Patrick Audley // Revolutionary Cuba

What I found in Cuba was a brand of socialism somewhere between Canada and the former USSR without the brittle edge of the Maoist influences that I saw in Vietnam. Start with the basics:

• Everyone has access to free food should they need it through easily accessible local stores that give food on quota.
• Access to healthcare more universal than in Canada though it’s more focused on real treatment (as opposed the Canadian system which I honestly think invents new illnesses just to treat them).
• Housing is available for everyone. Period.
• Education is universal, including University, and most of the people we interacted with had University degrees.

Layer on top of this a thin capitalist market that allows people (whose wages are capped so that no one gets really rich) to spend a reasonable amount of disposable income on things they desire. What you get is a society with a very narrowly distributed average lifestyle that I found very nice. The only billboards that we saw there were party slogans or cartoons (the Cubans don’t have advertising!). It’s odd to see propaganda so overtly shown but after a while it grows on you.

Climate

Perfect. No really. 25°C – 36°C most days, 18°C in the evenings. Usually a nice breeze to keep the heat down. Perfect beach weather.

Clubs

Danielle’s continued attempts to reform me into a clubber are apparently paying off because I had a blast going dancing with her at no less than six clubs. I have no idea how to Salsa dance but we managed to find some non-Salsa music almost everywhere we went. Cute people abounded though the language barrier was annoying (and strangely more significant than in Mexico – almost as if the Mexicans are resigned to learning some English but the Cubans don’t really care too). I’m slowly lowering the number of drinks that it takes me to get on the dance floor. *grin*

Resort: Coralia Club Playa de Oro

Day 1

• Long flight. Short attention span. Thank god Patrick brought his palm pilot with Robin William’s mp3′s.
• Arrive and am overwhelmed by the countryside, well, as much as I could see from the airport highway. Ocean follows us continually into Varadero on our right.
• The people here are gorgeous, the men are cheeky. I feel like I’ve found my brethren. ;)
• Rekindle my fondness for Desi Arnez.
• Many rum drinks and a night swim in the pool then off to bed.
• I miss my mom and my boy muy mucho.

Day 2

• I am taken aback by how expensive everything is and how serious the US embargo is taken. Still confused about how they accept US currency….
• Swam in the ocean, frolicked in the waves. It was amazing fun. I feel good.
• Only brought my bikini’s I feel gorgeous. I think it’s the sun. Must have special UV rays that shine down here.
• There are a lot of families here. A lot of kids and quite a few teenagers. I think Patrick and I are the only 20-something year old contingent.
• I moon over every being under 4 feet. Brandon would have so much fun here. I miss him terribly.
• I want to get him a t-shirt that says “future communist” but I don’t think anybody else would find that as amusing as I do.
• Talking to Patrick about looking for adventure. My brother in arms. Much has changed in the last 5 years since we’ve been south of the equator. The very meaning of “adventure” itself is now different for us. Doesn’t stop me from looking for it.
• Am still shocked by the prices. Who said Cuba was cheap??? Nothing here is, except the rum. Mmmmmmm, rum!!
• Gone Adventuring:
  • Pirates Cave Club – a real cave made into a club. Did a show that has to be seen to be believed. Seriously, must go back and take pictures.
  • Club Rumba – all tourists but at least it wasn’t salsa music. Dancing to Madonna made my night. Blister on foot but alcohol numbs the pain.

Day 3

• Hungover. I’ve become quite the Hard Drinking, Fun Loving, Cigar Smoking Dancing Queen here already.
• Visited a gorgeous 30,000 foot cavern, will upload pictures once back home.
• Drove through Matanzas, a beautiful “country town” for want of a better way to put it.
• There are millions of vultures constantly circling the skies all along the country side, nature’s garbage men. This is a very beautiful place.
• Megusta Cuba
• I keep thinking of my mom as so much here reminds me of here, I think she should visit.
• Friction wore off a good chunk of skin from my big toe, was once a blister is now a open, gaping wound. But the shoes are hot and I must dance. Need more rum to soothe pain.

Cuba has 3 distinct populations: The “original inhabitants”, The Spanish who subjugated settled the land, and The Africans who were originally brought over as indentured slaves to work the sugar plantations (so were the Chinese but they aren’t as prolific). British pirates “invaded” for 11 months and in that space of time managed to “water down” the generations you see today.

As far as can tell they can all dance.

Day 4

• Went to market in downtown Varadero today. It was smoking hot and definitely flavoured by the tourist population, meaning quite shiny and bland. Bought a few things but spent most of the time watching the people go by.
• There are little dogs everywhere. These little puffy pekinese/dashund hybrid dogs that seem to be wild but the people treat kindly. Cats too.
• I cried visiting Saint Elvira church. It’s beautiful in it’s honesty.
• I’m catching up on the language a bit. Not knowing french is a huge hindrance. Hell, not knowing Spanish is worse. But I’m getting by on pigeon talk. In a way it’s good because I’m seeking out the answers to my questions on my own instead of relying on directions etc. It’s been quite the adventure. My pantomiming skills are excellent *L*
• Getting some homework done little by little. I’ll have to crash hard when I get back home.
• I haven’t eaten anything but the local food which is quite delicious. There agricultural industry is good quality from the meat to the vegetables.
• Tomorrow we go to Habana overnight.

Day 5 & 6

• Stopped off over the bridge in Matanzas (which means “massacre”) for the best Pina Colada ever. Tastes like a down feather bed for your mouth and silk sheets on your tongue.
• Ahh, Old Habana, comprised of building hundreds of years old and parks created to venerate dead heroes of one revolution or another.
• Nothing has prepared me for this city. The streets crowded with people pushing their coins, books, cigars etc. Crowded with constant construction, restoration, and music. Music everywhere. There is a romanticism with this city that I take with me, it is hard to avoid. I have seen so much here.
• My heart belongs to the Cuban countryside but Old Habana has taken my hand.
• New Habana is not so new. Last construction was in 1970 and instead of having a long ago feel it just looks run down.
• Went to see the famous Tropicana show. bravo!
• Hotel Nacional De Cuba….wow!
• Everything in Habana is under constant restoration.

I will tell you about Revolution Square and the history I picked up but I’m late for my massage so it will have to be another post.

Random Thoughts

• Wandering through the Museum of Revolution was an experience. I had to follow the story through pictures as not much is translated into English. Pretty bad ass history though, I mean, I can’t think of any place I know of that displays actual ICBM’s as part of their collection. Must mean I need to get out more.
• Ernesto Guevara was a hottie. Seriously gorgeous. I wonder if that helped the cause….
• One of the most striking cultural differences I’ve noticed is the way cuban children are treated. You can’t quite put your finger on what it is but you get the impression that the children are accepted and included in all aspects of day to day life. I haven’t seen any strollers, all places are child friendly and not in the way we call it with roped off areas full of tinker toys. Kids are playing everywhere and are being held by just as many men as women.

Day 7

• Swam with dolphins this morning. Aquatic life just does not do it for me. Creeped me out really but at least I did it and got a picture *L*
• Slept on the beach. Ate more good food.
• I’m going to miss this place like crazy. Tomorrow I fly home. If my mama and bambino were here with me I wouldn’t go home at all.
• My search for a tattoo parlour has turned up fruitless. They don’t exist as a public amenity. If you want work done you go someplace private.
• This whole vacation I’ve only slept a maximum of 5 hours a night. I’m used to it (thank you VCC) but poor Patrick is not.
• The strain of spending everyday together is starting to show between Patrick and I. Except for the few hours a night I spend with Naivel (Naikel for us youngsters) we’ve been with each other 24hours.
• Vague thoughts that it’s Halloween but Cuba doesn’t truck with that, instead the tv shows election coverage and once I caught part of Ron Jeremy’s movie, the NC17 rated one :P
• oh, and the gaping toe wound from hell is finally healing.

It’s a testament to the amount of respect and caring for each other and our friendship that we haven’t erupted and have worked through the tifs. We refer to each other as brother and sister, the closest reference we could find to explain our bond.

Day 3-Bellamar Caves-20041027 Iphone

Day 3-Danielle In a Dress-:DANIELLE:-20041027 Iphone

Day 3-Ricks Birthday-1-20041027 Iphone

Day 3-Ricks Birthday-2-20041027 Iphone

Day 5-Havana Nights-Crazy Talk-20041029 Iphone

Day 5-Old Havana-25-20041029 Iphone

Day 5-Old Havana-27c-Cigar Factory-20041029 Iphone

Day 5-Trip to Havana-Vultures-20041029 Iphone

Day 5-Tropicana-13-20041029 Iphone

Day 5-Tropicana-14-20041029 Iphone

Day 5-Tropicana-15-20041029 Iphone

Vacation Clips