Cuba

I was in Cuba with Global Volunteers* for the first 2 weeks of December, 2015. I wanted to go to Cuba before there was a Hilton on every corner. Even tho we were not allowed to go there, Cuba has had a tourist business with people from Europe and other parts of the world.

We flew from Miami to Havana. From Havana we drove to Ciego de Avila which is a city located in the central part of Cuba and was founded in 1840. Pedicabs and horse drawn carriages were the alternative “taxies”.

Several of our group tutored at a community center which was about a mile from the hotel where we stayed. The heat and humidity index determined whether I would walk or ride in a pedicab. Each morning the “pedicab man” would be outside the hotel and would ask “is Madame walking or riding today?”.. Since it cost about the equivalent of $1.00 to ride guess what I usually chose.

We met with adults and/or children to provide them with opportunities for conversation and to hear a native English speaker. Other volunteers either went to work at the organic vegetable garden or did light painting or light carpentry work at the center.

The Cuban people were just starting to be allowed to buy and sell goods and start businesses. In my pictures I have included a picture of my favorite morning cafe with 2 of my fellow teachers and a student. When I was teaching and would run out of conversation, I would invite the students for a coffee.

After eating lunch at the center, the afternoons were free to explore the city. The town had several shops that sold the famous Cuban cigars and Cuban rum. Since we were then allowed to bring cigars back, it was fun going to the cigar store and trying to make a selection with all the numerous different brands and styles of cigars.

In the evening for dinner, we went to various restaurants that served Cuban food. After dinner we returned to the community center for more interaction with local people who wanted to improve their English. Each person had a different reason for being there. 

It was a two week service project and on the weekend we were able to 

explore the surrounding area. Two highlights of the weekend were having lunch at an outdoor barbecue restaurant that had THE best grilled chicken. The other highlight was going to Moron and attending a special, for us, performance at the Moron Theater. The theater was built in 1922 in the eclectic style and has under gone a restauration process. The performances were very unique and the costumes were very colorful.

Ernest Hemingway was one of the best known visitors and residents. In one of his writings he wrote, “ In terms of beauty , only Venice and Paris surpass Havana ”. He wrote several novels in Cuba and lived the last 22 years of his life there. We visited his house, the grounds are just beautiful.

Before leaving Cuba, we were able to spend two days in Havana which was first visited by Spaniards in 1509. The 16th century Spanish colonial architecture in Old Havana is breathtaking. We we went to dinner our last evening using taxies that were the famous old American cars from the 50s.The cars were fabulously maintained and brought back many memories to several people. I also got to ride in a 1955 Pontic Star Chief convertible. The problem was that I remember riding around in these cars when they were new. Cuba has quite a collection of these cars all beautifully maintained.

The next day, on our way to the airport, we stopped at Muraleando. Muraleando is a social and cultural project in the Lawton neighborhood. Artists use mural painting, large and small, in the goal of educating large numbers of people into a culture. In addition to the murals, there is a workshop.

The workshop place," The Tank" ( El Tanque ), is a large repurposed water tank which was originally used for suppling water to part of the community and to the railroad repair shops. It then became a garbage dump.

At present, the tank is the cultural center where artists create paintings, sculptures, handcrafts, and other works of art. Many artists turn ordinary objects into art. There are workshops for children and adults. In addition, the center is a space for music, dancing, and acting. There is a stage for performances. There is an interesting You Tube video: Havana Street Art, Muraleando and El Tanque.

• I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed my Cuban experience: the people, the food, the music and the art. I hope to be able to return someday and have the opportunity for more interaction and to be able once again to experience all all that Cuba has to offer.  

* www. globalvolunteers.org 1.800.487.1074 ext 6157 tool free