Comparison Cuba and Dr

bob saunders

bob saunders

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We recently went to Cuba for my baby brother's wedding(married a Cuban girl)
We arrived and stayed in Santiago de Cuba for several days before heading to Jamel(Baracoa) We found Santiago worst than any place in the DR for beggars, Tigeres, Putas...etc. The city has beautiful buildings and the roads are good. The streets were much cleaner than a comparable DR city. The people have almost nothing, and police(Castro) presense is everywhere, A decent restaurant was not to be found. Beer was good.
In Jamal(a village of about 3000) we found that the real Cuba, away from the goverment. The people were very much like Dominicans,very friendly and a lot of fun(Good food too). There was a active underground economy, very carefully hidden from the government. A friend from New York. who had been to Cuba many times before had told us to expect the DR 40 years ago. He wasn't far off, according to Yris. Dominicans are so lucky that they didn't go the way of Cuba. There the Government controls everything.You can't ride in the Car of a Cucan and you can't stay in their homes over night. I'm sure that most Cubans would prefer the GARBAGE AND CORRUPTION of the DR, just to have freedom. My brothers wife make a grand total of $15 per month as a high school teacher, with no hope of making more. The Dominican Republic is a land where with hard work and brains, you can make your dreams come true, not so in Cuba.
 
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stallion

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DR is much better than cuba!

In Cuba everyone is in the poor class category with the richest and upper class being Fidel Castro himself only. Forget about them wanting freedom, they are not even allowed to speak their minds politicaly. They even want to charge people taxes on using U.S Dollars. They are so behind. They are still using horse carriages. Their cars are in the warp zone of he 50's. Having a V.C.R is is considerd a luxury item. Locals who give rides to tourists in their personal vehicle and charge a small fee get harrased and fined/arrested by police. The police there are very strict and are not corrupt. The only hotels there are the all inclusive types. At their airports they go throught your suitcases like they are looking for explosives. They go through everthing and charge you duty on everything besides your personal clothes. The onlything I give credit to cuba that DR does not have is a Railway trains. In cuba prostitution is considered illegal and in DR is legal. Car rental in Cuba is like $100 us dollars per day. University education in Cuba is free but the honoured graduates can make like $25 per month. The cubans who flee cuba can neve return to cuba or they face harsh and lenghtly jail sentences. All tourists and tourist vehicles have a class of their own on their vehicle license plates. For locals the licence plate reads Particular and for tourist's their plates read Tourismo. Passolas in cuba cost a furtune where by in dr they cost close to nothing. No american jet lands in Cuba. The restrications in cuba are endless....... DR is far by better than Cuba.
 
NALs

NALs

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bob saunders said:
We recently went to Cuba for my baby brother's wedding(married a Cuban girl)
We arrived and stayed in Santiago de Cuba for several days before heading to Jamel(Baracoa) We found Santiago worst than any place in the DR for beggars, Tigeres, Putas...etc. The city has beautiful buildings and the roads are good. The streets were much cleaner than a comparable DR city. The people have almost nothing, and police(Castro) presense is everywhere, A decent restaurant was not to be found. Beer was good.
In Jamal(a village of about 3000) we found that the real Cuba, away from the goverment. The people were very much like Dominicans,very friendly and a lot of fun(Good food too). There was a active underground economy, very carefully hidden from the government. A friend from New York. who had been to Cuba many times before had told us to expect the DR 40 years ago. He wasn't far off, according to Yris. Dominicans are so lucky that they didn't go the way of Cuba. There the Government controls everything.You can't ride in the Car of a Cucan and you can't stay in their homes over night. I'm sure that most Cubans would prefer the GARBAGE AND CORRUPTION of the DR, just to have freedom. My brothers wife make a grand total of $15 per month as a high school teacher, with no hope of making more. The Dominican Republic is a land where with hard work and brains, you can make your dreams come true, not so in Cuba.
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I have always said that Cuba is what the DR would have become if it would have gone communist.

The DR is what Cuba was before it went communist.

And Puerto Rico is what Cuba and DR would have become if it would have gone the commonwealth route.

All three Spanish speaking countries are extremely similar in most aspects, only the last 40 to 100 years has history treated each with a different formula and the results are clearly visible today.

But, of the three islands, the DR is much more free than any other. In PR, too much regulation American style and in Cuba, too much regulation, prohibitions, and a bunch of other non-sense that goes in contradiction to human nature.

Hopefully the Cubans will be relieved from their Castro curse soon.
 
Hlywud

Hlywud

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Comparison

I can agree with Bob, Santiago de Cuba is not a nice city to visit, very unsafe even with the police presence.
People are very similar to the DR, friendly and when politics are talked they will tell you nothing but how wonderful El Commandante is.

I have been a number of times (4), never had a problem but was very wary.
I also never once did customs go through any luggage.

Stallion by the way US money is not accepted in Cuba anymore, anywhere , they are using a convertible Cuban peso (tourista money)
 
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lsylla01

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I too have been to Cuba once and the DR as well. I also compared the too and based on what I see, I believe that Cuba is much safer to live in compared to the DR. I don't remember seeing any houses with bars on them or anything like that In Cuba. However, in terms of really being free to express myself or having the option to make more than "$15" per month, I prefer the DR!
 
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mwgarretson

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I have been to both places, many times. For living, of course the DR is much better, although there are several "retirees" who do quite well in Cuba.

For vacationing, living history, and pure fun...there really is no substitute for Cuba. It is (in my opinion) hands down - MUCH - better than the DR for trips. No comparison.

Forget the McDonalds, the Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the crime problems.

Cuba is relatively unspoilt, a time capsule...nothing like it in the world...and I have never seen a happier group of people in all my travels, despite their material shortcomings.

MG
 
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Escott

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I was in Cuba several months ago. I wanted to see it before Castro croaked. The SOB can't live forever! Can he?

I was only in Havana and it was as beautiful a city architectually as any city I have been to anywhere in the world if you can look through 50 years of degragation and filth. They haven't seen a can of paint since Castro came into power.

The driver we hired in a 1950 Pontiac wouldnt talk to us for the first 3 days out of fear one of my friends was Cuban Secret Police. Not only can't you stay over in a Cubans home but they can't even speak to you without fear of JAIL for talking to a Gringo or non Cuban.

We had dinner at an outdoor cafe. There was a line formed to get scrapes left over from dinner plates scraped onto Newspaper sheet. There were plenty of prostitutes in the streets and plenty of Police.

The only currency acceptable was the US Dollar for everything. I think Castro changed this recently but haven't been back nor do I care to return under the circumstances that exist there.

I have always found Latin people friendly with an easy smile. I didn't get much chance to interact with Cubans as I have with Dominicans because of the fear instilled in the Cubans but I can't imagine that they would be much different than Dominicans.
 
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Rocky

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Havana's kool...

I believe that I agree with absolutely everything everybody said in this entire thread.
Still, Havana is a really kool place to visit, if you have the chance.
The nightlife and historical aspects of this city are like magic and it's a lot easier to get good food there than in Santiago de Cuba.
 
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Chirimoya

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Escott said:
Not only can't you stay over in a Cubans home but they can't even speak to you without fear of JAIL for talking to a Gringo or non Cuban.
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This, at least, is not the case. We stayed with Cuban friends in Havana and when we travelled to Cienfuegos and Trinidad we stayed in family homes which are licenced as B&Bs.

You should also be aware that people tend to lay it on thick for the foreigners, a bit like the sankies here with their sick grannies. :)
 
bob saunders

bob saunders

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Chirimoya said:
This, at least, is not the case. We stayed with Cuban friends in Havana and when we travelled to Cienfuegos and Trinidad we stayed in family homes which are licenced as B&Bs. Quote

Key word here is B&B. We were told specifically by the immigration/police/communist party secretary that we couldn't stay in a private house. The problem is the government will slack off on the rules, then for whatever, they will come down hard on the people. The driver of the car bringing my brother and his fiance(now wife) to the hotel to meet us had to pay a fine(stopped at one of many police roadblocks that appear at anytime in anyplace) This fine by our standards, was small, but more than 2 months salary for the average cuban.
I would have to say that if Cuba ever becomes a free country with a market economy, the DR better get its act together, because they will lose a lot of tourists and other business to Cuba.
As far as people talking bad about THE GOVERNMENT, if they know that they will not be overheard, They have plenty to say.
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Chirimoya

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bob saunders said:
Chirimoya said:
This, at least, is not the case. We stayed with Cuban friends in Havana and when we travelled to Cienfuegos and Trinidad we stayed in family homes which are licenced as B&Bs. Quote

Key word here is B&B.
The point is although there are licenced B&Bs in family homes, there was no subterfuge involved when we stayed in our Havana friends' private house, which is not a B&B.
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Escott

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Chirimoya said:
This, at least, is not the case. We stayed with Cuban friends in Havana and when we travelled to Cienfuegos and Trinidad we stayed in family homes which are licenced as B&Bs.

You should also be aware that people tend to lay it on thick for the foreigners, a bit like the sankies here with their sick grannies. :)
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Wow, I don't know how it would behoove the driver when we bought his services for a set price plus gas for 4 days to lie to us. My experience was completely different than yours for some reason. We asked a lot of questions when he finally realize we weren't or at least my friend wasn't Cuban Secret Police.

They ask you at the airport where you are staying. If you don't have a hotel booked they send you to a very expensive hotel.
 
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juancarlos

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Also, rules keep changing in Cuba. What was legal a month ago, is now ilegal. Fidel Castro's speech at the end of February is proof of that. Now he says it is ilegal for Cubans to accept gifts from tourists or to socialize with them. This applies both to employees, who can no longer accept tips, as well as to the population in general. I don't know how much longer he will allow the private homes to act as B&B. He has set in motion a process of going backwards and doing away with the very timid reforms that were introduced in the 90's. Every day Cubans wake up to a new set of rules.
 
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drloca

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All this negative talk about Cuba has just re-enforced that I am truly a DR girl at heart...am off to Cuba in 3 weeks time for a wedding of some friends from TO...why on earth did they pick this communist destination??? I think what will bother me the most is not being able to give things to the locals and distribute some supplies to local schools. I know we will all have a great time but I want to go to the cities and see how people live there and experience some local nightclubs.....I am less than excited...could be off to the DR that week....I know this is dr1 but any suggestions???? We will be in Varadero.....
 
NALs

NALs

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drloca said:
All this negative talk about Cuba has just re-enforced that I am truly a DR girl at heart...am off to Cuba in 3 weeks time for a wedding of some friends from TO...why on earth did they pick this communist destination??? I think what will bother me the most is not being able to give things to the locals and distribute some supplies to local schools. I know we will all have a great time but I want to go to the cities and see how people live there and experience some local nightclubs.....I am less than excited...could be off to the DR that week....I know this is dr1 but any suggestions???? We will be in Varadero.....
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Well, always keep in mind that regardless of what happens in any of the Caribbean isles, they are still in the Caribbean.

Alot of evil has been witnessed by these most beautiful islands of the world.

How ironic is that! The most beautiful lands are witness of some of the most brutal regimes.

Ironic indeed!

Anyways, I truly wish Castro kicks the bucket soon. I think Dominicans have also given up on Cubans, which is not a good thing. Afterall, a Dominican (Maximo Gomez) actually helped the Cubans get their independence and Dominicans and Cubans have historically been there for each other.

I really detest the relationship our country has with Communist Cuba at this moment.

Cuba has outgrown it's Communist ideas, its time for good old Capitalism to make a come back.

Heck, the entire Spanish Caribbean should unite someday. We have more incommon among ourselves than anyother group of Spanish speaking countries on earth. We should unite someday soon.
 
NALs

NALs

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CIGUAYO said:
:lick: (Puerto Rico is what Cuba and DR would have become if it would have gone the commonwealth route.) ????????????????? what ??????? que ?????? what ???????

I thought that puerto rico was dependent country of USA which USA economy goes down......PR goes ruin too. If usa decide to cut the help to PR ..., PR goes to down too.

Nalow, tell me the PR industry, exportation or main sources in their economy to compete with latin america country.

back to the point, I dont see that Dominicana look like cuba or puerto rico like here claim. maybe PR and cuba are alike in history , culture, speach, flag, and custom. this explains cuban revolution in PR.

because some building look the same or house, it doesnt mean we are alike. have you ever been in venezuela, argentina, ecuador, colombia, etccc... they have some houses and tradition that we have, especially venezuela. this means spain influence.

I see myself totally different from Puerto rican culturely, food, tradition and speak. have youn ever seen PR food ingredient, they are the opposite from us and taste of food too.

I have friend cheef , one day, suddenly he told me " I dont know why people say that our food dominican food was the same like PR or cuba" then, he continues, the ingredient, taste and way to cook are totally different. I said, really,... he told me yes. he stated this in front a cuban and the cuban said yes. my friend finished the conversation with " our food is better in taste" and end of the conversation...... then I thought " why he told me that suddenly" .... why as soon he saw me the first thing that he told me was that...... I thought he might be discussing this topic with somebody else some hours or minutes ago and he get upset.. but I dont know it. make your own conclusion
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There are some exceptions, but the similarities between Cuba-DR-Puerto Rico are more alike than any other trio of Spanish speaking countries anywhere.
 
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Narcosis

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Why focus on the negative?

Instead of comparing negatives why not look at the positives of each place?

The Caribbean is a magical place and every corner holds it's own charm and unique flavor and sounds. I wish people would start to see it this way and not put up barriers but explore each with an open mind and spirit.

Having travelled to almost every corner of the Caribbean I can say I hold dear memories of each place with their similarities as well as the differences, hopefully soon these barrires will start to fall as it seems some of our closest neighbors are so far away in spirit.
 
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juancarlos

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drloca said:
All this negative talk about Cuba has just re-enforced that I am truly a DR girl at heart...am off to Cuba in 3 weeks time for a wedding of some friends from TO...why on earth did they pick this communist destination??? I think what will bother me the most is not being able to give things to the locals and distribute some supplies to local schools. I know we will all have a great time but I want to go to the cities and see how people live there and experience some local nightclubs.....I am less than excited...could be off to the DR that week....I know this is dr1 but any suggestions???? We will be in Varadero.....
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Take your donations to the Catholic Church, they will distribute them better and you will not get anyone in trouble. After all, the Church runs the best comedores and asylums for the elderly on the island. They also distribute prescription medications to those who need them. As per the new regulations, Cubans are not allowed to receive gifts from foreigners or to socialize with them, they are even required to report anyone they know who has received those gifts. This I think is unenforceable and is meant to set a new atmosphere of strict dicipline and obedience to the government. But Cubans always find a way to circumvent those ridiculous laws.
 
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Chirimoya

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Escott said:
Wow, I don't know how it would behoove the driver when we bought his services for a set price plus gas for 4 days to lie to us. My experience was completely different than yours for some reason. We asked a lot of questions when he finally realize we weren't or at least my friend wasn't Cuban Secret Police.

They ask you at the airport where you are staying. If you don't have a hotel booked they send you to a very expensive hotel.
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It could be what juancarlos says, that the rules change all the time. They certainly did between my first visit (on an organised trip in 1988) and the second independent visit eleven years later. Things were noticeably freer and easier the second time. We were not asked where we were staying when we arrived at Havana airport as far as I can recall. We were met by our friends and taken to their house, much as would have happened anywhere else. We socialised with them, and their circle of friends in Havana, and hung out openly with all sorts of people we met during our trip to Cienfuegos and Trinidad - all Cubans, including a friend of a friend who met us off the bus and showed us round Trinidad, and the sister of Mr C's ex-girlfriend (who now lives in Miami) in Cienfuegos.

It is true, however, that our friends there chose their moments for saying anything too critical about Castro. One such time was when we were in a car, as opposed to out and about or even in the house.
 
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