In this video we are going to tour a humble neighborhood in Havana
so that you can see a little more about what life is like here in Cuba.
We are also going to talk about some events that are going to influence not only the lives of Cubans, but
that you should also take into consideration if you decide to come. And at the end of our tour
through the streets of Havana, a foreigner is going to tell us about his experience in Cuba, the good and the bad,
including things that you should know so that nothing surprises you. So let's start now.
Good day, family. Welcome to Havana, we are walking through Centro Habana, specifically through the
neighborhood of Los Sitios, which has a reputation for being one of the worst in Havana. If you are wondering
if it is dangerous, the truth is that the most dangerous thing I see here are the potholes in the streets.
On the subject of danger in Cuba, well, in Cuba you can be robbed for being careless, you can be
mugged, and this is a little more difficult, unless you have an electric motorcycle, and it is
very difficult for them to kill you, it can happen, but it is very difficult. However, very soon I
will bring you a second video on travel tips, although we already have one on the channel. Look, these
are the famous "coco taxis", and a few meters further on we have a very curious workshop.
The one you are seeing there on the left that is now closed. Well, that's a
workshop where they sell masonry parts, electrical parts, but they are used parts, that
's the curious thing, they are used parts. Right now we are going to enter Calle
Monte, the emblematic Calle Monte, one of the limits between Centro Habana and Old Havana.
There they are seeing the queues for the stores, in this case, in national currency, right there in front.
Monte street is one of the busiest in Havana. In the 50's it was a sample of the
splendor of Cuba. People still frequent them and not only come to take public transport:
the buses, they also come to buy in the different businesses that exist here,
the private ones are always better supplied than the state ones. They are mostly food or hardware stores,
and also stores in MLC, like this hardware store we have here. And what better way to see the prices
of things yourself. To give you an idea of ​​what it might cost to
build or repair a house, sinks cost $56 and $38, paint costs
$16 a gallon, and waterproofing can cost $129. Is it the same in your country?
On this street you should also be very careful when walking. Always check the roof
over your head. Monte was also famous because here some people came
to practice the oldest trade, which is illegal here, by the way. I don't know if seeing these
images you also have the sensation of having gone back in time about 70 years.
There are important things that are happening in Cuba that we are going to talk about now. We are
going through a place where retirees come to eat, something similar to social assistance.
You will know that the pension for retirees in Cuba is around 12 dollars a month.
The situation of scarcity in Cuba has reached such a level that the government has modified the
policy of non-commercial imports, tariffs have been lowered, the weight that
can be brought and sent has been increased, some quantities of products that are they can
bring, for example, before you could bring three cell phones, including yours, now you can
bring five, plus yours; You can bring up to three electric motorcycles, more computers than before, in short,
we are talking about a lot of changes, it is something good that will definitely revitalize the
informal market. And you already know that in Cuba you live off the informal market. that with the salary nobody lives.
With an average salary of 25 dollars a month you don't live, you survive.
We have a pharmacy here. A picture is worth a thousand words.
In that corner that you are seeing, a few months ago there was a collapse with a balance
of a deceased, that's why I told them that they should watch where they walk. The building
next door could be the next to fall. It is shored up and also has a tree on the balcony.
Any opening is good, but what is not good is the new exchange rate at which
the State is going to start buying dollars from foreigners. By setting a rate of 120 to
1, it has entered into direct competition with the informal market. The latter now has to
buy more expensive and sell more expensive, so a good inflation is coming. Soon they will have
to print larger denomination bills. The other opening of the State is that it
has allowed you to bring, momentarily, sausages, canned seafood, various
types of milk, cheeses. This could somewhat solve the problem of scarcity
in Cuba, but those who live on their salary or their pension have no way of saving themselves.
We have reached the Parque de la Fraternidad area, one of the nerve centers
of the city, an area well known by all and very famous among the gay community.
This is what remains of the Hotel Saratoga.
We are going to locate ourselves here, near the ceiba. Many tourist routes pass through here,
and many Cubans also come to have their letters read: health, money, love and travel.
Well, they have just seen Monte Street or what remains of it, of what
Monte Street was once. The old man you saw has already become something
quite daily here in Cuba, not just the old people inventing how they make
a living, whether it be selling peanuts, on many occasions getting into the garbage to get
things out of there and sell what they find. . It is very common in certain parts of the city.
An old man, with the pension he earns, it is impossible for him to afford it, because it is a
luxury, to enter a store in MLC. It is practically a luxury to buy basic necessities.
A few days ago I was recording in Centro Habana and a curious thing happened to me. I want you to
see this fragment of the video that I am going to put on now. - Well, I'm walking through Centro Habana, I just stopped by an agro (grocery market) to buy a bunch of bananas,
which cost me 50 pesos. It is incredible, here I am with the shells that I am going to release.
It's unbelievable, family... - It's always shocking to go vote for a banana peel and find
people looking in the trash. - The truth is that I was totally shocked when I saw this. I didn't know
whether to stop the recording or continue the recording, because what am I going to imagine that I'm going to throw away
a banana peel and find two people stuck in the garbage tank.
We are now going to Old Havana, to that beautiful and tidy part of the city, so that you can
see the high contrast that exists between what is the part that is not cared for, the non-tourist
part and the part prepared for tourists. By the way, we are going to meet a follower there who is
going to share his experience in Cuba with us. Wait till you see this, it's going to be pretty daring.
Well family, I just met a subscriber from here in Mexico. So greetings to the people of Mexico.
- Hello everyone. Thank you very much friend. - Othniel is called. How long have you been in Cuba already? - It's been almost a month now.
This adventure has been interesting. - Has it been interesting? Tell me what you liked the most.
- Look, what I liked the most is Cuban food, it's really good. I think the prices are not as cheap as they say in Mexico, but they are accessible.
For example, a lobster, which is something common, is not so cheap but it is
cheaper than in Mexico. The "ropa vieja" (beef) , which was impressive. Here to know
what this part is, which is Old Havana, is very interesting, with a lot of history in an
impressive architecture. I think that's what I liked the most. What I didn't like... ...Where do I start?
- Start, tell me, start at the beginning. - Many people tell you that this is very changeable.
In other words, from the subject, first, you arrive with a budget but sometimes the change is cheaper
, sometimes it is more expensive, so your budget often gets a little out of place. Then
you don't count on electricity blackouts, you don't count on whether you have a water cut or not, you
also don't count on the issue of the internet, which is a headache, because sometimes you have a very good signal,
sometimes bad. I think that is what I did not like about Cuba and that at any moment
something can fall on your head while you are walking. - Is the food in the restaurants good? - When they are private, yes.
When they are state restaurants, I spoke with some friends and told them that it is like putting up with
the bureaucracy of the Mexican health system, but transformed into a restaurant, because from the
moment you arrive you sit down and they serve you with a face about what you want, for what are you coming
The one that takes too long and then they arrive and tell you: you know what, there was not what you asked for.
Do you want to order something else? In other words, I think the management of state restaurants is very bad,
I think they should improve, I think they have everything to improve. Something that surprised me when
I arrived was walking in the streets of Old Havana and finding some stray dogs
that here in Cuba are called "Chinese dogs", but the name in Mexico is "short escuincle" and it is very
difficult to find it. in Mexico. Many times you find them in zoos because they are dogs that
are somehow important to Mexican culture or tradition. And the fact that you see them
eating in a corner, in the garbage, does hit you in the heart of how it is possible that
this puppy is in this situation. Perhaps not all Mexicans think this way, but when you know
the meaning of this dog, you begin to investigate a little about it, you say, wow, it's great to see
all this, what has happened in the history of this breed, so that you end up seeing him eating in a
corner, in a dumpster. It is something very strong. - They say you learn something new every day. Today
I have learned something new. Otoniel, do you want to send a greeting to someone special?
- Well, rather everyone. I think it is important that they visit Cuba. It is an experience that has no
description, not to use another word that we Mexicans use, who know which one I would use. But I really
believe that it is important to come, visit, support the Cuban people, they need it a lot and it is an
experience that they will never forget and it is not as expensive as is often said. - Thank you. - You're welcome, we're seeing each other.
Well family, here we are finishing this video, next to the gentleman from Paris. Let me know in
the comments if you were here, you already know the procedure, touch his beard, touch his
finger and make a wish. If you were here what would you ask for, or are you going to keep it a secret.
I hope you enjoyed this video. If so, leave a like, share with
your friends and family, as I always ask. And if you haven't done so yet, subscribe, so that
our family continues to grow. A hug and see you next week.