JModillc

[Thu 25 Apr, 09:10]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
meet local people - (18 replies)

I will travel to Cuba in two weeks. I want to meet local people. I want to see how people live their daily lives. Any suggestion? where to go in Havana?



CubaKing

[Thu 25 Apr, 10:10]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
1. Friends

Have you casa host make the contacts.

Altahabana

[Thu 25 Apr, 10:29]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
2. Meeting people

Being able to speak some Spanish is in my opinion necessary if you really want to meet ordinary Cubans who don't have much contact with tourists. I'm guessing that is what you want to do. You will need to stay in a casa particular as opposed to a hotel, but even then your hosts will probably be living to some extent on the dollar economy and used to dealing with tourists. Getting introductions from your host sounds like as good a way as any to go about it. If you are not familiar with Habana and don't speak some Spanish I don't think you will find it very rewarding to go out into areas where tourists don't go with the hopes of meeting and interacting with ordinary Cubans. I would think your chances of seeing more of the day to day life would be better out in some of the provincial towns.

greslogo

[Thu 25 Apr, 10:46]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
3. Be aware

that making "friends" is one of the easiest things to do in Cuba. For someone that hasn't been there before, beware that, more often than not, your new found friends are more likely to be motivated by economics rather any real interest in you as a person.

If you keep that in mind you should have a great time.

Keep the "cost" of your new found friends down to a tolerable level.

I am not trying to discourage you just a "heads up".

Altahabana

[Thu 25 Apr, 12:28]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
4. Friends

Greslogo said it a bit more directly than I did. As a first time visitor the Cubans you are most likely to meet are those who are used to living off the tourist teta. These are definately not hard to find. I think what you are looking for will only come after a few trips.

greslogo

[Thu 25 Apr, 13:02]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
5. I tend to be

direct. Good intentioned, but abrupt.

JModillc

[Fri 26 Apr, 02:40]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
6. thanks

I want to thank you for your advises. Still a few questions. How do I find a casa particular? How to choose? Can I call home from a casa particular in Cuba? By the way, I do not speak Spanish.


Altahabana

[Fri 26 Apr, 06:16]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
7. Casas

There have been numerous posts which recommend individual casas or refer to websites on casas. I would recommend using the TT search engine for that or use a general search engine and enter casas particular Cuba or something like that.

I doubt if many casa owners would allow you to call abroad using their telephone since calls are expensive. You might be able to call collect or use one of the international telephone services at one of the major hotels.

Sonney

[Fri 26 Apr, 10:17]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
8. Locals

I agree with Alta and Greslogo. There is certainly a contrast with life in Havana and the provinces. Also, don't make any more friends than you can afford to support. I doubt they will ask you for much, but unless you have a heart of stone, it's hard not to want to help. Just keep it in reason.

BeardoUK

[Sat 27 Apr, 06:20]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
9. Telephones

Surely most casa phones CANNOT phone overseas. They would be charged in pesos and only able to call in Cuba. (But they could do a reverse charge call overseas via the operator.)

I was told that if you can call overseas, the bill is in dollars (for all calls).



greslogo

[Sat 27 Apr, 09:54]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
10. True

The owners need to make prior arrangements with Etacsa. They keep a deposit in US$ on account.

You can make collect calls without prior arrangement. I don't know the number one dials for the International operator, though.

Altahabana

[Sat 27 Apr, 10:44]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
11. International Calls

Cubans can make collect calls from their home phone but it is very expensive for the receipient. If Cubans can call direct overseas I would suspect as Gres says that there has to be some prior arrangement with Etacsa. If you absolutely have to call it's probably cheaper to call from one of the international call kiosks in the tourist hotels. In the past I know the charges in the Commodoro were $4 p/minute to the US. Cuba is not the most economical place to visit if you have to keep in touch with home during your stay.

greslogo

[Sat 27 Apr, 10:49]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
12. I read

somewhere about a new prepaid calling card, in Cuba, with very low international rates (relatively speaking). I know nothing about it other than that.

TheRedOctober

[Sun 28 Apr, 00:07]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
13. yes,

you can buy it on the place where the Rampa(23th) meets the Malecon (seaside) in Vedado for 10$, but it goes fast...
maybe better to send emails, that's cheaper (a card of 15$ per 5 hours, also etacsa, ask around, the same street).
about friends you're better off going to the countryside, people are more genuinly interested in you and not in your money there, but most probably won't speak English.
But anywhere in Cuba it's difficult NOT to meet locals... the only problem is that they can not always trust you
i can advise you a casa particular in Colon street, two blocks from paseo del prado (ask the taxi, but don't let him enter as it'll cost you 5$ per day more), it costs 20$ and is very nice. There is a nice door with some iron fence and a sign "rent for foreigners". people are very sympatic and speak some english. say greetings from Tom

all our problems will be a distant memory soon
greslogo

[Sun 28 Apr, 18:49]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
14. How many minutes

do you get out of the $10 card ?

TheRedOctober

[Mon 29 Apr, 15:13]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
15. hola

it depends to where you call, to Belgium it was 1 minute, nor enough to tell your life...
the us or canada is cheaper, but not much cheaper

all our problems will be a distant memory soon
greslogo

[Mon 29 Apr, 16:47]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
16. Eh ?

It was $10/minute to Belgium ?

TheRedOctober

[Thu 2 May, 07:20]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
17. actually

it was 7$ per minute

all our problems will be a distant memory soon
greslogo

[Thu 2 May, 19:53]
PST (Gumly Gumly -17)
18. That's the most

expensive rate I've heard of in Cuba. Then again, I am familiar with the rates to call North American, not Belgium.

I thought this new card was supposed to be cheaper, not more epensive than the "usual" rates one finds in the hotels.


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