Caribbean Paradise.
- B K
- Nov 4, 2017
- 4 min read
One day I woke up in a Caribbean Island, gently feeling the cool morning Atlantic ocean breeze flowing into my hotel room. I can smell the topical flavour air, on a fine June morning, feeling relaxed and enjoying my vacation. As I stretch my arms, the corner of my eye finds the last half cup of Mojito, "Ah, yes that's where I left it last night, and bottoms up!" wisely I say to myself. As I slowly slide out of the bed, trying to be quite as a mouse and not disturb my new Caribbean lady friend who is beside me as she sleeps comfortably. I walk over to the veranda with my semi mojito, I look out to the clear blue horizon, across the white sugar beaches along the coastline. I feel lucky and really valuing life as we know it and how lucky I live in a society where I can have freedom to do the things I want to achieve in this lifetime.
Varadero is so beautiful with transparency of its waters, the different shades of blue with clear white sand, the warm weather, the open landscape is breath taking. 1950s vintage Cadillacs cars drive by and pastel-hued decaying mansions along streets. As you pass by peoples homes and shops, you can constantly hear the Caribbean music playing. Tasting the local food was interesting to try such as Cucurucho - A sweet made of candied orange peel, honey, coconut and other choices like nuts, severed as wrapped in a banana leaf cone shape. I really enjoy their fried Plantains, which is usually served as a snack. The people in Cuba are very friendly. Although, I did feel bit of distance from the locals in some strange way and it kinda upset me a little. I already knew the reasons why, after all, Cuba is fractured by Communist laws.
I remember back in 2012, my buddy from France, R.J. "Football" and myself made some good friends with the locals who worked at the resort. One night they invited us into town and have a few rounds in a bar. Not a tourist place, a place where locals like to drink and dance, smoke some Cuban cigars and have a real Cuban nightlife experience. Before we arrived at the club,
we were warned from our friends that if the police show up, we don't make any contact with each other, otherwise our friends can be thrown in jail, just for socialising with the tourist on a friendly bases. They also explained to us it was forbidden to have relationship with a tourist, and usually the cuban resident is most like to be charged with a crime. I was totally blown away when I heard this. So we had to keep a low profile with the girls. Although Cuba has is advantages of it's weather and warm lifestyle, however a few other things that took me by surprise, such as the currencies in Cuba. There are two types of Pesos. CUC or Pesos Convertible used by foreigners and the other is MN (Moneda Nocional) The ratio is about 1 CUC = 25 MN. The average salary of a Cuban is round about 15 to 20 CUC per month. Its clear that the Cuban people dive to work with tourists and get paid in CUC & have a wider access of unreachable goods that they can't finically afford with Moneda Nocional. No-one is Cuba accepts Credit Cards. Lucky our travel agent told us to bring cash and buy Pesos Convertible at the resort.
There is no wifi or easy access to internet. No Instagram, no Facebook, no emails. Nada. It really push me back and it was like the 90's all over again. In fact, I looked at it as a good thing, to take a chance to really forget the social media world and look up and explore the country. It really helped me to meet new people at the open pool bar. You had to talk to other tourist and be opened minded. My mate and I meet a ton of Canadians and Russians. It was wild as we explored Havana together. It was a funny scene, you can look at it from a perspective that the two coldest countries on earth came to enjoy the Cuban sun and drink their never ending Piña Colada & Havana Club.
During my stay in Varadero and my trip to Havana, I didn't expect discover a"tough way of life and limit to choices." Although I have travelled to poor nations throughout my life, but there was a difference between them and Cuba. It is clear the country is under Communist way of life and that was to me, was the big difference, something I never experienced. The Cuban culture is based on the 1950's era. You can really feel the vibe and how powerful the communist system really effects a nation and people. I take for granted that I can easily buy phones, food and clothes. I also appreciate to rely on public transport and to have a job to earn a salary to provide me some freedom. Even to have a fridge at home because in Cuba, fridges are very expensive and shitty quaintly too. I was fed up everything back in the "western world" before my trip to Cuba. Maybe I just needed a getaway at the time. When I returned to Canada, I was really glad to have an easier access to my needs and wants.
I always say that I will go back to Cuba (and I did). Remembeing that week in paradise beacuse it was rewarding to be by the beach and swim in the clear calm water. It really is a great escape from the modern life or daily routine. it certainly is good to be away from technology, I think every once in a while, people should look up at the world instead of eyes set onto an iPad or device. I really saw and experienced something completely unexpected with a different way of living, a different system of governerment. As a tourist, I was more lucky than the locals. That voyage to Cuba, tought me to be greatful with my things in life as there are some places in the world, people are not as lucky as me.
I advise anyone who would like to explore Cuba to prepare yourself for a different mentality and you will have a better time in Cuba.