WowCuba

08/03/2024

07/24/2024

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

Timeless, practical Cuban advice to live by.

06/06/2024

We visited the renewable energy center at the Quinta de los Molinos green space, the only one of its kind in Cuba. It's mission is to promote green energy to Cubans, besides the solar setup powering the installation. Cuban energy's subsidized so converting's still a hard sell to the Cuban population. But we're exploring options and wanted to check it out. Unfortunately we didn't get the time with guide we'd hoped for as there was a film crew on site today, but we'll be back. A Mipymes administers the park now.
🌐www.wowcuba.com

06/02/2024

One year into the eco pool experiment, I've decided to add acuaponics and morph it into an edible pool. Miguel gave me a couple of lettuce plants to try out in my homemade floating rafts. So far, so good. We have some fish and shrimp in the regeneration tanks, so the more plants to absorb nutrients, the better the quality of the water. Next are mussels. The floating rafts should help with shade/algae proliferation in the warm summer months too.

It's been a learning process and we still have more work to do (like installing a solar or wind-powered hydraulic pump), but we've met some really interesting people along the way. The most important lesson is that if the foundation's solid, the possibilities are endless.
🌐www.wowcuba.com

05/28/2024

https://www.elnuevoherald.com/noticias/america-latina/cuba-es/article288797465.html

La administración de Joe Biden finalmente permitirá a empresarios independientes cubanos abrir cuentas bancarias en Estados Unidos de forma remota desde la isla, entre otras medidas de apoyo al sector privado en Cuba que estuvieron paralizadas durante meses debido a objeciones del Congreso.

05/22/2024

Air China’s Havana route: A flight of hope By Daily Pérez Guillén A joke reveals the hope with which the Caribbean country received the inaugural Air China flight that has reconnected Beijing and Havana since Friday. It was recalled by the Ambassador of the Asian country in Cuba, Ma

05/07/2024

Customer loyalty isn't a given. It takes consistently good service & fair prices to keep people returning to your business/destination.

I had friends visit last week and they booked the (all-inclusive beach) hotel closest to my house so that we could spend more time together while they were in Cuba. Coincidentally, it's also the highest rated hotel in our area. Next time, they may choose differently. We were talking with a friend who intimately knows the ins & outs of Cuban restaurant service, and his take was similar to mine on the reason for the lackluster reports from their buffet experiences versus the few times we took them out to eat in private sector establishments. The pay scale at Cuban hotels means that alot of goods get pilfered. It's a risk, but one some of those workers are evidently taking. What the establishments report as being consumed by guests daily looks good on paper, but the consumer reality's often far from it. My friends mentioned they were eating chicken & pork every day, but rarely saw anything else at the buffet. The coconut rum ran out a the bar soon after they arrived (and was never replenished the entire week they were there). One of their daughters who was in Cayo Coco at the same time reported no toilet paper in her room (which reminded me of the special period in the early 90's), but was thankful for the bidet. Towels weren't changed on a regular basis, despite them asking. At one point they were drying off after a shower with a sandy, sunscreen-covered beach towel. Sand wasn't swept off the floor in their rooms, and one day a friend observed that all that was done was a quick swish of the toilet. Yet the cleaning staff felt it necessary to leave a note on their pillows the one day they forgot to leave a tip while they were out enjoying the beach.

The funny thing is, the hotel where my friends stayed is under foreign adminstration, and it used to be that imported kitchen supervisors (part of the foreign administration's management team) were there to ensure quality control. Our private sector Cuban chef friend says nowadays instead of actively supervising and providing professional development for Cuban staff, they're often also lax, collecting a healthy salary and making the most of it, but not ensuring guests are getting the level of service they've paid for.

I don't have a magic solution - it's a complex problem. But I do know that even before inflation, Cuban state salaries weren't cutting it. Nowadays, even much less so. Foreign-managed hotel chains can't claim the same excuse with cash flow as the Cuban government in terms of purchasing/importing goods to support their operation though. So in the meantime, I guess the only consolation is that we know that the private sector's still kicking (even knocking it out of the park sometimes, according to my friends). We'll see what happens in the short & long term with state-operated hotels and elevating their services to meet the expectation of international travelers who have lots of destination choices.

As a traveler, there are a few things you can do if you think you're getting the short end of the stick. If these measures don't immediately help you, then at the least they might help other travelers and push the hotel management to start getting their act together.
1. Ask to speak to the hotel management. Note their name/date for future reference. Voice your concerns kindly, and in detail. If that makes a difference, great!
2. If you feel there's a need to escalate the complaint, go to your tour operator. Clearly document your issues and if they're serious enough to warrant a claim, open one. You don't have anything to lose except a little time.
3. If nothing is done by either to remedy the situation, you can always share your experience with others on a review forum such as Trip Advisor. Most hotels are listed on that platform. The thing with public forums is they can be good to hold operators accountable. They're unfortunately often manipulated too, so keep it factual and sincere. That always shines through and it's what's most helpful to other travelers when choosing worthwhile venues to patronize.

Cuba plans blitz of Canadian advisors on quality improvement roadmap Cuban tourism officials are planning to travel to Canada in the next month, going “door-to-door” with travel advisors to present a “roadmap” that will reveal solutions “to solve many of the complaints” from visitors. Th...

04/30/2024

Malecon 663 has a new website and I love how they're showcasing their experiences (they've always been great, but now they're more visible):

EXP. 1: 1h30 walking tour in the Centro Habana neighborhood of an agro market, winery, local shops and purchase of fruits and vegetables according to the season

04/29/2024

Regresa una vez más la Feria Nacional de Artesanía ARTE PARA MAMÁ del Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales del 2 al 11 de mayo en la Estación Cultural de Línea/18 y en todas las provincias del país, desde las 10:00 am y hasta las 5:00 pm.

Organizado especialmente para las madres cubanas, cada día ofreciendo variadas ofertas de calzado, textiles, mobiliario, orfebrería, bisutería, muñequería, cerámica y más.

Lo mejor del quehacer de nuestros artesanos, artistas y creadores para marcar una



Ministerio de Cultura de Cuba
Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales, EGREM
Canal Habana
Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam
Cubavisión Internacional
Cubarte Español
La Jiribilla
Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba - UNEAC
Granma
Periódico Juventud Rebelde
Arte & Espacio
Galería de Arte "Collage Habana"
Galería Galiano
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Matanzas
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Mayabeque
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Camagüey
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales de Ciego de Ávila
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales, Las Tunas
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Santiago de Cuba
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Villa Clara
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales de Holguin
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Pinar del Río
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales La Habana
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales, Filial Guantánamo
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Artemisa
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Granma
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales, Sancti Spíritus
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales, Cienfuegos.
Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales Isla de la Juventud
UEB Obras por Encargo - Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales

04/23/2024

The UNESCO Transcultura Programme, funded by the European Union, organized an online debate to explore creative solutions in sustainable architecture.

04/22/2024

Component 3 of the BERLAC project Retrofitting is essential for safety and sustainability, ensuring structures remain compliant with regulations, while preserving their historical or architectural value.

04/21/2024

04/20/2024

Super cute new beach bar in our 'hood. With surf 🏄 rentals. We wanted to try out their pizza tonight, but they had a limited drink/food menu as they were using a backup generator just for refrigeration all day since their power was out. So we just ordered a beverage each and then headed elsewhere for food. But their CAD exchange rate was a topic of conversation, since it's about 1/3 higher than the current informal market. It's unfortunately still the wild west here with inflation and unofficial money exchange practices.

My position is that it's a disservice to visitors to gouge them. But playing devil's advocate, Abel reminded me that while they're they're offering less for CAD than the informal exchange market, it's still more than the bank's official rate. And that maybe the management just doesn't want the hassle of negotiating a currency they may not later be using to acquire supplies. I get that. But we called someone in the community to ask the going rate for CAD and the difference between 150 and 220 is abysmal. It tells me that the owner/administrator setting those rates may just be in business for the short term benefits, but probably doesn't understand customer loyalty or how negative customer experiences are widely shared and carefully considered today amongst potential clients when choosing who to support.

With a currency that's already devalued by almost 40% against the USD, a restaurant owner willing to arbitrarily take another 1/3 for themselves doesn't leave a good impression for the Canadian travel marketplace, still the #1 emissor of travelers to Cuba, with a high incidence of repeat visitors. Hopefully more of these new economic actors begin to understand the importance of fair, honest dealings, and consistent service to attract customer loyalty for long term rewards.

04/19/2024

If you're taking a traditional beach vacation to Varadero this year, then these are some of the plants you can expect to see in that area:

En varadero, puedes ver Kino de Jamaica, Crotón de jardín, Maní, Alhelí, Hibisco, etc. 20 tipos de flores en total. Cuando camines por calles, parques o jardines, verás estas plantas comunes.

04/19/2024

Taking green medicine to other levels in Trinidad. What an admirable, timely, and useful initiative worth supporting.

En Trinidad esta emprendedora impulsa un proyecto de desarrollo local que rescata el uso tradicional de las plantas medicinales como expresión del patrimonio intangible en la ciudad

04/18/2024

If anyone knows where I can get my hands on this book (last printed in 2014), I'd love your tips:
https://www.ecured.cu/Diccionario_bot%C3%A1nico_de_nombres_vulgares_cubanos
I know it's a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try here first.

Diccionario botánico de nombres vulgares cubanos. Obra del botánico, científico y ensayista cubano Juan Tomás Roig, publicado por la Editorial Científico-Técnica en el año 2014.

04/18/2024

Not sure if I caught this quite in time, but as we were chatting with a friend yesterday afternoon, Abel suddenly remarked about the Cuba map cloud formation floating past us. 😲☁️ The Isle of Youth was there and everything!!!

04/17/2024

If you're in Matanzas and don't stop to check out .art.gallery, it's your loss. With works from 7 local artists, each piece unique, and the unassuming owner often quietly working away while visitors browse the space, it's an inspiring place. Thanks to Zobella for taking us through. ❤️
🌐www.wowcuba.com

04/17/2024

Cuba's medical tourism programs are making a comeback (and ripe for foreign investment projects).
Check out some of their wellbeing and quality of life offers here:
https://www.smcsalud.cu/en/servicios-de-calidad-de-vida-1

And if you like the idea of thermal/mineral-medicinal baths, mud masks and more, then three of those centers are currently operating too:
https://www.smcsalud.cu/en/institution_detail?type_inst=05

04/16/2024

Which airlines will fly to Cuba this summer? Minister of Tourism’s announcement on X By Daily Pérez Guillén Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda, announced on his X account today the airlines that will fly from Europe and the Americas to the Caribbean archipelago in the summer

04/16/2024

You've probably heard (and maybe even visited) the town of Camilo Cienfuegos (Hershey), about halfway between Matanzas and Havana. But if you're considering venturing off the beaten path on your next adventure to Cuba, here's another former sugar company town worth discovering, this one in Brasil (Jaronu) in Camaguey province. Abel & I were there before the pandemic and it's remarkable.

El Monumento Nacional Batey Jaronú está en la mira de las estrategias de desarrollo para potenciar el turismo en la cayería norte de Camagüey. Ubicado al no

04/15/2024

The Cuban government distributed The Silent Spring in the 60's to technicians, leaders, professors and students at the few institutions of higher learning that existed at the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.

04/13/2024

Luis Orlando Deulofeu creó una Casa-Hostal a la que denominó “Mogoteart”, especie de aleph para asomarse a una Cuba cultural y su rica identidad.

04/12/2024

Kudos to Carlos Sotolongo, well-deserved.

If you're ever in Trinidad, by the way, his place is not exactly hidden, but it's a total underrated gem directly on Plaza Mayor. Abel & I stayed there once and got a private tour of the Romantic Museum from Carlos himself because it was the one day of the week it was closed, and I really wanted to see the marble tub. Carlos' house is one of my favorite accommodation spots, so authentic and the insight and historic connection from Carlos + his family is priceless.

El hijo de la tercera villa de Cuba Carlos Enrique Sotolongo Peña recibió el Premio Único de las Artes, otorgado por la Asamblea Municipal del Poder Popular

04/09/2024

For those of you who enjoy discovering new places in Cuba, I'm pretty sure you might find at least a few ideas in this list of spots that you may not have explored before:

Discover 33 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Cuba from Fusterlandia to Colina Lenin.

04/08/2024

This is a fascinating project.

""Indigenous Cuba" emerged as a photographic project in 2018 at the request of the historian of the city of Baracoa, Cuba, Alejandro Hartmann, who had been immersed in the study and recognition of indigenous descent in Cuba for more than thirty years. From this so-called Héctor Garrido organized a group of experts in different subjects with the purpose of studying in depth and obtaining definitive answers to the possible current presence of descendants of those who were the inhabitants of the island of Cuba before the arrival of the Europeans. And it is that from the 16th century to the present, the theory of the absolute extinction of the Cuban aborigines and their descendants had prevailed. Thus, in the year 1552, only sixty years after Christopher Columbus' first voyage to America, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, in what was perhaps a last attempt to protect the last aborigines, ruled their complete extinction in his treatise "Very Brief account of the destruction of the Indies. From then until today, the story of extinction has been the one that has commonly dominated and has even been studied in schools and universities. The great Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz, in "The human factors of Cubanness" (1940), definitively closed the possibility of the existence of a possible aboriginal descent in his narration of the encounter of this culture with the European one, ruling: "the impact of the two cultures was terrible. One of them perished, as if struck down. The Indians are extinct. However, certain researchers have repeatedly defended the existence of nuclei, mainly in eastern Cuba, where aboriginal blood seemed to still survive. Rivero de la Calle, Núñez Jiménez, Rugles, Barreiro and Hartmann himself, among many others, defended, with their studies, the current existence of descendants in various parts of the eastern provinces. However, the technology to which they had access did not allow them to obtain definitive and unquestionable answers and their studies became the object of fruitless discussions and ended up relegated to oblivion.

However, the Indigenous Cuba Project proposes a combined approach to this controversy from all possible angles, its main axes being the comparative genetic study and the phenotypic study through the realization of portraits of their faces. To this is also added the anthropological, ethnographic, sociological and, of course, historical study. The book of results of the project, under the title "Indigenous Cuba today: their faces and DNA", gathers the conclusions of each of these approaches and lays a foundation for subsequent studies, which will be so necessary from now on to complete the study. true story that portrays what has been the history of Cuba.

For the realization of the Indigenous Cuba Project, some thirty communities located in the easternmost region of Cuba have been studied, in the provinces of Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo. For the election of these communities, the criteria established by the previous studies by Hartmann and Barreiro were followed, which pointed out that a series of surnames -inherited from the parcels- were an interesting clue to locate these families of descendants. Most of the families studied, in fact, are those previously located by these researchers, although some new locations have been documented. Among the most frequent surnames, Ramírez and Rojas stand out in first place, although Rivero, Romero and Díaz, among others, are also frequent.

The participants were visited in their homes and communities, and after obtaining their consent to participate in the study, they were interviewed about their individual and family history, their health status, and living conditions. Anthropometric measurements, photographs were taken to collect evidence of their phenotypic characteristics and finally a saliva sample was requested for the comparative DNA study. Finally, around 100 people were selected who, together, showed the possible variations present within these communities and of these, 75 were studied genetically under the direction of Dr. Beatriz Marcheco."

Official website of the photographer Hector Garrido. All the impressive world of images of Hector Garrido, his passionate flybys and his portraits overlooking the interior.

04/08/2024

🌘 Este lunes 8 de abril será visible un eclipse de Sol.

🔭 En La Habana el comienzo del eclipse ocurrirá a las 1:30 PM y el máximo del eclipse tendrá lugar a las 2:00 PM. En Cuba el disco solar se verá cubierto solo hasta un 40 % aproximadamente. ☀️

ℹ️ El último eclipse solar visible en Cuba se produjo el 29 julio de 1878; mientras que el próximo ocurrirá el 13 junio de 2132. Entonces, ¡¡disfrute de este eclipse, que es improbable que veamos el próximo!! 🌑

⚠️ Tome algunas precauciones importantes: NO mire directamente el sol, use filtros especiales o gafas oscuras con filtros para rayos ultravioletas UV. También cuide su móvil o cámara fotográfica poniendo filtros o gafas muy oscuras delante para proteger los sensores. 😎

Geofísica Astronomía Cuba AMACuba Agencia de Medio Ambiente Gobierno de La Habana

04/06/2024

The International Transport and Logistics Fair aims to boost the recovery of sustainable transport development, improve coverage and quality of services

03/31/2024

Our sincere gratitude to Eros Salinas and Rosalía for this thoughtful and extremely useful collection of reading material they've assembled as inspiration and insight for our projects at home in Marbella. We're beyond grateful for the care & support, and continuing interest in fostering our growth. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything.