Myths Busted: 5 Misconceptions About Cuba
Like so many other travelers, I couldn’t wait to get to Cuba. Now that restrictions to visit are loosening (though you still need to be on a people-to-people program with an approved operator at this point), many people worry that the disconnected island will become Americanized all to quickly. I too was worried about this, so I set sail to see this mysterious island before the landscape changes. Here are 5 misconceptions about Cuba I started the trip with that changed before I returned home.
Misconception #1: No Sense of Hope
Like man Americans, I had assumed after years of communist rule, citizens would seem brainwashed to play to government commands. But there is a lot of hope and spirit here, even in a world of decay and oppression. In fact, now that Raul Castro is running Cuba, many citizens I talked too, don’t even view the country as communist anymore. The new president, for instance is much more accepting to local business (shops, restaurants and even barber shops) than brother Fidel ever was. Another interesting fact I learned was that while many locals I talked too were beyond excited that the embargo could be lifted, they also worried that this could bring more crime and drugs into a country that is safe and virtually drug free.
Misconception #2: Americans are Bad
I went into Cuba fully prepared to pretend to be from Canada, a country where relations aren’t tarnished and no one seems to oppose. I assumed (incorrectly) that Cubans would have less than favorable attitudes towards us because of rough relations between our respective countries. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. I found locals to be very up to speed on American politics and pop culture. And also very open to answering questions about the country and culture- whether in the form of opinions of government or how they spend their free time.
Misconception #3: Hotels, Restaurants, and Attractions Out of Date
Because this country has been locked out of Western progress for decades, I assumed out-dated tourist amenities would be one of the first things I would notice. Of course, there were times the poverty was tough to see, but came across less than I anticipated and seemed no more severe than in other parts of the world I’d visited. Hotels had everything I would expect at a nicer U.S. spot, with the exception of affordable and reliable Wi-Fi. We stayed at the Melia Cohiba, which has a pool, fitness center, safes for valuables, on-site dining and an attached club for nightly music and dancing. The hotel is a few miles from Old Town Havana, but offers direct access to the Malecon, a great spot for a run along the water. Other museums, homes and restaurants we visited also showed no signs of being impoverished- though that’s certainly not the case across the board.
Misconception: #4 Customs would be A Nightmare
I was dreading the customs process, assuming it would be a long process of questions, checking over documents and going through bags. Boy was I wrong! We had bags in hand after landing in less than 30 minutes, ready to see the sites of the city. And going through customs itself was a breeze with no interrogation just a friendly welcome to Cuba.
Misconception #5: No Deeply Rooted Community Groups
I didn’t give the idea of community groups much thought but is one of the warmest memories I have of my time here. Our tour operator, smarTours set up experiences in different neighborhoods where we could see locals sing, dance and create art. Cubans have connected to the arts as a way of rising up against oppression and brighten their community and mentor younger kids. From seeing a group of elementary age kids put on a acrobatic circus style show in a circus warehouse to visiting an art transformed neighborhood by way of mosaics, it shows that there is always a way of building community, purpose and hope through art.
