Day 17 Wednesday 16th
March Are we there yet ? – Trinidad to
Santiago de Cuba
Holy Frjioles Batman !!!!!
If you ever get to Cuba, we highly recommend DO NOT TAKE THE
BUS to Santiago de Cuba!
We persevered 12 freaking hours of unrelenting travel. No one
gives you updates, no pee stops, no food stops and no drink stops. What a
dragggggg!
Such a high yesterday and a huge reality check today. So
with that and nothing interesting during the travel the mind starts to wonder,
so here we go with a few musings from our collective gatherings:
- · Word is that up to US$1Billion (not a misprint) flows into Cuba from the US, particularly Miami, in the form of cash, and goods. This contributes somewhat to the social “imbalances”
- · US airlines are currently bidding for routes into Cuba with up to 100 new flights per week scheduled. These guys can barely cope with the tourism they have, good times ahead!
- · Yokavi, our host in Trinidad is a Dentist and earns $50CUC per month. By comparison we paid $30CUC per night to stay in her Casa. Is there an impending brain-drain coming?
- · Yokavi’s husband is an Eye Surgeon who earns $60CUC per month in Trinidad. He is currently working in Cuba’s International Mission to Angola with many other surgeons and professionals. It is a 2 year commitment with a 4 week break in between. He earns $1,000CUC per month, paid by the Angolan Government. It obviously comes with personal sacrifice.
- · When a Cuban asks where we are from, upon hearing our response the always reply with “Ah Kangaroo!” Seriously, is this all we are known for?
- · There is no obvious race distinction in Cuba. Given that darker Cubans all came from Africa as slaves (like the US) they all consider themselves Cubans.
- · Speaking with other tourists, local taxi travel is blowing holes in all our budgets. We are all staggered with the prices of taxi fares which can cost $20CUC for a short ride across the city. Keep it in perspective relative to a month’s earnings!
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