so I didn't have any cigarettes. I did try a few Cuban cigars while down there. They were interesting but as I said, I'm not a smoker.

And unfortunately our free time in Havana was during the day so we weren't able to check out the night life (apparently some times the brigade can experience it, but we weren't able to because of our schedule).

We did see a little bit of the night life of Pinar del Rio: the hotel we stayed at actually had a night club attached to it, which is apparently quite popular in the city.

The night club actually reminded me of something you could find in Miami (e.g. Cuban "bros" with popped collars). Perhaps this was actually the most surprising thing about my experience.


He said he went via Canada, with a group that goes often. Correct.

Also here are some random video's I took:

-Mpshz-A5XM

nYCWLhp2SXM

[Rusty Shackleford]

wow that seriously looks a lot like some small towns in the US.

[HEAD ICE]

wow that seriously looks a lot like some small towns in the US.

yeah holy fuck cubans live in houses. always thought they lived in hobbit homes

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/site_furniture/2007/12/19/hobbiton460.jpg

^^^ photo from a suburb in havana

[Metacomet]

I want to go there someday, really badly.

Houses?! Nightclubs!? Hotels!? I was expecting piles of dead littering the streets, and the starving hordes rushing a truck carrying bread as soldiers beat them back and stab them with bayonets. :rolleyes:

[Sam_b]

and there's not a Maccy D's/Coca Cola sign in sight!

Only Dollar Stores which the rest of the population can't afford to go to, right?

[Fulanito de Tal]

Only Dollar Stores which the rest of the population can't afford to go to, right?

Wrong

[Rusty Shackleford]

yeah holy fuck cubans live in houses. always thought they lived in hobbit homes

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/site_furniture/2007/12/19/hobbiton460.jpg

^^^ photo from a suburb in havana

i was just assuming it would look a bit different.

[Sam_b]

Wrong

Oh wow, then that's me fucking told! Precious.

[Fulanito de Tal]

Oh wow, then that's me fucking told! Precious.

lol. You didn't provide any evidence to support your claim, but I have to...just trying to make you aware of your privilege.

There are markets with commodities accessible to the ordinary Cuban. Otherwise, no one would have food, clothes, or other erroneous everyday luxuries like soap, detergent, cigarettes, rum, ornaments, dominoes, condoms, etc.

Condom vending machine with gay rights sticker on it.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/DSCF2032.jpg

Used condom floating off of the sea wall

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/DSCF2225.jpg

Tulipan cafeteria and agro (food market)
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/DSCF2064.jpg

12 pesos meal at Tulipan

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/DSCF2170.jpg


Quatro Caminos agro

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/DSCF2043.jpg


Butcher. Meat is freshly killed that morning and not frozen.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/DSCF2046.jpg



All of these are in moneda nacional (aka pesos)