Cuba 3

Our entrance into to Havana is heralded with our captain blowing his ship horn, his very loud (as he like to announce) ship horn.  It is celebration time!  We are all at the bow of the ship, we are port side, we are ecstatic.  Firsts are special in most realms.  They can be fraught with unexpected events but to be a first towards freedom for the Cuban people (or I hope so) from their perspective was pure delight.

We are each ready to set foot on this 'forbidden' country for most of us.  We line up in our assigned groupings.  We line up to exchange our dollars for CUC's.  The hawkers of tourist trinkets and cigars await our money exchange in hopes that we want to part with them sooner than later.

We are herded to town square to meet our first Cuban guide.  Plaza de San Fransico.  We are greeted with Cuban Ladies who kiss the men and pose for tips.  They are colorful reminding me of Carmen Miranda, a Brazilian film star whose popularity fanned the late 1930's-1955.  At our various tour stops of interest they flock for the photo opportunities. 

We learn history of the island as far back as 500 years.  Our guide tells us we can ask any question we wish.  The guide the next day says the same.  My guess is this Cuba's way of pretending they are 'free'.  I found this ironic for on the ship as we were instructed in what we could or could not do, politics was pretty much a taboo subject.  As my story unfolds in a future blog we found out a great deal of what has happened in the past.  But for now it is all good fun and up beat.

The buildings represent beautiful architecture.  From a distance or if you have poor eyesight you can imagine what once was.  This Caribbean island was once a jewel of architecture, commerce, art and elegance.  At our first glance in the Plaza de San Fransico we see a very nice restaurant, that would rival any I would find her in Chicago.  Elegant, tables with linens outside for Al Fresco dinning.

Most buildings look like this.

Show Cased Buildings

We moved through the main and showcased streets of Havana, we see where once the US embassy was housed. The center of what was once government offices and town square, the famous hotel that Jimmy Carter stayed at Hotel Santa Isabel, they are quick to tell us that fact.

Hotel Santa Isabel

Book sellers surround the central park which is very nice and has beautiful trees.  Don and I visited the area the next night when there were no people and it is indeed very pretty. 

The tour is about a three mile walk, it took all day and we covered only the first few blocks.  At first blush if you went no deeper into the city is was okay.  The beautiful cathedral, modern restaurants all government run would never give to you the feel of the poverty just a block or two away. 

 Our lunch on this day was amazing.  It was called the El Rum Rum a private establishment of 1 1/2 years.  We were told some private enterprises are popping up but the taxes from the government are heavy.  We experienced exquisite Cuban food that was probably the best meal of our week.  I fell in love with Cuban ice cream.  It what they served us is standard fare, I would go back in heart beat.

Course #3 Lobster and Mahi Mahi- El Rum Rum 

In the 3 long hot miles we walked around the Havana streets on this day we learned and saw many things.  I can't give to you a 'sight by sight' account or you would never pull up another blog of mine again.  On this day everything though warn and somewhat 'poor' looked pretty good.  If one never went further into the city they would say, hey this isn't too bad.    These streets were company ready.

All over the city even in the poorest areas musicians shared with us their talent.  This added charm and joy to dreary lives.  

Street Musicians

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I end this blog it is just a tiny scratch on the surface of what we saw, what we experienced.  The Cuban people are resilient.  They long for more but have lived in the communist void for so long that to turn this country around to thrive will be a most interesting study in social economics and change. 

I will blog by blog share tid bits of this trip.  I will also begin to find a way to bring along with me to experience this again.  It is a once in a life time experience as we watch a country kept in prison begin to emerge from their cells.  I cannot predict its future but I am honored to have experienced what was and what is.

Cuba 2

In January this trip to Cuba was not even in my thoughts.  Those I knew who had gone had done so on a religious visa and entered through Nassau, Jamaica, Canada or Europe.  I knew that their work was vibrant and I knew that those who had been there were 'hooked' by what God was doing.  It was just an island that I sailed by so many times, the forbidden island that seemed so alone and yet so close to the US.  I have friends whose history stems from Cuba and their families fled here for freedom. 

I knew about the awesome, cool, old cars that seem to be the icon that Cuba is best known for.  When we arrived in Havana they were driving up and down the road along the coast where we ported.  Their colors and variety stand out from a distance.  Because we knew they were there, we looked for them and it was such fun to see 'what was' and that in the car realm, it still 'is'. 

The cars represent 'when time stopped' for these people.  Some have  obtained the money to have replaced the engines and body repair work has been done.  Other cars sit when they last died and that too sets a date for 'when time stopped'.  To ride in one of these awesome old vehicles, that is in pristine condition, one pays $40 US for an hour. 

Not all cars are in good shape.

   These cars are prized possessions for when they are gone, there is not hope for new.




Economics are poor at best.  The average Cuban earns $20 a month.  A pay hike was given to Doctors and Nurses, they are paid $26 a month but if they have two specialties there pay jumps to $67 a month.  The government controls everything.  There is a saying I heard quoted several times "The government pretends to pay us and we pretend to work."  Education is required through out the country so the Cuban people are fluent in languages (English is a favorite), math and even sciences but there is no incentive to use them.  They long for something more. 

As I continue my blogs in the days to come, I will post more photos of life in Cuba.  A photo I missed that resonated with me was similar to the one above.  Laundry was being dried from the balcony.  What struck me hard was that there was a bed sheet, twin size hanging to dry.  There was a huge hole in the middle and around the large hole, were thread bare strands that you could see the railing that held it in place to dry.  In my world this sheet would not have even made it to the rag pile.  To this Cuban family is was all that they had.

On this Memorial Day, I am grateful beyond for our freedoms.  I long to be able to keep them and then be able to minister and to give back to those who have none.  Money and things do not by happiness, for these people are delightful and happy.  But if I can help make life a bit easier I desire that.   Fight for our freedom, when it is lost it cannot be regained. 

It is not happy people who are thankful.  It is thankful people who are happy.

Cuba - 1

On our sailing from Miami to Havana, we had times of education on current culture and what to expect.  Each session was valuable as this island has been off limits to most of us in US.  Their government embraced Communism and hated our country and its freedoms.  They partnered with the Soviets and it was a dual enemy for the US.   An island so very close to us, 90 miles from Key West and we are worlds apart.

Last week I was part of a historic moment in relations between the US and Cuba.  I was on the first cruise from Miami to Cuba in over 50 years.  A voyage had been made earlier in May with the press but ours was the first with 'regular' people.

A wow!  A blessing!  An eye opener!  I found my self excited with anticipation as we sailed into Havana!  As I shared in my first Sixty Six blog this trip was not even on my bucket list in January.  The doors to come on this trip flew open with such speed and thrust that we knew it was to be.

The reactions of people as I tell or share this adventure with, are two fold.  One of awe and desiring to hear what it was like.  The second is one of why would you go and put money into the Castro's pockets when they suppress their people?   I understand and get both of these emotions and reactions.  Both are valid and there are more questions of why that could and should be asked.

I am a story teller.  I love to recount what I have seen and where I have been.  I love being exposed to the world, the world of people who need to have their stories told for they have no voice.  I do not have a broad reading base so perhaps these recounts are for me alone.  I am blessed like few I know to be able to experience so many things.

Over the next few blogs I will un-pack 'my' journey and tell my stories.  Those traveling with me have their own stories but if we were to put the puzzle pieces of each of our stories together it would be one amazing picture.

I loved our ship Captain.  He was so excited to be part of this historic trip.  The very loud ships whistle blew and blew as we entered each port. They were blasts of celebration.  He shared with us incredible historic information as we passed forts and Tall Ships and a very huge special yacht who ported just ahead of us.  He continued to remind us of how very significant and wonderful this trip was.  His excitement was contagious and delightful.  He loved what he was about to embark upon!

Captain and his wife are the bookends.  New friends the Rosenberg's share this hard to get photo.

People seeing us come into the port were waving and shouting greetings to us. Passengers in small boats in the water waved.  This was true in each port.  This ship seemed to represent hope for these oppressed people.  The people on the streets too greeted us, praising America.  This saddened me for as they desired freedom, our direction seems to be sliding toward socialism, the very thing they want to rid them selves of.  The irony was a lot to absorb.    I won't go too political within my blog but I will tell the stories of those who live under this regime.

Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro

As I begin this Memorial Day in our country and recount my time in Cuba I can say that I more than grateful for the freedoms we have just now.  We must guard them for they can be lost.

The Calendar Turns Once Again

The Sixty Fifth Year ended 5 days ago.  A year like none other and as it ended this next year started like none other.

I was in Cuba!  I sailed on an historic cruise, the first ship in 50+ years to sail from the US to Cuba.  In January this trip was not even on my bucket list!  It was not even a thought to ponder!  May 15-22, 2016, a maiden sailing to Cuba from Miami and I was on board!

I knew of friends who had made the journey.  They entered through Nassau or Jamaica, or Canada or Europe.  They went as tourists but mostly they went on a mission trip of some sort.  A mission trip to a Communist country did intrigue me but not enough to push through to make it happen.

As a young girl, from a blue collar family, my mother befriended a lady who worked in a factory with her.  The lady had fled from Cuba as Castro entered.  She was a lady of wealth, servants, they had an estate and lived a very luxurious life.  Their desire for freedom had them flee to the US, to Oregon of all places.  She now worked the factory line with my mother. They became friends.  My mother would recount her stories as I am sure this Cuban lady needed to talk out her traumatic life changes to anyone who would listen.   I thought of this lady often through the years.  What price would I be willing to pay for freedom?

As we sailed into Havana people were waiving and shouting greetings to us.  The Cuban people were excited and delighted beyond words.  This ship seemed to represent hope for them.   Their excitement caused me once again to ponder what life must be like without hope.

In the days ahead I will share the tales of the trip.  A trip I will take again and again.  A trip I will encourage others to join me on.  Changes will begin to happen in this isolated country and I hope to share with any who desire what life has been like without freedom in a place so very close to our home.

 

American will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.  Abraham Lincoln