Comparison Cuba and Dr

[juancarlos]

When I visited six years ago, I stayed with my family and I was able to go anywhere. However, I was told that if stopped by police, I should say that I was riding with relatives whom I was visiting. The reason for this was that, legally, only state owned taxis were allowed to transport visitors from abroad. At the time the US$ was all I needed and, of course, I kept my mouth shut when it came to politics or Castro's name, except when I was inside the house and talking with friends and relatives. Today, you need to exchange your dollars for convetible pesos, and accept a 10% devaluation in the process. The new regulations which came into effect recently, make things harder for people in Cuba. They are meant to avoid "contamination" with foreigners and, I guess, to reduce prostitution. Although the main reason is to reinstate tighter control over the population. I think Castro thought he was becoming to lax!

[AnnaC]

Originally Posted by drloca

....I know this is dr1 but any suggestions???? We will be in Varadero.....

Get out of the resort and you'll have fun. My son was there in Nov. 04 and once he decided to walk out and look around he found some nice clubs where they had live music. He and his friends are musicians and once they found life on the outside they didn't hang around the resort much.

I'll find out for you where this place is.


Here you go just got an asnwer by email

I can't remember the name but I know it's on Calle 54 (street) and you can't miss it. There's another club just down the street from the Arenas Blancas Hotel and you can't miss that either. It's wide open and you can hear the music as you walk down the street.

DC

[AnnaC]

Originally Posted by juancarlos

Today, you need to exchange your dollars for convetible pesos, and accept a 10% devaluation in the process. The new regulations which came into effect recently, make things harder for people in Cuba. !

Except if you bring Canadian dollars. They still use the US exchange rate but Candians don't lose that 10%. We only lose( what is it right now) 24 cents on the dollar

[easygoin]

My friend goes to Cuba quite often from CR, do to an American. He loves the action there and also says there is no heritage like that in the world. He tells all of his friends just bring single dollars for the women. He knows many people in high places in the country, and police are informed .......NOT to mess with Americans bottom line let them spend their money.

[mwgarretson]

Argh!

All this Cuba bashing!

I have been to Cuba no less than 15 times in the past 4 years. The DR about the same, and I am moving to the DR in a couple weeks.

I can tell you...underneath the comments made here, about rules, not speaking with locals...etc., that perhaps these people listened a bit to a cab driver or family.

Every trip I've had...every one...the same things said before, after, etc.

The reality is that life on the street is very much different than the writing on news pages. Communism these days is really just propaganda for the masses. Cuba is a capitalistic place, at least as far as your trip will be concerned.

The streets of Habana will be vibrant, much more vibrant than anywhere in Rep. Dom. You never know what day it is in Cuba. Everyone is walking everywhere, with no destination in mind.

You DO stay with families, then and now.

In fact, I can recommend you to 2 places...both top floor penthouses in Habana with 40 mile views of the sea, looking right at the famous morro Castillo. One is $35, the other $30. Try that in cosmopolitan Santo Domingo.

The families in Cuba are wonderful...they will invite you in for dinner everywhere, just to speak and laugh, when they see you walking by. Remember you are not at risk of crime there like the DR. You will see smiles, not knives and currency swindles.

After dark in the DR, you are at risk of MANY crimes, both property and violent.

The example the earlier post...the friend in Cuba pulled over by the police is normal...but those have been the rules for 20 years. Non-State taxis are not allowed, have never been...but the fun of it all, cruising around with a bottle of havana club that every driver has. They know the risk...it is simply a fine. If your driver is pulled over, which is rare (they know where to drop you off), go ahead and pay the $5-$9 fee for him or her. It won't kill you. You'll be off crusing again in minutes (well, Caribbean minutes, that is).

The locals are so fun...and they love Americans, Europeans, Canadians, even though the govts. are warring in the press...you will be loved, and not just for your money.

The partying in Cuba is much more carefree than in the DR. The streets are 4 times safer, and the spirit of life is like the DR squared. And the DR has a lot of life!

There are no rush hours, no hiding cell phones, etc.

As my friends and I say, when we want a nice Americanized stay, we go to the DR. Cuba is a gem, like traveling back in time. And your visits really do help the people, who by the way are probably happier than you or I. They are just deprived of some things we have, most notably Mercedes & McDonalds. But their spirit and life, beyond the small talk of rules...you will make friends in 8 minutes everywhere.

Don't get me wrong, I love the DR. A great place. Much more comfortable particularly if you are used to the 1st world, want a reservation, working hot water, and are not very good at speaking Spanish.

But you certainly will not pick up a dozen persons standing by the road during the course of the day to give them rides along the autopistas...(who will laugh and babble on about their lives, families, and yes...take a drink of Habana Club rum...or give some to you ), share lunch and dinner with 2 separate families in 1 day (in their living rooms) you just met strolling by, and walk the streets of the largest capital city at 3am...alone...marveling at the majestic buildings and architecture, without watching every passing car looking for a machete.

The wedding will be amazing. Cuba never disappoints.

Have FUN!

[juancarlos]

Well, tourists will certainly have a good time in Cuba and my compatriots there are very friendly. That is true. However, happy they are not. They try to get by the best they can and they enjoy foreigners and wish they could enjoy those Cuban hotels the way foreigners do and be able to visit other countries, just like those tourists who visit them there and they also wish to have enough money to eat decently because, after all, most of them do work, but have to depend on family remittances and the charity of tourists instead. Since I am Cuban, I did not go there as a tourist, but did have a good time with my relatives and friends. I don't think anyone here is bashing Cuba, simply describing a reality which is not circumscribed to that perceived by tourist's eyes. I love Havana. To me it is and has always been one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There's very low violent crime, there was a wave in 1999 and Castro decreed the death penalty for anyone who participated in any armed robbery, even if no one was killed. In addition, policemen make more money than anyone else, including doctors, teachers, engineers etc. and they have put a policeman in almost every corner. I am not comparing Cuba to the DR because I still have to visit the DR. I know the Castro dictatorship is not accountable to anyone in Cuba, Castro does as he pleases and decrees whatever he likes: today you are an honest worker, tomorrow you may be off to jail, simply because what you do has become ilegal. As a Cuban living there you have no rights. This does not apply to tourists. Yes, Americans are very well treated by the authorities, almost any foreigner is. They should treat Cubans the way they treat foreigners, that will certainly constitute progress. That's the way I see it.

[Chirimoya]

juancarlos, what's your DR connection?

[juancarlos]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

juancarlos, what's your DR connection?

Chirimoya, my only DR connection is that about two years ago I discovered this forum because I was looking for info on the DR. I had plans to visit the island and perhaps, one day, live there. Well, the months went by and I did learn a lot about the country, not that I was ignorant before, but I updated my knowledge of the country and lifestyle thanks to people like you, Pib, Nalwohs, Lambada etc. And still I have yet to visit DR, but I've become addicted to this forum. I just returned from a family reunion in Puerto Rico and I have to go to Mexico at the end of the month. So I am still planning my trip to the DR, although for that I'll have to budget my money and vacation time.

Well, my only other connection to the DR was a Dominican lady- a neighbor of mine for many years- who was also a wonderful cook. Aside from that, I know many Cubans who visit there and love it and they have strongly advised me to do the same.

[Bartolomeo67]

Originally Posted by mwgarretson

You will see smiles, not knives and currency swindles.

After dark in the DR, you are at risk of MANY crimes, both property and violent.

Correction: I personally had a cuban knife put to my throat at night in Centro Habana by 2 young poor blacks who attacked me from behind. Unfortunately for them I only had $15 on me. Scumbags exist everywhere, also in Cuba.
I know friends of mine who were attacked during Santiago Carnival. Cuba now is no longer what is was before mass tourism set in.

Originally Posted by mwgarretson

The partying in Cuba is much more carefree than in the DR. The streets are 4 times safer, and the spirit of life is like the DR squared. And the DR has a lot of life!

Partying in Cuba, if local cubans lead you there, I agree, if not, good luck in your nightlife search. Nightlife is much easier to find in the DR.

Bartolomeo

[mwgarretson]

True, there is crime everywhere. But in Cuba it is comparably low, it is very safe to go most everywhere. Crime in Cuba is isolated, particularly violent crime.

In Gazcue, by contrast, such things are regrettably regular, as I have personally experienced more than a few times. That's all I was saying.

But we are really all here (I am) because we love and/or are interested in the DR in some way. I did not mean to detract from that at all!

I highly recommend visiting, and hopefully soon I will be able to recommend the living aspect to others as well.

And let's face it...for nightlife, on most days, both places are probably better than where we are (for those of us who are not yet privileged to personally be there)! I live in Miami, known for its nightlife...and I can tell you that both places mentioned here are far cooler!

Best to all, MG