a picture paints a thousand words.

[El Presidente]

Pure desperation. 

 

Six Cubans recovered from makeshift boat on Tulum beach

 

Tulum, Q.R. — Six people of Cuban origin were recovered from a makeshift vessel in the municipality of Tulum. On Sunday, the the Coordination Group for the Construction of Peace and Security Quintana Roo, headed by the Secretary of Citizen Security of Tulum, reported on the discovery of the boat.

 

[Fireball]

Imagine being at a point where you decide taking that craft on the open sea is the best option.

[NSXCIGAR]

Anyone capable of making that thing and willing to sail it is probably someone you want in your country. 

[Corylax18]

The construction of that boat looks awfully familiar. Most of the west side of the island is a massive nature preserve and is almost entirely uninhabited. I spent a few nights in the single town for almost 100 miles last July. La Bajada (The Descent) is the closest Cuban Village to Tulum and the looks of that boat along with the dearth of other options makes me think the boat above left from there. I've never seen boats like that in Havana or making the crossing to Florida. 

The hospitality was amazing in La Bajada, but its tough living. Its a solid 12 hour drive from Havana over the worst roads I've seen in Cuba. (PDR makes a perfect pit stop) No running water, very inconsistent electricity, no where to shop for basics/groceries. I know its hard to believe, but I smoked cigars with a group of Fisherman who go out on the boats pictured below AT NIGHT for subsistence fishing trips. Its a world that's hard to understand, even if you've seen it with your own eyes. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/La+Bajada,+Cuba/@21.9234096,-84.4880176,1297m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8f350e4cf7d94971:0xd28fd5ab85a7a9b9!8m2!3d21.924079!4d-84.4841954!16s%2Fg%2F1tcx2l8v?entry=ttu

[SCgarman]

4 hours ago, Fireball Ron said:

Imagine being at a point where you decide taking that craft on the open sea is the best option.

A lack of food, water, energy, and common toiletries is plenty reason enough to risk your life to leave that dysfunctional s-hole. No doubt in my mind.

[Fireball]

A lack of food, water, energy, and common toiletries is plenty reason enough to risk your life to leave that dysfunctional s-hole. No doubt in my mind.

Yeah, I understand the parameters that caused them to leave. I just can’t envision them in my own life. I’ve seen some pretty sad things in third world countries, it’s so surreal.