A resident of the province of Matanzas criticized the poor condition of his street pavement on Tuesday, comparing the water-filled potholes to swimming pools. Enelio Suárez posted an image on Facebook of his street, riddled with water-filled holes, captioning it: "Not to brag, but I live in a neighborhood where every house has a pool."
Although the photo highlights the deteriorating state of that street in Matanzas and warns of a real danger for pedestrians and drivers, the comment section proved equally intriguing.
Regla González commented: "I don't think you'll make many envious because most neighborhoods have pools, and in many cases, they are Olympic-sized."
Nancy Grasso González emphasized the shape: "How round they are! The ones in the Tenaza Street alley are rectangular and have been there for years and years."
"Oh friend, you really do have a residential neighborhood," remarked Lazarita Quintero Yzquierdo.
Luis Roberto Gómez Alarcón said: "Cuba is full of the privileged," implying that the entire country has streets like this, filled with potholes.
A Nationwide Issue
In April, a pothole in Havana turned into a pool where teenagers and children from Cerro were swimming.
"When you feel bad, remember this started as a small pothole in Cerro and has now reached the status of 'Future Pothole Pools' Recreation Center for kids to enjoy during their break week," the Facebook profile LaSai Dela Vida sarcastically posted.
In the same Havana municipality, some residents planted two banana plants in a massive pothole in the middle of the street.
"Welcome to the jungle!" exclaimed Yulier Rodríguez, who shared a photo and video of the peculiar incident on his Facebook wall.
Understanding Cuba's Pothole Problem
The widespread issue of potholes in Cuba has led to various creative and sarcastic responses from residents. Here are some common questions and answers regarding this problem.
Why are there so many potholes in Cuban streets?
The infrastructure in Cuba has suffered from prolonged neglect and lack of maintenance due to economic constraints and governmental inefficiencies.
How do residents cope with the potholes?
Residents often use humor and creativity to cope, sharing sarcastic posts on social media, planting trees in potholes, or even turning them into makeshift swimming pools.
Has the government addressed the pothole issue?
While there have been some efforts to repair roads, the progress has been slow and inconsistent, leaving many streets in poor condition.