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Spanish YouTuber Shocked by Visit to Cuba: "I've Never Felt So Helpless"

Thursday, July 3, 2025 by Edward Lopez

Spanish YouTuber José María Pastor, widely recognized online as @topeadosdeviaje, has taken TikTok by storm with a series of videos filmed in Cuba that starkly depict the island's severe social and economic conditions. Through direct testimonies, daily life footage, and personal reflections, Pastor captures scenes ranging from endless queues for food to teachers begging on the streets.

"I'm in Cuba. I came to record its culture, food, and people, but what I encountered was far harsher than I imagined," he begins in one of his videos. Pastor's account of his visit has resonated deeply on social media, shedding light on the harsh social, economic, and human realities he witnessed.

In his TikTok and YouTube videos, the content creator recounts firsthand experiences of poverty, rationing, desperation, and extreme hardship: "I saw people begging for rice, milk, even the last sip of a soda. Teachers earning $10 a month, elderly individuals silently pleading for coffee with just their eyes."

One of his most talked-about clips reveals a profound sense of helplessness: "I've been lucky to travel extensively, but I've never felt so powerless." Through street shots and spontaneous conversations with locals, he illustrates how many Cubans endure blackouts, food improvisation, and financial marginalization. "There are stores filled with goods, yet many Cubans can't enter because they lack dollars," he observes. "I didn't come to judge, but to face a painful reality."

Exploring Cuban Street Food

In another segment, Pastor delves into Cuba's street food experience: "Today, I set out to try authentic Cuban street food, from churros to pizzas made with whatever's available, and when there's nothing, they improvise." He recounts dining by the light of his phone due to power outages, accompanied by warm beer, while locals shared what little they had without expecting anything in return. "This isn't just about cuisine; it's survival, improvisation—this is Cuba."

He adds, "A meal can be a luxury for many families. They offered what was available and adapted it on the spot. Yet, people smiled, shared, and invited me to try without expecting anything back."

The Heavy Toll of Emigration

The testimonies Pastor gathers also highlight emigration as a desperate recourse for many. "Many Cubans openly asked if I knew someone they could marry to leave the country," he mentions in one viral video, where a man confides, "I cry almost daily... from agony, suffering. Living like this, it's better to be dead."

One of the most striking encounters was with a Cuban teacher on the street who confided, "Look at our situation in Cuba, we don't even have food, we're in a dire state." When asked about her salary, she revealed earning "3,000 pesos," equivalent to about "$10" a month.

José María Pastor, a 30-year-old Journalism and Documentation graduate from Águilas in Murcia, began documenting his travels on his YouTube channel "Topeados," which now boasts over 11,000 subscribers. In a 2022 interview, he shared that his passion for travel ignited after the pandemic lockdown. He ends each video with the phrase, "Life can be wonderful," quoting journalist Andrés Montes. Although his intention was to showcase Cuban culture and daily life, what he discovered compelled him to testify to what he calls "a painful reality." After leaving the island, he remarked, "I left the country feeling deeply unsettled."

On YouTube, where he shared his poignant reports from the island, he wrote: "I present the harsh reality that millions of Cubans are experiencing. Hunger, scarcity, blackouts, wages that don't even cover food... and a daily life that's increasingly difficult. I've walked through Havana neighborhoods, spoken with people of all ages, strolled through empty markets, and faced unimaginable situations. Here, nobody asked me for money. They asked for rice, milk, medicine, a bit of bread... or the last sip of a soda. The toughest part: meeting teachers who earn $10 a month. People who've gone months without eating meat. People who look at you with hope because you're a tourist... and because they know life is different outside. This isn't about attacking or politicizing—it's about saying what many wish they could express but can't. Because Cuba isn't just vintage cars and beautiful beaches. Cuba is also resilience, dignity, and the daily struggle to survive." In another video, he candidly admits, "What impacted me the most was the hunger."

The series of videos recorded in Cuba adds to the growing number of foreign creators who have recently exposed the island's social collapse. From American Adventure Elliot, who highlighted the ration book's empty products, to the Spanish channel Black Mango, which described the island as "a prison of blue skies," the images of decay, hunger, and hopelessness repeat in every account.

In one of his latest videos, Pastor wrote, "I'm speechless. I'm processing what I've just experienced," after speaking with another elderly woman who broke down in tears upon engaging with him. "They don't have words; they have pain," he reflects. In another clip, an elderly lady simply thanked him for listening. The series continues to promise revelations about what he describes as "one of the harshest realities I've documented in my life." With over 11,000 YouTube subscribers and a growing TikTok community, his voice joins many who are shedding light on a Cuba far removed from tourist brochures.

Understanding the Reality in Cuba

What did José María Pastor find surprising about Cuba?

José María Pastor was surprised by the harsh social and economic conditions in Cuba, including extreme poverty, food shortages, and low wages that make daily survival challenging for many Cubans.

How did the locals in Cuba respond to Pastor's presence?

Local Cubans shared what little they had with José María Pastor, often offering food and hospitality without expecting anything in return, demonstrating resilience and generosity despite their circumstances.

What message does Pastor aim to convey through his videos?

Pastor aims to bring attention to the harsh realities faced by Cubans, emphasizing that the island is more than its tourist appeal; it's also a place of struggle and resilience.

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