*WS44 - A glimpse of life in a real communist country -Cuba*
In 2013 we visited Cuba, a country still practising real communism. No specific sight to focus on but a general account of the life there.
Cuba achieved independence from.Spain in 1902. In 1959 Fidal Castro gained power in a revolution and established a communist government. In 1960 he nationalised all private assets, including those of the US companies and individuals. The US promptly started a trade embargo. Losing the opportunity to do business with the largest economy in the World, Cuba remains poor until today.
The head of each household has a ration book to buy essential foodstuff at greatly subsidised rate. 1st photo. Foreigners have to use a different currency with inflated conversion rate to buy anything, called CUC or Convertible Peso. 2nd photo. Like China in the 1960s and 70s.
After 1960 no American cars could be imported so the pre-1960 cars became classics. 3rd photo. In 2013 homes still have no internet service. Only some essential businesses could have that. A resort hotel proudly displayed their internet facility with a giant signboard. 4th photo.
Along the only trans island highway parts of flyover over the highway had been built. A good practice to provide easy connection later. But with no money to continue to expand, the flyover leads to nowhere. 5th photo. On some roads farmers use half of the road to dry corns. No traffic. 6th photo.
Plaza Vieja, big main square in the capital Havana, but no cafe, no tourist. 7th photo. But there is a beautiful monument in the town of Santa Clara to honour Che, the second in command after Castro during the Cuban revolution, who after serving a few years as senior minister, quit the power and glory and preferred to lead another revolution in another country, Bolivia, and was trapped and killed by the CIA in 1967. A fool or a hero? 8th photo.
In 2013 we visited Cuba, a country still practising real communism. No specific sight to focus on but a general account of the life there.
Cuba achieved independence from.Spain in 1902. In 1959 Fidal Castro gained power in a revolution and established a communist government. In 1960 he nationalised all private assets, including those of the US companies and individuals. The US promptly started a trade embargo. Losing the opportunity to do business with the largest economy in the World, Cuba remains poor until today.
The head of each household has a ration book to buy essential foodstuff at greatly subsidised rate. 1st photo. Foreigners have to use a different currency with inflated conversion rate to buy anything, called CUC or Convertible Peso. 2nd photo. Like China in the 1960s and 70s.
After 1960 no American cars could be imported so the pre-1960 cars became classics. 3rd photo. In 2013 homes still have no internet service. Only some essential businesses could have that. A resort hotel proudly displayed their internet facility with a giant signboard. 4th photo.
Along the only trans island highway parts of flyover over the highway had been built. A good practice to provide easy connection later. But with no money to continue to expand, the flyover leads to nowhere. 5th photo. On some roads farmers use half of the road to dry corns. No traffic. 6th photo.
Plaza Vieja, big main square in the capital Havana, but no cafe, no tourist. 7th photo. But there is a beautiful monument in the town of Santa Clara to honour Che, the second in command after Castro during the Cuban revolution, who after serving a few years as senior minister, quit the power and glory and preferred to lead another revolution in another country, Bolivia, and was trapped and killed by the CIA in 1967. A fool or a hero? 8th photo.
No comments:
Post a Comment