For Nostalgic Russians, Cuba a Tropical Time Machine

[El Presidente]

GlobalPost's Nick Miroff examines how Cuba offers Russian tourists a taste of the old Soviet Union.

May 11, 2010 1:18 PM

For Nostalgic Russians, Cuba a Tropical Time Machine

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20004681-503543.html

HAVANA, Cuba - She'd only been in Cuba a few days, but for Maria Malysheva, the memories came flooding back at the sight of Cuban schoolchildren, all dressed in the neat uniforms that identify them as "pioneros" - communist pioneers.

"I was a pioneer leader when I was a little girl growing up in the Soviet Union," said Malysheva, now the general manager of a Russian travel website, sounding wistful. "The children were playing and laughing. They seemed so happy."

Malysheva had come to Havana to help promote the Soviets' old tropical ally as a hot tourism destination for the new Russia. Her country was the guest of honor at this year's international tourism trade fair, and with expanding direct-flight service to Havana from Moscow and St. Petersburg, the number of Russian tourists is projected to climb from 30,000 to 45,000 in 2010.

That's a small share of the roughly 2.5 million tourists Cuba receives each year - the majority from Europe and Canada - and the 12-hour flight from Moscow is likely to remain an obstacle to mass tourism. But Russians visitors in town last week said Cuba offers more than sun and sand to their sentimental countrymen. It's a place to experience a part of their own history - one that they're still grappling with.

Just as U.S. visitors are stirred by the sight of Cuba's old American automobiles and Eisenhower-era hotels, Russians find elements of their own past in Cuba's present, even if the memories aren't all good ones

[gammon]

Perhaps.. the Russians have returned to finish the Nuclear Power Plant they HALF finished near Cienfuegos.

The Japanese completed a gas burning Power Plant, when the Russians left the unfinished project!

[mazolaman]

They should set up a theme park,where you queue for a loaf of bread,while being eavesdropped on by hidden mikes....

[Kangaroo495]

My girlfriend was also a Soviet pioneer when she was a kid. She had a similar nostalgic reaction to seeing the Cuban kids in their funny uniforms... They do look really funny. The nostalgia was quickly lost when I asked her about "Uncle Lenin" though... And the shops with the old scales brought back memories for her too.

Other than that, the legacy the Soviet Union left on Cuba is mostly negative. This is quite noticeable in Cuba.

Funny story regarding Russian tourists:

The Russians have a certain tourist style. When they go to another country, they generally don't engage the local culture, but prefer to spend time in the hotels, soaking up the free booze, going to the hotel beach, hanging around the swimming pool, maybe doing a bit of shopping (if they couldn't find something at Duty Free).

Anyway, I was in Varadero a couple of years ago. Had snuck into the "Russian hotel" to get some free drinks. Was sitting enjoying a Cubata when I overheard a conversation between two Russians at the adjacent table.

Man to Woman: Why don't we go into Varadero tomorrow, have a look at the place?

Woman: What's Varadero?

[cigarros]

Thank you Rob for sharing this! Anything surprising. It's a part of our history. When we were young the sun shone more brightly and girls were more beautiful)) My generation remembers it very well. Scouts camps, red ties, songs etc.

If to reject ideology, pioneer movement had a lot of the pleasant moments. We went in summer camp, went to campaigns etc. Each child is glad when parents don't abuse him for excessive curiosity. In pioneer camps has passed our happiest childhood. We cheerfully spent our time there.

Certainly of this circumstance travel companies shouldn't take advantage - the quantity of Russian tourists on Cuba grows every year. As I heard here in Russia on following FdH 2011 an official language will be Russian. My acquaintances Russian tourists don't like official programs (five stars hotels, beaches of Varadero..) and prefer not tourist routes when they visit Cuba. And such returning in the past is pleasant very much to them. And I agree with topic of this article - back in nostalgie from our childhood. It's very lovely))