I came to Cuba, a mysterious and magical country. As soon as you set foot on this land, you can feel that this place is very different from other corners of the world. A very important reason why Cuba is so special is its history and political system. I wanted to learn about the history and culture of the country, so I started my journey of discovery.
I arrived late in the capital, Havana, and got into a taxi out of the airport, seeing murals along the way, and it felt like entering a colorful world. The taxi driver, a middle-aged man, told me that he was born and raised in Cuba and has been a taxi driver for nearly 20 years, earning less than 1,000 Cuban pesos, or about 300 yuan, a month.
I stayed in a small hotel in the old town, which was like a time machine, taking me back to Havana 40 years ago. When I walked into the small hotel, I felt that everything around me had stopped, and the air was filled with the smell of cigarettes and music. I took a deep breath and felt very happy to be able to enjoy this experience.
On the streets of Cuba, you'll find the country alive and full of laughter. I met a lot of locals, all of whom were very welcoming and cheerful and friendly to me as a stranger. We chatted and they told me some stories about Cuba.
Once, I was chatting with an old man on the side of the road who introduced a local traditional festival. He said that every year from December 31 to January 1, the whole country comes together to celebrate the New Year, which is called "A Few Bad Boys' Day." Regarding the origin of this festival, the old man told a story that touched me very much.
A long time ago, an indigenous tribe was attacked by powerful invaders and people were forced to flee into the forest. There, they meet a girl who is almost covered in black smoke. The girl tells them that she is the daughter of the Grim Reaper, protecting them under the black smoke and regaining their strength. A few days later, the girl departed, leaving behind a green lush forest and a vibrant new life.
In honor of the girl, the locals began to hold the "Several Bad Boys Day", in which everyone participated, celebrating the beginning of the new year and praying for the girl's blessing to let the Cuban people have a peaceful, happy and prosperous year. Everything may seem like a myth, but this holiday is a traditional festival passed down by the Cuban people to this day.
Walking on the side of the street, I heard a very small girl singing, she sang a very moving song, although I could not understand the lyrics, but from her expression and tone I felt her love of life and confidence that she could not give up. I talked to her about the local culture, and she told me, "We Cubans have difficulties, but even if we encounter difficulties, we must have faith and face life strongly." I was deeply touched by these words.
Traveling in Cuba is very informative and interesting every day. Not only did I enjoy a high-level Latin music performance, but I also tasted local delicacies such as golden abon, beef brisket, black bean rice, etc. Talking to the local people, I was impressed by their pursuit of a better life and their desire for freedom.
In Navigis province, I met an old man who had hidden secrets all his life. He told me that he was once a member of the Cuban Revolution and liberated his homeland with his own hands. Over the years, he has become deaf and blind, but he has always been convinced that what he is doing is the right thing, which has brought meaning to his life.
We tried local specialties for the first time and spent less than $10 to fill our stomachs. On the way, we met an older Cuban who was sitting on the side of the road selling his handicrafts. He showed us a variety of small crafts that he had carefully made, the most special of which was a small puppet, which, according to him, was a symbol of the Cuban people. We liked the little puppet very much, but the price he offered was too high.
The Cuban people were very welcoming, and everyone we met on the road offered to greet us and even show us some good places to go. We met a couple of little boys who showed us some of the local dance steps. We danced with them and enjoyed this blissful moment.
In the evening, we decided to go to the local night market. There are many small stalls selling Cuban snacks and drinks. We ordered some local specialties and couldn't help but admire the creativity of the Cuban people and their vision of a better life.
The next day, we visited the local museum. This museum has a rich cultural and historical background, from the Arawak people to modern society, with detailed introductions and materials. In the museum, we met a docent who introduced us to the details and insights of Cuban culture and history, increasing our knowledge and awareness of Cuba.
After our visit to the museum, we met a street musician. He caught our attention playing traditional Cuban music on the side of the road. We chatted with him for a while, and he told us that he was a student who played on the streets a lot to earn some pocket money. We listened to him and were moved by his musical talent.
In the streets of Havana, I found that people lived very simply, without the marketing that flooded other cities. When I ordered food in a small restaurant, I saw that the fried chicken there was too good to resist, but after I finished eating, I found that the residents could not afford such food, and they could only buy basic food such as potatoes, eggs, and some basic vegetables for very little money every day.
However, I can still find some optimism and enthusiasm in them. I met a young guy named José who told me that he used to be a hit singer and worked in other industries because of certain social issues, but he still loved music and would sing to everyone every night in the community where he lived. He asked me to sing an old song with him, and at this time, the whole neighborhood came together and sang together, which was the most touching and beautiful moment of my trip.