Cuba . . . a dream destination

Sunset: Santiago de Cuba.

Rosa Briant is a Gizzy girl and former teacher who sold up and dedicated her life to travelling the world. Currently on her fifth continent her goal is to step foot on all seven and share the experiences, the growth, the ups and the downs, through her passion for writing.

Cuba, currently my favourite country in the world, is jam packed with beautiful places and things to do.

The sense of identity, culture and heritage that has grown from such an interesting history is so powerful, yet at the same time, mixed with a confused and uncertain sense of the political situation, and what the future may hold.

It is hard to engage the locals in these sorts of conversations, because there is a well understood rule that ‘people are allowed to say whatever they like as long as it is in favour of the government.’ As many locals told me “don’t try to understand it, just enjoy it.”

I felt safer travelling Cuba than anywhere else I have been in the world. Hitchhiking is amongst the most common forms of getting from A to B, however, as with everything in Cuba, it’s neither free nor cheap. The second best option is to join a tour group which I think, for non-Spanish speaking travellers, is a better choice. The guides speak fluent English and everything from transport to accommodation is supplied. Do not rely on public buses as you will find most are for use only by the locals.

The people are incredibly kind, friendly, welcoming and trustworthy. Crime is not a big issue but if you are a woman travelling alone, you need to be aware that Cuban men are the most intense creatures you will ever encounter.

However, they are also completely harmless. In their endless pursuit to land a foreign wife they will hassle you relentlessly, which can be both offensive and hugely frustrating but in no way dangerous. It is impossible to walk for 30 seconds without being noticed, whistled at and called ‘sexy ladddiieee”, or my personal favourite “you want boyfriend?”

At times I became so annoyed with it I resorted to a quick finger in the air, accompanied with a facial expression which clearly stated “say one more word to me and I’ll slap your face.”

To be honest it worked a treat every time. They understand “no” and as long as you don’t engage them and play into their flirtations you can safely walk another 15 metres, until the next man spots you. Objectification is not a fun thing to be on the receiving end of but you cannot avoid it. It is part of the Cuban experience so just be prepared.

I wandered Cuba for a month from the far east to the far west and everything in between. I danced salsa almost every day, I smoked organic Che Guevara-quality cigars, learned of Jose Marti, read Ernest Hemingway, drank mojitos, saw amazing street music, swam in crystal clear water, made great friends and daily fell a little further in love with the richness, vibrance and mind-blowing innovation of that crazy little island.

‘Local people make do with very little’It is important for me to state here though that life in Cuba is vastly different for travellers than for the locals and I urge you to research, learn and understand that difference before you go. Resources are few and far between for most people and they make do with very little. If you can, take extra with you to give away in the smaller towns — the people will trade with you or be extremely grateful for donations of extra clothes, thread, shoes, soap, pens, pencils, tampons, toilet paper, etc.

Think about the amazing cars from the 50s still in mint condition on the roads today — what the Cuban people are able to do with second hand things and a bit of creativity is mind-blowing.

Normally “culture shock” is something you experience when you find yourself somewhere vastly different from your idea of normal. I had expected to experience it when I arrived in Cuba but instead I experienced it when I left. I had become so accustomed to the Cuban lifestyle where everything from bottled water to real estate is bought and sold in cash, where there are no chain businesses, billboards, advertising, fast-food or eftpos machines, where wifi is almost non-existent and consumerism is simply not possible.

To step back into our fast-paced, chaotic world after that was a real shock to the system. It made me realise just how special and unique Cuba is.

Highlights were:

Callejón de Hamel in Havana where I saw unreal artwork by Salvador Gonzales Escalona and learned the history of Santeria.Baracoa, in the east a little coastal town with a relaxed vibe and amazing adventures to be had.Trinidad, a fascinating city where I danced more salsa than I could ever have dreamed of.Vinales, in the far west where you can get lost in nature, find 100 percent organic tobacco farms, go on long horse treks and visit blissful little islands.So much more could be said of this place but for now, this is Cuba in a nutshell.