Welcome To Cuba - Current State Of Affairs

[Nino]

While you will not find any of these problems yourself being a genuine tourist, and while I consider it to be a bit "over the top" and paranoia laden - I believe you should read this article as it's a very good description of current affairs in Cuba.

http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/michael-j-totten/welcome-cuba

Nino

PS : Thanks to Gino for posting it on AmiCigar.

[Cigar Surgeon]

Wow I'm about halfway down and it's a gripping read so far. Thanks for posting Nino.

[TiminBC]

As a tourist I never felt anything close to this but really it is difficult to know the everyday life and times of the Cuban people unless you spend time there and befriend locals. Both times I was there I had a laptop and cameras and if I was followed I am sorry for providing such a boring few weeks.

[Jeremy Festa]

Very good article! Cheers!

[fookite]

I'm not really sure what to take away from that. You could easily write the exact same article about visiting the US or England, except those articles would actually have evidence to back up their claims of constant surveillance.

[Blakes]

I'm not really sure what to take away from that. You could easily write the exact same article about visiting the US or England, except those articles would actually have evidence to back up their claims of constant surveillance.

I agree, strange article. He spent the first half talking about how good of a James Bond wanna-be he was, then the rest was just hear-say, no fact or evidence what so ever.

[CaptainQuintero]

The guy is definitely on the kool-aid!

It should be called 'A view on the inside of a jail where you can see the bars, from a jail where the bars are hidden'

Interesting piece though, can't wait to see what he writes when he discovers US/UK/West dirt, if he survives the mind blowing I guess!

[Stanislaw]

Thanks for posting the link, I've now read all of his entries on cuba as well... Fascinating stuff

[rckymtn22]

Weird article. I was only in Havana one day about 4 years ago, never experienced what Mr Totten experienced. A very lively city, humming with activity with no problem to spend my pesos.

[FLB03TT]

Interesting read. Perhaps a bit paranoic on the part of the author, who's writing I'm not familiar with. I do think, in general, life outside of the tourist zones of most cities/countries throughout the world is markedly different from the typical tourist zone experiences most would experience.

[LLC]

I had CNN on my TV in the National and even in Canada the government has been caught taping into smart phones in the major airports and then tracking peoples movements and who know what else for weeks while in the country.

[MontrealRon]

"thousands of men and boys... executed by firing squad..."

This guy is spending WAY too much time with his Cuban exile friends in Miami.

Yes, as in every revolution, including the English, French, American, etc.

there was violence against the defenders of the previous regime,

and yes, in Cuba, it was Che who instigated revolutionary "defense" that crossed the line

into vengeance; but the above statement is so patently ridiculous that he may as well have said millions!

A perfect example of entering a situation with pre-conceived notions,

then choosing the "facts" that support the thesis.

No commerce, no bustling street life, in the Havana of Nov. 2013?

The man is either blind or a bald-faced liar!

[MPS]

Thanks for the great article. He has some big balls to go there and lie like that. Seems like many of the comments here are out of touch with reality.

[cottierm]

And so, what is your take on that article, Nino? (After all, among us, you are one of those who are the most knowledgeable about Cuban life).

[potpest]

Agree that the guy is a little paranoid, but an excellent read, thanks for posting.

[Guest rob]

In my limited experience, but living vicariously through the aquantainces and good friends I made in Cuba (and those who travel there frequently), I would suggest that whilst a lot of the article is sensationalist, it does to a degree highlight that Cuba is a beautiful, yet 'difficult' country.

Thank for posting this, Hermano.

[Edwhatever]

Its going to feel very different for me visiting Cuba after reading this.

Thanks for sharing Nino.

I think Im going to be more paranoid than I already was last time I visited Cuba.

I locked my suitcase up everyday before leaving the hotel. I also had my DND tag on my door so the maids wouldnt come in and clean the room for 5 days.

[sk00ts]

I think this guy used a little bit of journalistic freedom in his article. I stopped reading after he said the citizens don't have internet access, don't have access to Facebook.

My friend that lives in Cardenas has both, in his home. It was an interesting read up until that point though

[anacostiakat]

Thanks again Nino!

[CBL]

Interesting article, made me want to revisit Cuba, despite all his negativity. To this day Cuba might have been the country I've felt safest in, probably for the wrong reasons and perhaps by my romanticized view as a tourist, but when I first set foot on Cuba soil I was expecting far worse than what's feared in the article and found all my worries to be unnecessary.

After finishing the article, I made the mistake of reading some of the comments..... that's where the real horror lies.

[Ryan]

Thanks for posting this Nino.

No matter what the author's viewpoint is, it's always interesting to read another's experience in Cuba.

He is probably a little paranoid on the surveillance thing, I say this purely from a resources point of view.

There must be 5,000 -10,000 hotel rooms in Havana. I just can't believe they would have that number of bugs/mics/cameras to go around. Let alone the people trained to monitor that amount of stuff.

One might say that "persons of interest" are booked into specific hotel rooms, the ones that are bugged. I've never known of anyone have a problem changing a hotel room though, and I know plenty of people who have, including me. Then there are casa particulars..

As for him being worried about being monitored while typing into a laptop. It's perfectly legal for a non-journalist to bring a laptop into Cuba and there's no law against taking pictures or keeping a diary on it..

I've spent a few hours in the innards of 2 of Havana's police stations. Everything was bits of paper, I wouldn't be surprised if the only communication between stations was voice phone calls.

I've sat and watched while a police officer first had to fix the printer cable then literally make ink (using some of his lunch) for a printer cartridge so he could print me out a report.

I have a hard time imagining 5000 wired or wireless cameras/mics feeding into some central station somewhere.

[sk00ts]

And a harder time that all 5000 would be operational haha. Maybe 1%

[Nino]

And so, what is your take on that article, Nino? (After all, among us, you are one of those who are the most knowledgeable about Cuban life).

Michel,

my take is that, as Andy writes, it's always interesting to read about what other people experience in Cuba.

But as I stated in my opening post, there are several factual errors and a lot of paranoia in the article.

While it's true that until a few years ago a laptop could not be brought in ( I witnessed Cuban custom in HAV harass the cockpit crew of my flight for 45 minutes due to their duty laptops ) it is no problem now.

I always have mine along. Never a worry. Also my diary, my notes, I am always taking pictures, jotting notes, in the company of Cubans ...

Also, I guess the guy is a blogger and why was he so worried about the visa thing is a mistery to me - you are a tourist and let them prove otherwise.

Again, even with my blog and postings on Yoani Sanchez with links and being critical of the human rights condition there, I've never lost a second of sleep thinking I might find myself in trouble there - the regime has bigger fish to fry.

The bugging of rooms is reality and has been documented, but, as Andy mentions, you have to "deserve" that ... privilege.

Guess it's not for us mere mortals

Surveillance of hotels is strict - ask Punch Joe, he was kicked out of my bungalow within 2 minutes of entering it. No way he could have a cigar with me, Rob Fox, Andy, even after speaking to the manager, no Cubans allowed - so that was my last hotel in Cuba. Never again a hotel for me - I stay in private Casas.

Surveillance of citizens is strict - every street, building has a CDR - Committee to defend the revolution - and you are questioned as to contacts with foreigners, having access to stuff etc. Not funny and you can bring Cuban friends into trouble by having contact.

All street corners in Havana have CCTV and police is quick to react - you are basically under video surveillance most of your time in Havana.

Check the white balls that hang at every corner and ... smile :-)

Private Internet does exist but it is an INTRAnet, only for use within Cuba. You cannot access the internet proper although many have illegal connections ( that are even slower .. modem stuff ).

Ask Punch Joe ( or Rob ) how he manages to send his posts - by paying 8 CUC $ in a hotel for 1 hour of slow connection.

Toby last told me he pays 600-800 CUC a month for his business internet line ...

Che did execute a lot of people at La Cabaña fortress the first months after the "victory" and Fidel famoulsy declared in the Sierra Maestra that he was not a communist but wanted justice, democracy and free elections ...

Again, I chuckled at some parts of his article, Havana is a most lively city, not a Gulag. Architecture is beautiful ( but lots of socialist monstrosities too ).

And - it's the people, and Cubans in general are great people that I love.

Finally : 98% of visitors are oblivious to all Cuban reality - all they want and get is a sunny ghetto where to get a suntan and the hotel shows.

My 5 cents for you, Michel.

[sk00ts]

I would love to see an in depth expose of the Cuban black market

[melies]

Michel,

my take is that, as Andy writes, it's always interesting to read about what other people experience in Cuba.

But as I stated in my opening post, there are several factual errors and a lot of paranoia in the article.

While it's true that until a few years ago a laptop could not be brought in ( I witnessed Cuban custom in HAV harass the cockpit crew of my flight for 45 minutes due to their duty laptops ) it is no problem now.

I always have mine along. Never a worry. Also my diary, my notes, I am always taking pictures, jotting notes, in the company of Cubans ...

Also, I guess the guy is a blogger and why was he so worried about the visa thing is a mistery to me - you are a tourist and let them prove otherwise.

Again, even with my blog and postings on Yoani Sanchez with links and being critical of the human rights condition there, I've never lost a second of sleep thinking I might find myself in trouble there - the regime has bigger fish to fry.

The bugging of rooms is reality and has been documented, but, as Andy mentions, you have to "deserve" that ... privilege.

Guess it's not for us mere mortals

Surveillance of hotels is strict - ask Punch Joe, he was kicked out of my bungalow within 2 minutes of entering it. No way he could have a cigar with me, Rob Fox, Andy, even after speaking to the manager, no Cubans allowed - so that was my last hotel in Cuba. Never again a hotel for me - I stay in private Casas.

Surveillance of citizens is strict - every street, building has a CDR - Committee to defend the revolution - and you are questioned as to contacts with foreigners, having access to stuff etc. Not funny and you can bring Cuban friends into trouble by having contact.

All street corners in Havana have CCTV and police is quick to react - you are basically under video surveillance most of your time in Havana.

Check the white balls that hang at every corner and ... smile :-)

Private Internet does exist but it is an INTRAnet, only for use within Cuba. You cannot access the internet proper although many have illegal connections ( that are even slower .. modem stuff ).

Ask Punch Joe ( or Rob ) how he manages to send his posts - by paying 8 CUC $ in a hotel for 1 hour of slow connection.

Toby last told me he pays 600-800 CUC a month for his business internet line ...

Che did execute a lot of people at La Cabaña fortress the first months after the "victory" and Fidel famoulsy declared in the Sierra Maestra that he was not a communist but wanted justice, democracy and free elections ...

Again, I chuckled at some parts of his article, Havana is a most lively city, not a Gulag. Architecture is beautiful ( but lots of socialist monstrosities too ).

And - it's the people, and Cubans in general are great people that I love.

Finally : 98% of visitors are oblivious to all Cuban reality - all they want and get is a sunny ghetto where to get a suntan and the hotel shows.

My 5 cents for you, Michel.

I Also share your opinion Nino, Havana is a lively city with great people, although I think we have the advantage of speaking the language and sharing part of the culture. That usually takes a lot of the paranoid factor away

The same thing happens when you read an article about Mexico, how it's a war torn country ruled by narcos and burros (Although the burros part may be true lol )

A good read never the less

gracias por el articulo