Many tourists flock to Cuba driven by the idyllic images portrayed by travel agencies and hotels. However, the real Cuba is often revealed through the experiences of everyday Cubans.
While walking through the streets of Havana, a Cuban man shared with two Spanish tourists the stark reality of his country, far removed from the paradise many imagine.
"Some tourists come here with their heads in the clouds, thinking they're in heaven. No, this isn't heaven. Look at the people in the streets; there's no electricity for five or six hours," the Cuban explained, reacting to the tourists' shocked expressions.
Pointing to a crumbling colonial building, he added, "This is a colonial building, built by the Spaniards. But they’ve let it fall apart; they haven't restored it. All they care about is building hotels to take money from the tourists, and we get screwed."
The tourists, visibly stunned, noted the poor structural condition of the city while acknowledging the beauty it must have once possessed.
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"When you built this city, Cuba laughed. Now, Cuba cries. It's sad; people don't even want to talk," the Cuban lamented.
As they observed a building on the verge of collapse, one of the tourists asked in disbelief, "Is that woman living there? Are people living in these conditions?"
"They don't want us telling this to the tourists. What do they want? For tourists to stay in the tourist zones, spend their money, and believe Cuba is a paradise," the Cuban said, clearly frustrated.