Author: Rosie

Considering how much a Cuban earns, and how little they have in the way of the material and how much in comparison a tourist has…. Rosie and The Operator can honestly say they have never felt unsafe or threatened in any way throughout their journey.  We have only ever encountered genuine, helpful, friendly people with a generosity that is overwhelming from peoples who have so little.

Were we ever ripped off…..nearly, possibly, maybe…..Rosie will tell those tales and you can decide.  Rosie can say she has eased back a little on the hard core bargaining….now it is time to get out and about in Havana!

This is how we roll…Rosie does the talking while The Operator handles the money.  We go and stand by a taxi…Hola, says Rosie…5 guys walk over, seriously?…Rosie asks in faltering Spanish if they speak English…all shake their heads in the negative…great start. 

When we hit the city proper the urban decay was a slap in the face.  Beautifully stone plastered  classical buildings decaying and crumbling literally to the ground, trees were growing out of the walls, carbon exhaust fumes stained the walls, paint was peeling and blistered and broken window panes were boarded up with tin, cardboard or just left open. 

Cuba – capital city Havana – rum, cigars, sunshine, music, seafront boulevards, palm trees, mojitos and rustic american cars….this is my impression of the whole country of Cuba from my western perspective.  Rosie is full of trepidation and excitement as her and The Operator fly into Havana…..naivety and shock are soon to be added to that list when the reality of the city and the country hits them fully.