After weeks of anticipation, the much-discussed video of Mexican YouTuber Luisito Comunica's visit to Cuba is finally available. He describes the experience as akin to traveling back in time, with vintage cars cruising the streets and architecture reminiscent of a bygone era. Official procedures are still done with pen and paper, and obtaining many basic necessities proves to be a daunting task.
Reflecting on his journey, Luisito confesses, "Few places have surprised me this much," visibly stunned by the stark reality before him. He comments on the warmth and friendliness of the Cuban people, who are always ready to share a joke or a story. "The resilience of the Cuban society is truly remarkable because life here is anything but easy. If you think things are tough in your country, multiply that by ten," he adds.
For Luisito, the scarcity of resources is astonishing. "Getting gasoline is a mission in itself, and power outages are frequent, more common than having electricity. The phone and internet signal quality is not just bad; it's terrible," he remarks. As he rides through Havana in a classic car, he notes the surreal experience, akin to a city frozen in time, with sidecar motorcycles and horse-drawn taxis in other provinces catching his attention.
One aspect that stands out is the prevalence of political billboards: "The image of Fidel Castro remains very present." Without taking sides, he mentions the two narratives: those who blame the U.S. embargo for Cuba's backwardness and those who hold the dictatorship responsible for over 60 years of poverty.
A poignant moment in the video occurs when Luisito ventures into non-touristic areas of Havana, where most buildings are dilapidated and at risk of collapse. While some locals refused to be filmed, they shared their stories off-camera. One mother with two daughters recounted squatting in a condemned building due to homelessness, their daily lives surrounded by trash, living without electricity, cooking with charcoal or wood, and using buckets as makeshift toilets due to clogged plumbing.
By concealing people's identities, Luisito sheds light on those who survive by "diving" or scavenging through trash. He also discusses the banking crisis, cash shortages, the dual currency system, the official versus unofficial exchange rates, the ration book, public transportation, the alarming migration trends in recent years, and the pervasive internet issues.
Luisito Comunica's report paints a picture of a Cuba that seems like a parallel universe compared to other countries, with a level of backwardness that feels more like fiction than reality.
Understanding the Challenges in Cuba Through Luisito Comunica's Lens
What aspects of Cuba surprised Luisito Comunica the most?
Luisito was most surprised by Cuba's time-warped appearance, the scarcity of resources, frequent power outages, and the friendliness of its resilient citizens.
How does Luisito Comunica describe the internet and communication quality in Cuba?
Luisito describes the internet and communication quality in Cuba as not just bad, but extremely poor, with frequent outages and weak signals.
What challenges do Cuban residents face daily, according to Luisito's report?
According to Luisito, Cubans face challenges such as scarce resources, housing issues, power outages, and inadequate public services, all of which complicate daily life significantly.