Day 3 – Enroute to Santiago de Cuba

   Since Havana is our last stop and not our first it is going to take us two days to get to Santiago de Cuba. That gives us two days of lectures to learn about this country. This way after two days in Havana, our last stop, it will be a short trip, and we are home. We lucked out accidently once again.

   Our guest speaker Richard Detrich is wonderful, very knowledgeable, yet funny. Here are three of his favorite questions people have asked him in the past. Maybe I should say stupidest questions with an example answer he would like to give. 

Does the ship generate its own power? “No, we run a power cord from Florida.”

Does the crew sleep on the ship?  No, didn’t you notice the helicopters last night.

Is this island completely surrounded by water? (Wins the dumbest)

   He kept mentioning that we should not go as tourists, but as travelers ready to be open to a new and different culture. Also that we must go on one “people to people exchange program” daily before we can go out on our own. We are not allowed to go to the beach. Canadians and Europeans have been coming to Cuba since the 80’s. This is a US restriction.

    Cuba has a higher literacy rate than the US. In theory, Cuba has no unemployment. That means that there is a job for everyone if they want it, but would only be making $24 a month. Doctors make about $30 a month. On the other hand, people who work for the tourist industry make that much money in an hour. Hence the reason for the old cars, called “Yank Tanks.” They are the cars of the 50’s. But have engines from all different sources. He even told us that gasoline tanks are hard to come by so some cars have a jug of gas in the trunk with a plastic tube running to the engine. Now I will hope ours has a real gas tank. If I smell gas, I am not getting in it.

      Communists rule is tough. You can only buy milk if you have a child in your home. He told us that there are 6.7 doctors per 1000 people in Cuba and only 2.5 doctors per thousand people in the US. He said that in a Cuban hospital you will get excellent TLC care but bring you own toilet paper, sheets and pillows. They also reuse needles so I figure you may get a lot of TLC but the doctors certainly are not working with the most up to date equipment. We are truly spoiled in America.

 “Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” – Lovelle Drachman

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Tom and Holly