Cuban comedian Otto Ortiz recently shared a humorous post on his Facebook wall that has sparked a wave of jokes and laughter. Otto posted a nighttime photo of the Hotel Presidente in El Vedado, showing its illuminated sign missing two letters. As a result, the sign reads "Hot Presidente" instead of the full name.
"There are things I don't understand. I don't know if this is a joke or a sign of disrespect, but it certainly shouldn't be like this... no matter how 'hot' it is, it shouldn't be. At least, that's what I think," the comedian quipped.
Online Reactions and Mockery
The comments section of the post quickly filled with jabs at Díaz-Canel and his wife Lis Cuesta, known for their occasional romantic outbursts and the often-ridiculed phrases they share online.
"Machi approves this sign," commented a resident of Cienfuegos now living in Toronto.
"That's my mango, the dictator of my heart," mocked a teacher.
"Not sure if he's hot, but he's definitely got the people heated with these blackouts," noted an internet user.
"When the president does his thing, there won't be any announcements, but there will be signs," joked a Havana local.
"Hot? With that face, I doubt it, but even the signs are ironic," commented a self-employed worker.
"Hot we don't know! Homeless, yes!" emphasized an emigrant.
Criticism of Hotel Prices
"Sometimes I think they do it on purpose. Do you think the hotel manager hasn't noticed?" questioned a Cuban woman.
"I remember the Habana Libre sign, it was the same and only showed 'na libre'," recalled another user.
What is truly "hot" are the prices at Hotel Presidente. In 2022, a night with breakfast could cost up to 43,600 CUP, an amount impossible for a state worker to afford.
"These are the prices at Hotel Presidente, and really? Inspectors should come and make them sell at fair prices," argued lawyer José Ángel García Veloso from Ciego de Ávila.
The user detailed that the price of a single room at the hotel in dollars, at the official exchange rate of 1X120 CUP, was $184, much more expensive than staying in Dubai, where rooms range between $110 and $141 per night, including breakfast.