A Cuban woman living in the United States has taken to social media to share the harrowing ordeal she experienced during her recent trip to Havana with her mother. She urges other emigrants to "save themselves the trip" if nostalgia is their only reason for visiting. In a candid TikTok video, user @_____eli85 recounted the harsh realities she faced during her stay in Cuba, emphasizing that the country is "worse off than a year ago, worse than a month ago, and even worse than yesterday."
Her testimony, which has sparked a wave of comments and reactions, adds to the growing chorus of complaints from the Cuban diaspora about the deteriorating everyday life on the island. "We bought 10 bottles of water, and it cost 6,000 Cuban pesos. My mom calculated that her pension would be 1,500. People there are just surviving. I don't know how they manage to live," she expressed with visible distress.
Upon arriving at their home in Havana, she found they had no electricity, despite being in an area supposedly subject to scheduled blackouts. She also mentioned dengue fever as a constant threat, forcing families to keep windows shut despite the stifling heat. "It's better to suffer in the heat than to catch dengue. Don't open the windows because dengue is rampant. It's unbearable and intolerable," she asserted.
The account also includes a concerning incident: a neighbor was reportedly the victim of a home robbery by individuals who seemingly mistook her house for theirs, knowing they had just returned from abroad. "They confused the houses because they planned to break into mine, knowing we had come from outside. It's very sad," she lamented.
Ultimately, she advises other Cubans considering a visit to the island for emotional or nostalgic reasons to think twice. "If you don't have family and just want to visit out of nostalgia, save yourself the trip. Do not travel to Cuba," she concluded.
Her story reflects the mounting despair and frustration of many Cubans, both on the island and abroad, amid an economic and social crisis that shows no signs of improvement.
Understanding the Current Crisis in Cuba
What conditions did the Cuban woman face during her visit?
She faced severe economic hardships, including exorbitant prices for basic necessities like bottled water, frequent power outages, and a dengue fever risk that required keeping windows closed despite extreme heat.
Why is the woman urging others not to visit Cuba?
She advises against visiting because of the severe economic and social conditions, suggesting that nostalgia alone isn't worth the trip due to the current suffering and challenges faced by residents.
What incident heightened her concerns during her visit?
A neighbor was reportedly robbed by individuals who mistook her house for the woman's, knowing she had recently returned from abroad, highlighting safety concerns in the area.