Kuba je spremna za promjene

Cuba is planning spectacular celebrations in January to mark the 50th anniversary of the revolution which brought Fidel Castro and his Communist government to power. Whilst there is almost universal affection for the ailing Fidel Castro and a reluctance to appear disloyal to what he has achieved, Cubans are impatient for change. During a recent visit, some young Cubans were so frustrated and impatient that they felt the only option was to leave the country. One student even said he was prepared to go to Haiti. Views on Fidel’s brother, Raul, who is now President, are mixed as many doubt whether he is willing or able to deliver reforms which are so badly needed.

Tourism, the biggest revenue earner for Cuba, is likely to remain the driving force for change and economic development and currently offers the best career prospects for ambitious young Cubans because of the access it gives to higher incomes and hard currency. For tourists, the benefits are also strong. According to Journey Latin America, one of the UK’s leading tour operators in the region, the global credit crunch is not expected to have too much of an adverse impact on its operations in Cuba. As Rafe Stone, Product Manager for JLA explained:

“ Cuba has its own economy which is generally detached from the dollar, sterling, or the Euro. Consequently, even in the current financial climate, we were able to keep our prices for 2009 similar to those in 2008; this, amongst other factors (such as the release of ‘Che’ the film) has meant the demand for Cuban holidays has kept high for next year and as a destination it looks set to remain in the public eye.”

Rafe Stone adds, “We are starting to see levels and the standard of hotels improve in some areas and we hope this continues in 2009. It would seem that despite having a particularly bad hurricane season last year the independent, tailor-made and groups markets would appear to be holding up extremely well against the one-stop charter market.”

Kuba se još uvijek bori da se oporavi od razaranja koje su izazvala dva najgora uragana koja su pogodila ostrvo posljednjih godina. Unatoč drastičnom nedostatku svježeg voća i povrća, veliki turistički hoteli uspjeli su održati svoje kuhinje dobro opremljenim.

The capital, Havana, has plenty to offer tourists: historic buildings from the Spanish colonial era, any number of memorials to Cuba’s revolutionary heroes, museums, hotels and bars including the famous Floridita frequented by Ernest Hemingway where tourists queue up to sample his favourite cocktails such as the daiquiri and mojito. Hemingway fans can also visit his room in the Ambos Mundos hotel which has been preserved as a museum displaying his bed, typewriter and other memorabilia.

Sveprisutniji muzejski postav je veliki broj Cadillac-a, Chevroleta i drugih klasičnih američkih modela, koji su, kao rezultat mehaničkog čarobnjaštva, još uvijek poznat prizor u Havani. Oni koji žele da ponove glamur loših starih vremena, kada su mafijaši dominirali kubanskom prijestolnicom, mogu unajmiti jednog od ovih klasika za krstarenje Maleconom, poznatom obalom Havane. Mogu posjetiti neke od rekonstruiranih hotela i kockarnica iz dekadentnih godina prije revolucije kada je Havana bila igralište za bogate i slavne Amerikance

Of course, Cuba wouldn’t be Cuba, without salsa music and dancing. At any time of the day or evening you can hear groups of musicians and singers giving their rendering of old favourites like “Guantanamera”. Apart from Havana, one can enjoy non-stop salsa in other popular tourist cities like Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba and small towns.

Za one koji traže mirnije aktivnosti, tu su obilasci plantaža duhana i šećera u slikovitoj dolini Vinales prošaranom dramatičnim izdašcima krečnjaka. Vrhunac je izlet brodom rijekom koja prolazi kroz pećinu u Pinar del Rio, gdje baklja vodiča baca stalagmite i stalagtite u fantastičan reljef.

U blizini se nalazi eko odmaralište Las Terrazas, sa svojim jezerima i šumama, koje je nastalo 1967. godine, mnogo prije nego što je zeleni turizam postao moderan. Kubancima je poznat i kao dom kasnijeg pjevača Pola Montaneza. Još uvijek zadržava osjećaj sela zajednice.

Postoji izbor odmarališta na moru za one koji žude za miran odmor. More je primamljivo plavo s glatkim, bijelim pješčanim plažama, ali turistima se savjetuje da dođu dobro naoružani repelentima protiv insekata ako žele izbjeći povratak kući sa ljutitim crvenim ujedima komaraca.

Compared to other parts of the world, the range and standard of food in Cuba, is more limited. Rice, beans, chicken, pork and shrimps are standard fare with lobsters a welcome addition when available. The best food can be found in authorised private establishments, paladars, which give tourists a chance to meet local people. The most famous paladar in Cuba is La Guarida, which apart from its exquisite cuisine is equally well known as the setting for an award-winning Cuban film, Fresa y Chocolate.

According to Miguel Padron a senior government planner, Cuba has the potential to increase tourism to six million from the current two million tourists who visit each year. He says, “ The government’s strategy is to make visitors aware that Cuba has more to offer apart from its beaches. It wants to promote Cuba as an island of music and art. There are also plans to develop rural areas for tourism.”

Mr Padron believes that while Cuba is on the threshold of change this will be managed step by step. He regards Fidel Castro as the visionary and has faith in Raul. He maintains that although Raul may not be a strong communicator he gets things done. He acknowledges that the US embargo has made life hard for Cuba and welcomes support from China and Russia. He says Cubans are wary of slipping back to pre-revolutionary conditions in the 1950s when people were greedy, ruthless and there were glaring inequalities between the rich and the poor.

Hopes are now centred on the new US President-elect, Barack Obama. In an interview published in December, Raul Castro told the actor Sean Penn that he would be willing to meet Mr Obama, after he assumes power. During his campaign, Mr Obama pledged to lift new restrictions imposed by George Bush on exchanges with Cuba. He also promised to allow Cuban-Americans to visit the island as often as they like and to send as much money as they wished to their families there. At the same time Mr Obama, has said he would not support ending broader economic sanctions on Cuba until it releases all of its political prisoners and improves political freedoms. As Cubans enter the New Year they sense that change is inevitable but for tourists who wish to experience the charm of Cuba as it is today, this is the best time to go before the political, economic and cultural landscape changes forever.