Reflections on Cuba

We are back from Cuba. 5 nights, 6 days. We stayed in "New Havana." Unlike the Central American Carribbean, this vacation was more history and site seeing. We decided from the get that this trip would be tightly budgeted, but we had a financial curve ball after airport taxes, currency exchanges from Dollars- Colones-Euros and finally to CUC. Then we were forced to buy Cuban health insurance... and the minor detail that we couldn't pull out money while we were there...this to say we had a $50 daily budget. I think it was divine. Simple equaled real for us. We met people, we walked every where, from Old Havana, through Central Havana to New Havana..along the Melacon shoreline. We caught a few taxis, but even then we learned quick how to catch the cheap ones.

Our hotel's highlight was their breakfast buffet. We made lunch using the bread buns and ham and cheese from the scrambled egg line... we wrapped them up an ate them around 2 to tie us over until dinner. We ate mostly in the Univ of Costa Rica town..cheap, good food and really good "cafe con leche." The young educated scene bred interesting convos. Here is a little journal entry I scatted on some sketch paper I had after one evening at the U's cafe:

Cubans are happy on the outside, but not so much in their hearts. That's what the guy at the cafe on the corner said. He said they have free health care and education, but not freedom of thought. He said the government monitors everything. Everywhere I look in Havana, I see " Long Live the Revolution" I see, " Libre" and " Viva Fidel"... But I wonder what the revolution has done? The man at the cafe says 'nothing,' as he looks over his shoulder. I am not sure where the bias has settled. The man on the street across from the Soda says that the US Government is terrible, only a few people have all the wealth. And I realize, we fear what we don't know. The Cuban man on the street fears democratic capitalism. The middle class American fears communism- and both are scary. Both mean some lack, both in the name of progress, of revolution and change. The same leader that celebrates freedom from Spain and Victory over the US, now enslaves his own people. Maybe he doesn't know? Maybe he leads with the same fear as the man on the street? "Perfect love casts out fear..." I want that type of leadership. That lays down his life for his people, versus neglecting the people of fear that he will lose them. I have never met that perfect balanced leadership in a government. But I have met it. "..and the government shall rest on His shoulders..."

As much of a real, simple, fresh view of Cuba we received, we did get some tourism in. We went to a jazz show the first night at the famous " La Zorra del Cuervo," Day bus/ferry tour around Cuba, Cigar Factory Tour, National Cuban Aquarium w/ Dolphin Show, Museums... We left with 5 dollars in our pocket (and still hit are 2 goals: to buy a pack of Cuban cigars and dance Cuban Salsa under the stars).

All in all, mad respect for Cubans. They are happy, VERY peaceful people. (Felt safer on the main strip in Cuba at midnight than I do at 7 here in San Jose). Some of the most beautiful shades of skin color all in one place, with songs on their lips and jiration in their hips, soul and freedom in their hearts, even if they do not have it in their government.