Hi, we are back from our 2 weeks in Santiago de Cuba.
Cuba was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so glad we went to Santiago de Cuba. We went legally (Cuban born going once per year to visit family for humanitarian reasons...I was permitted to go as a US Born b/c of my marriage to my Cuban born husband) We went through Miami via ABC Charters on an American Eagle charter flight to Santiago de Cuba. Cost $399 per person along with $50 departure fee.
It was so gratifying for Charles and I to have reunited
Mother and Daughter (Silvia) after 36 years along with her Granddaughter (Fatima & husband, Esteban along with Grandson, Mechel) and Great Granddaughter, Alicita).
But our journey took an exciting turn, we knew that Charles' Grandfather, Rodolfo Hernandez Giro was an artist and sculptor but we also found out he was a famous Cuban artist and sculptor.
There are bronze monuments in the city parks, monuments in schools along with paintings, not to mention the huge exhibit that is in the Baccardi Museum! Charles' Great Uncle, Juan Emilio Hernandez Giro, is also a famous artist! That was the highlight of our trip.
And now......the rest of the story.........
After getting off the plane, the armed military guards with guns was a bit intimidating, we got inside and had to stop at the customs booth and give the guy who didn't speak English my passport & visa (not the tourist one either), I was told to report to Immigration (He didn't have problems communicating that to me) on the following Monday, but I didn't ......thank God no one came ofter me...I would have feind ignorance.....
He buzzed me through and I was officially in Santiago de Cuba. I caught back up with my husband and Mother-in-Law who had passed through different booths.
There was the luggage belt, while we waited for ours another "official" came up to us and looked again at our passports and visas and wrote down our names
Then we had our luggage and weighed it....we made the mistake of putting the luggage on the scales for all 3 of us instead of individually and we were a little over. The "nice" lady (yeah right) spoke in low tones to my husband in spanish and "suggested" we pay $50 per person or have our bags search risk possibly paying more money and/or having items confiscated! Needless to say we paid the money.
Then we were stopped at the exit doors of the airport and had to show the receipt for the money we had to pay (makes me think that everyone who leaves the airport has to produce a receipt for "money paid") What a racket! Ride to the family home on Heredia St was 4 pesos. Tourist usally get taken. You have to keep in mind that 27 Pesos equal ONE US DOLLAR. So even if you pay one buck....you're getting ripped off.
Our room was 3 doors up from the family home and cost $20 per day. Our Cuban family was flabergasted b/c they thought their neighbor was taking advantage of us and charging us too much.
My Cuban Mother-in-Law told her son that the men don't wear shorts much, but on the CubanManiacs message board we were told that they wore shorts. So my husband, Charles took his, but actually we stood out as "Tourists" even though Charles is a Cuban born American and got hasseled...so Charles ended up hardly wearing his.........male TOURISTS stand out like a sore thumb with shorts!!!! If the guys want to "blend in" take slacks & jeans!
Make sure you have kleenex or napkins when you go out and at the Airport cause they sometimes don't have napkins or toilet paper....
Plastic bags are in great demand by the Cubans...because they use them to carry their groceries and to take out food from restaurants. No, they don't have any bags..except in the dollar stores.
Be careful on crossing streets b/c you DO NOT have the right-of-way and they drive like a bat-out-of-hell and will run you over. (they don't stay in the lanes either so watch out!
Charles being Cuban born American.....we used mostly pesos (big money saver there), bought from the street vendors and people selling from their homes. I can't see how a cuban family of 6 can eat on 5 pounds of groundmeat mixed with soy for one month. Nor the amount of Rice, blackbeans & sugar they are ALLOWED to buy. No way would I want to live there....
Want to hear a good one? The powers that be turn on the water supply once every 7 days (8,9,10 or whenever they getting around to it) so that the TANKS at the houses can be filled up! Once the house runs out they can BUY water for $5 US, but hey guys, the average Cuban doesn't have that!
Oh yes, the heath care is wonderful too! It is free, but when Cubans go to fill the perscriptions they don't have the stuff, but go to a Tourist Pharmacy, and they sure do! Cubans resent this. Dentists too- Someone I met has been waiting since April for anesthesia to have painful wisdom teeth pulled!
Going legally, we were permitted to each bring 50 cuban cigars. My bosses now love me!
Leaving cost us 3 pesos to get to the airport via a neighbor of our family and $25 US Dollars per person Airport Tax.
*Debbie*
