Havana, Cuba

    Since we got married in 2011, Joseph and I have discussed our desire to travel to Cuba. We wanted to see for ourselves what stepping back in time would feel like. Under the Obama Administration, the United States eased travel restrictions to Cuba in 2016. President Obama visited Cuba and was the first President to visit the country since President Calvin Coolidge in 1928. 

    There has been no American influences in the country of Cuba since 1960. It was that year that all US businesses in Cuba were nationalized without compensation and the US imposed trade embargoes in response to Castro's reforms. Cuba remains one of the few officially socialist states in the world. For 50 years Cuba was ruled by the Castro family. 

    In 2018 we got the opportunity to go and we took it, along with our children, and away to Cuba we went. We were able to be in Havana the day that the first non-Castro President, Miguel Mario MDiaz-Canel Bermu'dez, was "elected" as President of Cuba.   

There were many people who did not believe we should take our children to Cuba, but Joseph and I felt completely comfortable with it. Eli was 6 years old and Hub was 3 years old. We all had a great time.

Cuba is not your typical tourist destination. We actually took a cruise that ported in Havana for 2 days. We hired a carriage ride on one of the days and the driver pointed out the best hotel in Havana. It looked like a really low grade hourly motel. I'm glad we didn't fly in there because you are literally stepping back in time. There have been no updates to the city of Havana. You really have to see the pictures. 

Don't get me wrong, the country that we saw is beautiful. The people are very open to Americans (or they were when we were there) and they were very kind to us. They are very poor, though. This is a socialist country. Ninety percent of their earnings go back to the government. Don't book a trip to Cuba thinking that you will find a McDonald's or a Wal-Mart. That doesn't exist in Cuba. I can't say this enough, traveling to Cuba is like stepping back into the 1950s. That is when time stopped moving in Cuba. 

In order for us to get into the country, we had to prove that we would be doing people to people interaction. This meant that we were traveling to Cuba for the purposes of better understanding their people, culture, and country. 

After going through customs, we were greeted by this happy clown and his puppy for a photo op. I have traveled to many different islands such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, etc. and I have always been on guard. Initially, I felt that I needed to be this way in Havana, but after being there, I realized that most of the local people were happy to have us in their country. Don't get me wrong, I did not throw caution to the wind, but I felt safer in Cuba that I did in Nassau, Bahamas. 

One of the many squares in Havana.

Santa Maria Del Mar Beach

The beaches are absolutely breathtaking in Cuba. The waters are blue and so inviting. We hired a driver to take us to the beach on the first day we ported in Havana. I paid $4 US to rent two chairs and an umbrella for the day at the beach. I have paid over $40 for just two chairs on the beach in the Bahamas. That being said, just about every food item or souvenir that you find in Cuba is extremely inexpensive. 

The boys got thirsty at the beach. One of the waiters came by our chairs and brought me a menu- in Spanish. I can't speak Spanish. I knew what a Cuba Libre and a Mojito were, but those were the only 2 items that I understood on the menu. I ordered both of those drinks and then did some funny hand movements to tell him to bring something for the boys to drink. Pictured above is what he brought them. Don't worry, I tried it before I let them start drinking it. It was nothing but fresh coconut milk. 

The language barrier was tough. We found very few people who spoke English. Some of the locals were letting my boys pet their puppy. I believe this was a beach for the Cuban military just judging from the housing accommodations that we saw when driving. 

Check out the car in the background- I believe it is Russian! We were waiting for our driver to pick us back up. He was right on time!

Walking around in Old Havana.

This is the capital building where the new president was sworn in. We were there for this. It was a turning point in Cuban history. After 50 years, the Castro's were no longer in power. 

A lot can change in 50 years. Cuba is a prime example of this. My recommendation is to travel to Cuba before the country has been taken over by the influx of tourists. If you go now, you will get to witness a country that is honestly, indescribable.