“Let me give you a little background on Cuba. Until 2011, there was an import ban on cars in Cuba. That means that most of the cars on the road are classics from the ’50s. It’s against the law to hire an unlicensed taxi. You can tell if it’s a licensed one if it has a meter in it. Also, make sure they turn the meter on when you begin your trip.
“The average gross national income per capita of Cuba is officially $5,539, but the take-home salary for most Cubans is around $20 a month. There are separate currencies for tourists and nationals. While it’s not illegal to possess American dollars, it is discouraged. The hotel can convert your money for you; just ask for the manager, and he will help you.”
That might have been why Cedro had seemed excited when I tipped him for delivering the boxes. Anita continued after the main course was brought out, a chicken breast with black beans and rice.
“Please remember: safety first. Always have someone with you when you go anywhere. Don’t wear anything flashy or carry a lot of cash. Cuba doesn’t have a high crime rate, but with such low incomes, it can happen. First priority: look out for street hustlers. Don’t fall for the free picture, because there will be a fee.
“Something else you need to be careful of is to never take a picture of the police or military. It’s against the law here. I would also avoid making negative remarks about communism or Fidel Castro,” Anita continued.
I would have to remember to be careful when taking pictures and remember that Cuba wasn’t a free country like the US.
“One strange quirk is it’s considered rude to blow your nose in public. Also, Cuba has suffered from years of embargos. Something you’ll find missing is variety in your food choices. They’re a bit lacking if you’re used to condiments like ketchup, hot sauce, pepper, jams, cinnamon, and peanut butter. They simply don’t have them.”
I might go through withdrawal without hot sauce.
“What about Internet access?” a girl in the back asked.
“There are three considerations to keep in mind: it’s expensive; it’s slow; and realize that your access may be monitored. Only five percent of Cubans have access to the uncensored, open Internet,” Anita answered.
“How should we tip?” I asked.
“Good question. The majority of locals in Cuba working at your hotel—such as your housekeeper, bartender, waiter, and hotel desk staff—have trouble affording hygienic or personal-care items. That’s why many tourists bring along extra toothbrushes, mouthwashes, tubes of toothpaste, floss, pantyhose, etc., to leave for them as gifts. Believe me, locals are incredibly grateful for these items. We have a stockpile of these you can pick up to give as gifts,” Anita suggested.
“Is it safe to drink the water?” someone else asked.
“Cuba is a very clean and hygienic country. However, drinking tap water is not recommended. It might leave you with a nasty case of diarrhea or upset stomach. I recommend you opt for bottled water,” Anita shared.
“I tried to order papaya, but the woman selling it was offended. Did I do something wrong?” a young man asked.
The people at the front table laughed.
“Sorry, but here, papaya is vulgar slang for … a vagina. They’ve renamed it ‘
She turned to the table she was sitting at.
“Did I forget anything?” she asked.
“Personally, I like the rum here. A rum and coke with lime is normally called a ‘Cuba Libre’ both in the US and in Latin America, except in Cuba. Here, it’s called a ‘
“Speaking of rum, you’re able to take both that and cigars home with you. In Cuba, cigars are called ‘
With that done, Anita sat down, and Laurent stood up to talk.
“I have some good news. If you noticed, the actors only received scripts for their part. I usually am not one for secrecy, but we needed to obtain permission to film reenactment of certain events. Our movie is set in the chaotic time after President Fulgencio Batista was ousted on January first, 1959.
“The new government led by Fidel Castro took power. One of their first actions was to confront the American Mafia. The Mafia had been pouring money into Havana and built hotels with casinos. Castro required his people to be present in the counting rooms. The Mafia didn’t like that, because the counting room was where large sums of money disappeared.
“Castro decided to remove the Mafia. Then he shut down the casinos. His own people talked him into reopening them because they thought the loss of tourism dollars would be devastating to the economy,” Laurent told us.
He took a drink and continued.
