Cuban characters - people and their passions

Dear blog readers,

Meeting new people is the fuel that makes trips truly memorable. It is hard to get a feeling for a completely new society, I knew little about Cuba before, in just a week. Here are a few impressions.

Music play a key role. You learn salsa at home. it is played in a lot of locations. Strangely there are few salsa clubs in Havana. Flirtous people. Seem to meet in the street rather than in homes.

Education is important. Doctors and culture more developped than I expected. Low salaries trigger many to get a second job as taxi (machina) driver or renting out rooms in their homes (casa particular). All second jobs are in the areas where payments are in CUC, the convertible currency required for all premium goods.

The basic food is rice sugar and beans. Two good local beers Cristal and Bucanero. Cheap rum for party nights. Ropa Vieja (old clothes) is a tasty local meat dish. Very strong coffea with plenty of sugar.

One child per family seem to be the norm. Living in concrete houses. Not possible to rent or sell apartments, you inherit or build. Concrete roofs to protect against thunderstorms. Fridge and TV in all homes. AC but no heating. Charges for incoming calls to mobiles, making fixed phones still very common.

(Photo used with permission from copyright owner Agnieszka Anglin)