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Is this the same one that was on earlier in the year, about capitalism starting to make its way into the Cuban economy? If it is I watched it just before we went to Cuba and found it really interesting, there is more to Cuba than cigars after all.
I watched this last night & I had watched it before. Still interesting; think it must have been made maybe 18-24months ago ie since my visit. No Americans flying directly to Havana when we were there. They had just laid off 750,000 people from State work & things were getting really tough for many, espcially those in the town. Think the film reflected that part well enough (ceilings shored up for 16yrs ect).
We stayed at a B&B with a couple that had been given a licence the previous yr & had built their own house to live in & rent out a rooms. With the tax they had to pay the Government, they needed 75% occupancy for the whole yr (don't forget very few visitors during hurricane seson), just to break even. I emailed them last month, they have built an extension to live in & now rent out three rooms. They had a 1940's Chevy which we went to visit the Vega Robina farm, they still have that to take their guests around in but have managed to buy a more modern car for their own purposes. All in all they have done well, mainly thanks to their hard work & faith in themselves (they both quit their jobs as teachers to start the business?) & Trip Advisor. Without Trip Advisr they would just be one of many B&B's in town but if you can get into the top half dozen, as they have out of 139 in Vinales, they you can get business from all over the world
So when you finally make that trip to Cuba, if you really want to do something for the people & put some cash into the local ecomony, rather than than just big business & the Govenment i.e. Valdero where most of us have to spend some time to placate the wives, also take time out to vist somewhere smaller & more remote & use the local guest houses & resturants. Vinales is a great stop if you have booked a Havana or two center Havana & Vinales holiday. Vinales has a very beautiful national park & is in the tobacco growing region. If your interested in this area & seeing the whole of the cigar trail rather than just the shops that sell them, you can check out my old links of my holiday. http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthr...hlight=vinales
Simon Bolivar: Liberator of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru & Venezuela.
The one statement that went unchallenged was the statement Cuba still has a word class Health Care system. Perhaps their hospitals haven't killed as many patients as the NHS in Stafford & therefore not wanting to throw bricks in a glass house but world class implies the best of services, drugs & equipment ect, they just don't have the money to be at that level anymore. But then again what's our excuse for the demise of our once famously well regarded NHS????
Simon Bolivar: Liberator of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru & Venezuela.
Ah Simon....
Your reads are always interesting and thought-provoking. Makes me feel guilty to go to Varedaro
It is gonna be my first time there (and that's how I'll say it to make myself feel less guilty ). However, the next time I go, I'll definitely check out that area. Wouldn't mind visiting V Robaina's farm if it was so convenient. And plus, like the Canuck society its been, I tip generously!
And I didn't even know what the NHS was before googling it so I could understand your bit about the health issue. gotta love how you learn more than just cigars here
Don't go to Varadero, its like Benidorm in the Caribbean, go to Jibacoa if you must go to a resort.
Fack. If only I knew of that existance. $980 price compared to $830 price so it isn't THAT big of a loss.
Wanted to book the newest resort but that's around $1080 now...... More money to spend on boxes!
It wouldn't be too bad though. Better than the other resorts that exist, hahaha.
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