Cuba -más- Libre

I'm sure you've heard of people that find any excuse to celebrate. Well, that describes my best friend Jonathan and I very well. If it were up to us we'd have a themed party every weekend, but since we aren't monetarily rich yet, we take our birthday celebrations very seriously. This year I celebrated my birthday in Miami. Then we celebrated his in Cuba.

It's been two months since our vacation in Cuba and the desire of returning deepens as the days go by.

When we decided to buy our flights to Cuba, not for a second did I stop to think about its history. We were traveling to a country where there wouldn't be much of what we're accustomed to and different to anywhere we had ever been. But, despite all that I made no plans or itinerary. 

Counting the days to our trip, I saw that two girls I knew had traveled to Cuba and asked them for suggestions on places to go and things to do while there. But, only if anyone on my trip asked me where we should go, I really had no intentions of visiting those places. Since it was Jonathan's idea to travel to Cuba and it was his birthday we were celebrating, I didn't preoccupy myself with making any plans. I left with eleven other people, four of them whom I had never met, and $425.

My luggage consisted of a gym bag that I had prepared the night before and a big black leather bag. I felt that even if I did do some planning, nothing would go accordingly, so I decided to leave everything in God's hands.

When we arrived in Cuba I couldn't help to notice everything, it was so different yet so similar to the Dominican Republic. When the plane landed many of the passengers applauded as is accustomed when arriving in the Dominican Republic. We entered the airport from outside, as we used to when arriving in Santo Domingo. It was humid and all I could smell was Caribbean soil. All the employees looked distinctively different, the women stood out to me the most, they all had noticeably different features and complexions. What they all did have in common, was the way they were all well put together and wearing lace stockings as a part of their uniform.

What reminded me of Dominican Republic most, was all the luggage the Cubans visiting their families brought. There were so many people with so much luggage it seemed as if they were staying to live in Cuba. I'm telling you they had televisions, radio systems, microwaves, I even saw someone with a small couch.

From the inside you could see all the people waiting for their loved ones to walk out, also something that Dominicans do. The entire family will go pick up that one foreign family member at the airport. My girlfriend had never seen so many people coming to pick up one person, she thought, they presumed, we were all some sort of celebrity, but I explained to her that it seems to be a part of our Caribbean culture.

There, we waited for about an hour and half for everyone's luggage. I was hungry, tired, and all wanted to do was arrive at our destination. But after waiting that hour and a half we waited another two hours for the other guys that had flown in on another flight, one that landed 2 miles from where we were. They, were without cellphones, and we, were without a way of communicating with them because we're in Cuba where wifi is VERY limited. Without any other option my friend went out to look for them, praying that they would be somewhere he would eventually see them.

Without a cellphone, money (because we hadn't exchanged our money) hungry, and tired, in that moment, all I could think of, was, "OH FATHER, what, have, I, gotten, myself, into." I was livid! What I didn't know, was that this trip was going to touch me deeply, down to the essence of who I am, that I was going to be enamored by the island of youth and it's lovely people.

Jonathan eventually came back with the rest of our vacation crew and two chauffeurs, with two cars that would end up staying with us the entire time we were there. Hanoi and Raul are their names. Not only did they work out a deal with us but they were the sweetest and most fun travel guides.

At first, I didn't trust Hanoi because after waiting all those hours at the airport he took us to the worst Caribbean restaurant I had ever been to, but slowly he regained my trust. By day two we were inviting them inside the house we were staying at. We trusted them with our belongings, our lives and our entire trip, as we took a lot of their advice on places to go. They also made up for that horrific first restaurant by taking us to a very upscale one with a beautiful ocean front view.

Our farewell with them was sad, as it was with our hosts. We could not have had better host. Our host were a middle aged educated couple. They were warm and welcoming as well as informative. I was warned not to ask residents about Fidel Castro, but as a journalist I couldn't contain myself. The first two days I warmed up to our lady host by helping her set up the table each night and by day three when I felt I had gained her trust, I went for it. "I want to ask you something, and I'm not sure if I should, but you don't have to answer," she stopped and looked me and assertively said, "I'm here to answer any questions you have." So, I proceeded to ask, "how did you feel about Fidel Castro?"

For a moment the entire energy in that kitchen changed, her eyes immediately got watery as she replied, "El fue nuestro gran líder." In English, that translates to, "He was our great leader."

I had so many questions, I knew that many Cubans felt Fidel Castro was their hero, but not in America, not any Cuban I had ever met. So I stopped and just listened. She opened up about the poor man's struggle in Cuba, how Fidel Castro made it a country for all and not just for the privileged. She had so much to thank him for, like her education and health. "I was able to get a hysterectomy with the best medical care the country has to offer, coming from a poor family like I did, that wouldn't be the case in many countries. He was able to assure us what's most important to me and my family, peace and safety. You can not put a price on peace, and that is what we have here. Sure, I don't have luxury and I haven't traveled the world but I'm okay with that. I'm in the process of preparing a trip to Europe to see my sister, but if I died without knowing another country, at least I died in peace. Americans love to speak for us and say we're starving and being violated but, we don't see it that way, that is not our reality. We aren't starving like people presume and we definitely aren't unhappy. I can’t speak for the youth because I'm sure they want to see the world and seek more opportunities, but for many of us this is our happiness."

She was open, genuine, and passionate, and I was so grateful for that. I was graced by her presence and full of new perspectives. Here I was getting my people to people interaction.

Just as open as she was so was everyone else I came across throughout those last days. I barged in people's homes, places of works and even gyms, observing, analyzing and asking a TON of questions. It was beautiful. The energy in Cuba was like none I had experienced. It was warm, cheerful, respectful, and confident.

Right before we left to the airport, we asked Hano to take us to buy Cohibas, Havana's premier cigar brand. We walked into a huge apartment building, and as Jonathan decided what cigars he was purchasing, I wandered off into the hallway and found myself standing in front of a couple cooking in their kitchen. From the hallway staring into their humble home I said, "hello," and the lady of the house quickly reached for her door and let me in. Before I had walked in two steps she was already offering me the only pastry I could see in her kitchen and proceeded to offer me coffee. I kindly declined but took a seat and we began to talk and found some common ground on the fact that I was Dominican and she felt we produced the best hair products.

She then took the opportunity to offer me a business deal, "If you are ever coming back to Cuba, here's my number I would love to do business with you and know that here you're always welcome." As we talked I noticed stairs to my right and asked where those stairs would lead me and if I could take a look. "Oh, but of course." I was intrusive, disruptive, and showed up uninvited. They didn't know who I was, nor did they ask, and not for a second did they hesitate to give me their undivided attention, answer my inquisitive questions and assure me that at their home I would always be welcome.

These people didn't owe me a hello, they didn't owe me answers, they didn't owe me the right into their homes. They didn't have to share all that they had with me, but they did. They shared perspectives, hugs, kisses and handshakes that have changed me for a lifetime. Every corner you turned in Old Havana you had someone smiling confirming that they were pleased to see you. There's so much to see and do, every other restaurant had some sort of live band playing, making you want to stay and dance your days away. All the riches in the world couldn't buy you the richness in this country and their festive energy. What I saw in Cuba falls short to what I felt. I could've just written about the things I did, but that wouldn't have done this trip justice. There is much more than what meets the eye.

Essentially what makes us happy is how we feel, never what we have and much of how you feel is correlated to the love that surrounds you. I wish you love and the focus to pay attention to what matters.