An Ordinary Day in Cuba
HAVANA TIMES – I step out onto the street with an empty backpack and a list. The sun beats mercilessly on the broken streets, and I dodge the potholes that seem like traps ready to twist my ankle. Garbage piles up on the sidewalks; a dog with protruding ribs rummages through the waste, lifts its head, and watches me with weary eyes.
I walk toward the nearest small private store. The shelves are full, but the prices take my breath away. A liter of oil costs about what I earn in a week. I stare at it, feeling the helplessness tightening in my throat, and count my bills, calculating what will be left for the other things on my list.
A woman carrying a small child looks at the meat products. She picks up a pack of sausages but puts it back with a sigh. The elderly woman at the counter counts her money and can barely afford a bag of bread rolls.
I head back out into the street, searching through stores and kiosks, but the story is the same everywhere: impossible prices or empty shelves, discouraged faces.
The sun burns my skin and sweat runs down my back. I think about my husband and the morning coffee we couldn’t drink, about my neighbor and her rituals, about my daughter and the lack of a future, about my mother standing in front of a wood-burning stove.
A group of young people pass by, laughing and singing a song by Bebeshito or Chocolate—one of those that’s trendy right now. But there’s something forced in their laughter, as if they’re trying to convince themselves that everything is fine. But it’s not—I know it, they know it, we all know it.
Here, in the middle of these streets, I understand that I am trapped in an eternal cycle, like being stuck in a dream from which I can’t wake up, where every day is a battle against the heat, hunger, power outages, and the lack of everything that makes us human.
As I walk, I feel a breeze that reminds me of the sea. I let it hit my face and visualize it, but it doesn’t cool me down. That sea that surrounds us is more of a prison than a gift. It only reminds me that we are here, on this island, far from everything, forgotten by everyone.
Near my house, I come across an elderly man sitting on the sidewalk. He greets me with a vague gesture.
“Girl, this isn’t easy. What are we going to do?” he murmurs, as if speaking to himself, but his words echo in me. I have no answer. No one does.
I return home with just a few items in my backpack. What I bought will barely last us two days. It’s not enough, but it’s all there is. And as I open the door, with the weight of the afternoon on my shoulders, I can’t help but wonder how much longer we can survive in this endless loop.
I have been a fan of Havana Times for close to 12 years (maybe more!). It’s interesting to see how the tone of the comments has changed over the years. However, the subjects of the articles have been fairly consistent. Conditions in Cuba, albeit much worse recently, have always been bad during the last 12 years. But the comments of years gone by often included Castro sycophants defending the malaise in Cuba by saying, for example, that conditions in Haiti, a capitalist country, was far worse. Castristas would tout the “free” health care, education and housing. There was always someone who espoused the safety and security of Cuban streets. The lack of homeless people sleeping on the streets was a refutation of low salaries. But reading the comments to this post and several others recently reflects something new. The sympathy and the sadness for situation in Cuba today seems overwhelming. Have the Castro dictatorship supporters given up? Are the readers of HT resigned to hopelessness on the ground in Cuba? I am interested in what Circles Robinson would say about this. Am I just imagining this trend or does he see it too?
As an American citizen who traveled to Cuba for two weeks as part of a motorcycle tour throughout the island, I have deep empathy for the Cuban people. I met any wonderful, gracious, caring appreciative people. Including our two wonderful young guides who led our expedition. We traveled under the “Support the Cuban People ” visa and we certainly did. We stayed in privately owned airbnb and ate a privately owned restaurants and bars. We tipped generously, donated many items including US dollars, household, medicinal, baby, sanitary, toys, books, baseballs and soccer balls. My heart aches for these wonderful people and I wish them their freedom. As for my Canadian friends who blame the USA for this plight, while staying in their water front luxury Cuban Government hotels, with A/C, power, pools and spas, luxurious dining, hot and cold running water at all times, your Canadian $$ are not getting to these beautiful people. And if you expect USA Support for the Cuban Government, you ain’t getting it. When these beautiful people get to vote on a free election, elect their own government and share in the opportunity afforded the communists, then you’ll see unprecedented support from greatest democracy ever created. God bless and good luck to the Cuban people.
My friend in Cuba always tell me about the hardship her family suffers there. Power is cut off most of the times. All commodities are expensive. Very few jobs are available because of the drop in the number of tourists coming. And to think that President Obama opened Cuba when he was in power only to be rescinded by the freaking orange turd. I feel bad for the people. It’s such a beautiful country with beautiful people.
I read your article and I am so sad for the people of Cuba.
I don’t understand why living conditions have gotten so bad for you. Something is wrong and soon tourism will not even help conditions.
As a Canadian, I don’t even want to come there because you are all suffering. My tourist dollars aren’t helping the Cuban People and so until somethings change to take care of citizens there,
I will not return.
Yo Soy Cubu ❤️
So sad to hear the burden that your country suffers. I love going to Cuba to spend good time and discover a beautiful country with so friendly and humble people. I have been in different islands and still see the poverty which has not been improved all these years. Hope that this nightmare will be ended soon.
We love Cuba and it’s people. The are beautiful. Gracious. Helpful and lots of fun. We have been going to Playa Esmeralda since 2007 2 or 3 times a year. I’m sorry to say that things are very hard for the population. Hopefully things will change soon.
As a Canadian, I can’t tell you how much sorrow I have reading this post. I’ve been to Cuba 19 times since I was afraid it would become another Baptista puppet in 2016. Obama times. Over the years, I’ve come to absolutely love the Cuban peoples resilience in the face of a nasty bully. We,as Canadians, are facing the same bullying and,like Cuba , we will remain strong. Viva Cuba! I’ll continue to bring whatever I can for the people. Retired on a minimal pension, but rich by comparison.
Why USA keeps giving Cubans hard time?
When Cuban suffering will end?
You can send things to Cuba send stuff by Canada post. Its cost is almost if not more than the cost of what you send but what you send is really needed. Do not send a package that weights more than 4 kg as the recipient also pays a small amount to get it from their PO. Make sure you have a proper (correct) address. Or they may not get the items sent. Make sure you have a tracing number (from the Canadian Post office. It can
Take anywhere from 5 to 6 weeks.
I’ve just spent 3 weeks in Cuba. I come from Australia. My heart aches every time I go outside. I feel so sad. Cuba is a beautiful country with amazing people but I feel helpless in the face of what I have seen and experienced here.
Give up the failure of communism and everything will be 100 times better. Ask yourself why you as a society refuse to even try something besides failure and suffering.
That is so very, very sad:(
Why doesn’t Cuba invest in solar power? Honest question. I’ve only visited twice, no complaints, but I know it’s sunny more often than not. The country could become less dependent on antiquated power stations running on fossil fuels and constant power blackouts.
I have been to Cuba a few times from Canada. You have such a beautiful country with such beautiful people. I am so sad that you are struggling. I wish someone would do something to make life better for you.
My heart is full of sadness now, my throat is dry, for I love cuba and forever I will miss her.
I am so sorry for the people. They do not deserve a life like this. One thing for sure is they should not bring babies into this situation. That is selfish. End the cycle. Children should not have to suffer.
Extremely sad to see Cuba so down into misery and despair.
As a kid growing in Cuba was a blessing. A beautiful island, with friendly and helpful people.
Stores full of groceries, elegant clothing stores all over Galiano street, we even had a Woolworth’s in Galiano and San Rafael.
Restaurants and bakeries in every corner.
Hotels very where, all full with American tourist.
Ladies dressed up in the afternoons to go for a walk or just window shopping.
Buses and taxis in every corner.
Beautiful beaches just half an hour away, clean, with snack sellers everywhere.
That’s what I remember from the early 1960’s
I was lucky enough to had the privilege to be born and have my first years in a lovely and beautiful island, the largest island in the Caribbean.
It wasn’t perfect. There was poverty like any other country in the world.
However there were good paying decent jobs and great education available.
I had never been back to my beautiful island, and the rate America is going with all the haters and more embargo and more rules, I will probably will never see it again.
My memories are my dreams!
Cuba te amo!
.
I visited Moron and saw first hand a woman with small children trying to get money i can only assume for food. It’s heartbreaking. My family took medicine, treats, personal hygiene items, Canadian 5.00.bills, diapers, wipes and handed out as much as we could. Love the Cuban people and the way they regard our country of Canada. How can we send things to Cuba from Canada?