I just returned from Cuba - AMA

[Anonymous]

Luckily, we didn;t need to visit any hospitals or need to see a medical professional. The Cuban people we spoke to were very happy with their healthcare however and claimed that in Cuba they have found a cure for diabetes and lung cancer. I have no clue as to whether or not that is even close to the truth.

[Anonymous]

Did you take extra precautions for zika? Other illnesses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you take extra precautions for zika? Other illnesses?

We brought mosquito repellent and clothing spray but ended up not using it. It is still winter in Cuba and very dry (drought). Bring precautions if traveling there in spring and summer.

[Anonymous]

how many cars from the 1960's did you count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how many cars from the 1960's did you count?

The American cars are all from the 1950's and magnificent. Seriously, I have been to auto shows in the US that paled in comparison to a typical Havana parking lot! The other cars from Europe and China are also very run down and extremely expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you travel to a place that has food rations for their citizens??? Why give the dictatorship and supporters more money while their citizens live in poverty?

No one lives in poverty. It is a communist country. The problem is that people cannot get ahead but no one is destitute. There are no homeless people and no sick or crazy people begging for money or food like they do here. Not one person asked us for money.

Maybe Cuba is not your cup of tea.

It's definitely not, but make no mistake, the people are poor, and they do not live in good conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you travel to a place that has food rations for their citizens??? Why give the dictatorship and supporters more money while their citizens live in poverty?

No one lives in poverty. It is a communist country. The problem is that people cannot get ahead but no one is destitute. There are no homeless people and no sick or crazy people begging for money or food like they do here. Not one person asked us for money.

Maybe Cuba is not your cup of tea.

It's definitely not, but make no mistake, the people are poor, and they do not live in good conditions.

I think OP's point is that the people have "conditions" - like homes and mental hospitals. Good or not good, they are unlike the mentally ill and homeless in our country who live on the streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luckily, we didn;t need to visit any hospitals or need to see a medical professional. The Cuban people we spoke to were very happy with their healthcare however and claimed that in Cuba they have found a cure for diabetes and lung cancer. I have no clue as to whether or not that is even close to the truth.

I'm Cuban and have lots of family there. Anyone who tries to sell you on the Cuban health care system (or anything Cuban for that matter) is brainwashed or more likely afraid of speaking out. It's truly sad but sadder that Americans go there and think they are seeing the real Cuba.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm Cuban and have lots of family there. Anyone who tries to sell you on the Cuban health care system (or anything Cuban for that matter) is brainwashed or more likely afraid of speaking out. It's truly sad but sadder that Americans go there and think they are seeing the real Cuba.

Even sadder than that are the ignorant Americans who say they want to go and see Cuba before other Americans get there and "mess it up". Also sad are the dumbasses who don't realize the rest of the world has been going to Cuba for years, and that Americans used to vacation there too.

These people are obviously clueless to Cuban history as it relates to America, and that's deplorable.

Anyone going to Cuba needs to read a book, watch a documentary, talk to some Cubans, do something to learn the history of the country before making assumptions about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luckily, we didn;t need to visit any hospitals or need to see a medical professional. The Cuban people we spoke to were very happy with their healthcare however and claimed that in Cuba they have found a cure for diabetes and lung cancer. I have no clue as to whether or not that is even close to the truth.

I've got a guess...the cure for diabetes is food rationing. (I'm kidding but only sort of. My dad has diabetes and he always said that he was not genetically designed to live in a land of plenty.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm Cuban and have lots of family there. Anyone who tries to sell you on the Cuban health care system (or anything Cuban for that matter) is brainwashed or more likely afraid of speaking out. It's truly sad but sadder that Americans go there and think they are seeing the real Cuba.

Even sadder than that are the ignorant Americans who say they want to go and see Cuba before other Americans get there and "mess it up". Also sad are the dumbasses who don't realize the rest of the world has been going to Cuba for years, and that Americans used to vacation there too.

These people are obviously clueless to Cuban history as it relates to America, and that's deplorable.

Anyone going to Cuba needs to read a book, watch a documentary, talk to some Cubans, do something to learn the history of the country before making assumptions about it.

Thank you. If you are old enough to know people who narrowly escaped Casto's regime with nothing but their lives, then you should be sickened that people are going there and bragging about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big deal. I'm Canadian. I have been six times.

Then OP probably isn't talking to you, right?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you so proud, OP? You spent money in a country that oppresses its people. The locals will never see that money.

Like America? China? Every country on earth?

[Anonymous]

Cuba is great and the people are wonderful. I have been many times. I'm sorry I didn't see your post OP. Nice of you to do this AMA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big deal. I'm Canadian. I have been six times.

Then why didn't you respond to my many questions about Cuba before I left?

I guess I didn't see them. It's been a few years now. I have moved on to better vacations, like Cayman. Cuba is for the budget traveller.

Ohhh, that is good to know! I love budget travel. Spent 3 weeks in Tanzania this summer, incredible budget travel experience. Definitly HATE resort travel, especially Caribbean (likr Cayman) but cuba really intrigues me. It's either Cuba or Belize.