5 good reasons for living in Cuba

I think this is a very interesting question. In spending several months a year for five years there, SoSfI have not met anybody who has immigrated to Cuba. Presumably few people would choose to move to live permanently in a country where average earnings are about $20 per month and where it is a criminal offence to criticize the Government. There are however good reasons for spending time in Cuba. The first is the very attractive good nature of the Cuban people coupled with the strength of the family unit. The second is the music - as I have said previously, music is the soul of the Cuban people. The third is the beauty of the country from one end to the other. The fourth is the depth of history - from the 1517 house of Velaquez in Santiago - the oldest house in the Americas, to the various forts and the colonial architecture. The fifth is the Arts - painting, dance, ballet all of which are of high standard. For me personally there is a sixth - my wife, my home and our dog are in Cuba. What do I miss most when I am there? - another interesting question  The answer is communication - no internet and e-mail, only State TV with very restricted reporting, no newspapers - unless Granma the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba is described as a newspaper. Each time I return from Cuba I have to catch up with what is happening in the outside world. But I hope that my list of five reasons for visiting Cuba will stimulate others to respond. HOLA!!

for me personally.....
1-really getting to know my husbands family, language & culture close up
2-the weather & earthy beauty
3-commercial free TV, very limited TV in general
4-being able to experience a country like none else on the eve of absolute change
5-music, dancing & dominos

I've been going to Cuba since 1981 when the economic situation was completely different. There were no transport problem or crumbling buildings. I have many reasons for wanting to live in Cuba, firstly the people, the music, the revolution, the countryside and of course the culture. It is so good to be in Cuba, away from Sky news ,CNN or BBC news. It is somewhere completely different, well away from greed, consumerism and individualism. Without the US blockade Cuba would be a prosperous country.

I can understand your comments about Cuba, afterall, you are from Edmonton.

Cuba is a country that is blessed with weather and wonderful people.  The food and the air is fresh.  I would love t live in Cuba but need info from someone who is familiar as to where to live.  Would like to be in the Santa Clara area.   Any suggestions greatly appreciate.     Helena

Santa Clara is a very beautiful part of Cuba. People are friendly and open. The city is full of historical buildings from the Spanish era. The great Che monument is found just outside the city. The beach is not too far either.

Well, I love people and natural resources there.
Cheers,

Even though I've spent a considerable amount of time in Cuba I could never live there for an extended period and I could never consider it as a retirement option.

A few (of many) issues for me: Can't own property... can't buy a vehicle... telecommunication infrastructure horrible... crap Internet... if you're into variety it's difficult and expensive to buy/cook your own food... banking is a joke... news sources all government controlled... satellite dishes illegal... health care is generally very poor outside of tourist centres... the beer selection is horribly boring... Honestly, the list is endless.

The people, the general safety, culture, music, etc. and all the other MANY positive aspects that I adore simply can't overcome the glaring negatives for a long term stay.

That said, it's entirely possible (I've done it several times) to find an area you like, rent a long-term casa and "kind of" live like a (rich) local for a period of time... but it will be much more expensive for a lot lower standard of living than in countless places throughout Mexico and Central/South America.

Hello.

Just to note that the thread title is 5 good reasons for living in Cuba.

Thank you,
Aurélie

I'd live in Cuba for the following reasons:

1. The Cigars

2. The  Rum

3. The Music

4. The Dance- including salsa, rumba, Mambo and the cha cha cha

5. The beaches and the beautiful countryside

6. The People - they are not greedy and materialist like many

   tourist destinations.

7. The Seafood

8. The Architectures and I could easily go on and on.

I have just returned from a four month period at home in Cuba and am trying to catch up with the forum as it isn't possible to do so from the city where we live in Cuba as there are no tourists and therefore no hotels with internet access and Cubans cannot access internet. I was rather interested in the somewhat obtuse remark by Mike Guddoy regarding my coming from Edmonton - might almost be as big a problem as someone coming from LONDON (which)? Regarding Santa Clara, the Boulevard is quite interesting and there is a very good restaurant at the south end. The museum at the site of the train derailing is worth a visit and is excellent. There is the way over the top huge several acre memorial site for Che with a quasi religious somber underground 'chapel' where the remnants of Che and others dug up from under a concrete runway in Bolivia where he was shot by the Bolivians are entombed. For anyone who has studied Che in depth, they will know that he would not have approved of this extravagant memorial, when we were there, there was a group of "Free the Five' T Shirt types paying homage. But this over the top memorial does reflect Fidel's support of cult of the personality programmes (London spelling).

Five Reasons,

1.) "The relationships people share"
2.) The natural beauty... for me especially the south west.. the mountains, beaches, huge sky, warm fresh air.
3.) No one is in a rush...
4.) I could live a life of peace and quiet on a small pension.
5.) There is no a drug problem, "yet" not visible, and hopefully never will be. 
6.)  There is the possibility of love..if not romantic then friendship.

livin

1. My girlfriend 
2. The heat, I always hated winter (but how much is a A/C?)
3. Beauty of the country, most of all the seaside, some trees I never seen elsewhere
4. Some costs of living: beer 1CUC, cigarettes 1,20CUC, rhum 4CUC, taxi from La Habana to Playa del este 1CUC, casa near the beach 20CUC where else? (open air meat stalls are a turn off!)
5. The music, cant get enough of the classical cuban sound (but the young cubans are turned on rap culture and fashion)
6. Art and museums, plenty. I remember visiting the Napoleón Bonaparte museum in La Habana, (even the cab driver didnt know about) one of the most complete in the world including a molding of a mortuary mask.
7. The people, open and friendly, when accepted by the family you are part of the clan.
8. So much more to discover and enjoy....

Majito you are correct providing that you have income earned in a capitalist country. But for the average Cuban, that beer at 1CUC represents over one days earnings - that is why Cubans drink rum, at 3.50 CUC per bottle (or less) the alcohol content is much cheaper than beer.The casa near the beach at 20 CUC for one night is almost exactly one months pay for the average Cuban,

Most Cuban houses have slats not glass windows. These enable control of air flow and do so effectively. But AC requires closed space to be effective. Secondly, an AC unit is very expensive for Cubans.

I remember with amazement hiking in the Alexander Humboldt National Park and seeing for the first time a magnificent mahogany tree in full bloom - where else?  Being married to a Cuban I am a member of "La Familia" and know all 68 of them. The family is the backbone of Cuban Society and music is its soul - but remember they are both free!

livineasy4life, I agree with you too and when you speak of a small pension you no doubt mean a level of income that exceeds that of Cubans by a very considerable multiple. One of the few items where I agree with the policy of the Castro family regime is on drugs. I have no objection to the execution of drug dealers, they are a scourge for the rich societies, think what they could do to a poor one. It is incidentally one area where there is cooperation between the police in Toronto and in Cuba.

All three of us are in agreement about many points, but remember all three of us are rich in Cuban terms and able to afford things that Cubans can only look at with longing.

That eventually becomes a difficulty making one feel almost an imposition upon ones neighbours who can afford little. I always have a bottle of rum sitting bon our kitchen counter and relatives and friends who wander in in Cuban fashion, know that they can take a glass and help themselves - but they habitually ask if they want a beer from the fridge.

Its also a good idea to hold a party (fiesta) to celebrate any birthday or seasonal event because you can invite them in providing food and drink without patronizing. That Majito is when the music really gets going - Afro Cubano - the real Cuban music.

In the fairly near future I shall be at home with my wife and pooch and I look forward to being back in that beautiful country. Too late at this time of year to be woken in the night by the sound of a mango dropping on the roof above our bedroom - we go up in the morning and collect them for breakfast, but there are other joys.

I keep my fingers crossed, my girlfriend got a contact at the cdn embassy and she will have her answer on the 29....
MacDuff when are you going back?

I shall keep my fingers crossed for boh of you Majito.
I go home in early October - not only to the joy of being together with my wife - and our dog, but also I hope to avocadoes and maybe - just maybe late mangoes. Viva Cuba!

Macduff, I am wanting to do something similar to what you're doing. I'm 44, single, male, and would like to spend some time living in Cuba. and ideally find a Cuban wife. I lived in Brazil for a while and loved the people and culture, and I don't think Spanish will be harder than Portuguese to learn. Cuba sounds like it's a lot cheaper than Brazil, and it's definitely closer and cheaper to travel to and from Canada. Would love to hear any advice from a veteran, and your thoughts on where would be the best (and hopefully economical) place to start. I have heard Havana can be expensive, and I would like to avoid the most touristic and exploitative types of places.

Hi Mick, I am afraid MacDuff wont reply he is gone to Cuba ''home''. I am not a veteran like he is because he helped me a lot to organize my next trip, I am grateful to him. Let me say that the key Word is patience. Last January I met my love in La Habana finally after two long years of emails. It was not the scene of the all included palaces I used to know. I lived in the big city for two weeks and realized the other side of the postal card. It is not easy my friend, we were raised in comfort.
My advice would be to go for a few weeks at a time. Some plane tickets are cheap and you can stay in a casa particular for 25-35CUC a day in any major city of the island. MacDuff gave me a contact for this, his name is Raul and he puts the cubaparticular,com site online. He can answer any of your questions regarding almost anything.
As for a longtime stay, 3 or 6 months, it depends who you meet and what you intend to do.
I am going in november not knowing how much time I will stay. I just intend to melt myself in the beautiful island one day at a time. Again, patience.
Feel free to ask any question in private message.
Cuba? siempre....
p.s.: if you learned Portuguese you will surely learn Spanish IMO

Thanks Majito, I sympathize with your situation. I had a friend who brought his Filipino wife to Canada and I believe it cost him over 20k and several years. But I've heard of some people sponsoring a girl as a nanny or elder caregiver or something like that, maybe that's easier? I can understand why some people just commute back and forth like Macduff, seems it might be a lot easier and cheaper.

Sent you a private message. You are right. Visa allows 3 months plus 3 months renewal then come back here. Cant have Cuban and Canadian both residencies and would not trade mine for what I have read! MacDuff's cuban wife applied 5 times for a Canadian visiting visa before she got one! Thats how the cuban Canadian embassy ''works''.

Hello mick_Iuna,
Majito was correct about my being back home in Cuba and he and I actually spoke on the telephone a week ago before I came to Canada a few days ago, we intend to meet after I return in early January.
Thank you for your stimulating question.
My initial reaction is that you are correct in avoiding Havana, and yes it is more expensive - a casa particular is 30-35 CUC per night and food is a bit pricy for Cuba. Next question is whether you are a beach bum or a country boy as most visitors as tourists wish to be close to La Playa. We live in the middle of the country, no where near a beach.
There are a lot of questions and may I suggest as I did with Majito that you provide your e-mail address as I don't want to be too detailed or frank on the site. My purpose as a forrtunate fellow who loves Cuba and its people is to help but as the web is open to all including the security services of Cuba - the chief being Raul Castro Ruz's son Alejandro Espin Castro, I am careful.

Thanks Majito, sorry for my late reply.
I've finally got things together here so I can go down. But I'm told I have to have medical insurance, which is very costly. Some people seem to have not been asked for it, others were forced to buy it in Cuba, not sure how much that cost.

I think Quebec residents get some kind of coverage from their provincial insurance. I guess I could always move to Quebc and go from there but I'd rather find an easier work around.

I saw PC Financial offered insurance for under $270 for 90 days, but that seems very high for someone who has never had to buy medical insurance in their life. I have been in malarial swamps and not had insurance, which probably some people think is crazy but most expats I know never had insurance.  Cuba is apparently  one of the only countries in the world where they force you to have it.

mick-Iuna
I go backwards and forwards by choice because my wife has a very challenging but stimulating position, her family and culture are Cuban and we have never thought about her moving to Canada. Our home is in Cuba. I realise that usually for economic and sometimes partially political reasons, couples usually try to establish residence in Canada. But I now spend 7 -8 months a year in total in Cuba and my wife between 6 and 8 weeks in Canada. There are those like Ricardo58 who disparage marriage to Cubans and who consider that they only marry to get out of the country. That perhaps reflects their own lack of discernment or inability to form good relationships.
I return home shortly and my contributions will again cease. Majito and I hope to meet as he is there at the moment and we have spoken on the 'phone (no internet).
Hope you read what I wrote about health insurance.
I have been in well over 30 countries and find Cuba very attractive and the people helpful. One has to overcome however the natural revulsion for the Castro family dictatorship regime. No freedom of the media, no freedom of public speech and no way other than pilferring to improve the supply of food for their family or improve the conditions of their homes. Average earnings of $20.68 per month are barely sufficient to survive and for most life is dreary. "Socialismo" is their unhappy lot and the CDR (Committee for the Defense of the Revolution) has a representative (called Presidente) on every block to keep check upon each and every persons activities - with whom they meet and whether they have any anti-revolutionary indications. That is why so many wish to escape to the free world.

It sounds like you have pretty good work MacDuff. My work is a little insecure, so I'm leaning towards the Dominican Republic. There may be some possibility of working there, as an English teacher or journalist/editor/graphic designer as I have in the past in Thailand and Europe and Brazil. Cuba probably doesn't offer that possibility.

On the plus side for Cuba is the culture and safety. And perhaps the cost of living? I haven't determined that yet for either place.

Is there no internet in Cuba?

Hi everybody,

I am afraid that we are completely off topic here.
Do note that the topic is : 5 good reasons for living in Cuba.

Thanks

Priscilla 

Lots if wifi in the tourist area especially Varadero and Havana but other non tourist area also have internet cafes sort of speak..  I wa paying 4.00 to 6.00 per hour for a internet card that you can use at any location.. the speed has vastly improved since 2007 and cost has come down because I used to pay 5 cuc for 30 mins.

Ricardo58 wrote:

Lots if wifi in the tourist area especially Varadero and Havana but other non tourist area also have internet cafes sort of speak..  I wa paying 4.00 to 6.00 per hour for a internet card that you can use at any location.. the speed has vastly improved since 2007 and cost has come down because I used to pay 5 cuc for 30 mins.

 

Please read post #27