Had the opportunity to visit Cuba in late January for a long weekend. Quite a study in contrasts: energy and lethargy, poverty and promise, beautiful renovated historic sites aside crumbling buildings and infrastructure. As part of a large group of business and government leaders, I was more curious than anything else. Even with the recent easing of relations and restrictions, travel to Cuba is highly regulated, and as a public institution in Florida we are not able to establish exchanges or other partnerships.
But change is coming. You can see that in spite of a country that has seriously deteriorated first as a result of the U.S. embargo and then the fall of the Soviet Union, there is momentum away from a strict communist state and toward small pockets of capitalism. Citizens can rent out rooms and the best restaurants (Palidars) are run by chefs.
From take-off to landing, it takes less than an hour to travel to another world. We were fortunate to be visiting the weekend the first official state department delegation was meeting their Cuban counterparts. We saw Andrea Mitchell broadcasting live from the square. And we got a great ride through town in a ’56 Chrysler convertible.
It was a great time to visit: pure Cuba warts and all. The beautiful bones. Before the fast food joints and chain hotels arrive….
Post writted by: James Olliver, Provost, Seminole Campus, St. Petersburg College.
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