Nothing great lasts forever, which proved true when we woke up on our last day in Havana. This day was perfect for adventuring off to the market to buy some Cuban honey to take home, which I had wanted to do for a few days prior.
The day started bright and early with a delicious breakfast made by our house staff. After breakfast, Hazel, Serah, and I walked through Havana’s vibrant and soulful streets to the nearest market. The market was an interesting experience since it was the closest thing we had seen in Havana to our grocery stores back home. They had a huge variety of products for sale ranging from vegetables, fruits, starches, spices, honey, packaged snacks, and different meats. The meats were hanging from giant hooks, if you wanted to buy the meat the workers used a knife to cut pieces off for you.
When we returned from our market adventure it was time to jump on the bus and head over to CIPS for a guest lecture on United States relations with Cuba. As learned from the lecture, U.S.-Cuba relations have been complex and often contentious, marked by historical events, political ideologies, and economic factors.
Relations deteriorated significantly after the Cuban Revolution in 1959 when Fidel Castro established a communist government and aligned with the Soviet Union. This led to the U.S. imposing a trade embargo in 1960. The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was also a significant turning point, bringing the two countries to the brink of nuclear conflict. After this, the U.S. maintained a strict embargo and pursued policies aimed at isolating Cuba. In the 2010s, there was a thaw in relations under President Obama, who took steps to normalize diplomatic ties, including reopening embassies and easing some restrictions. However, these changes were rolled back under the Trump administration, which reinstated several sanctions and restrictions. When Trump added Cuba to its list of state sponsors of terrorism it significantly impacted the country.
After our lecture it was noon, so it was time for lunch. We went to a nice little restaurant with a creative atmosphere called Coco Blue y La Zorra Pelúa. Rita McNiff and Jeff, owners of the restaurant, were exceedingly hospitable and opened their restaurant, gallery, and welding area to our group. They told us about the struggles Jeff had experienced in his childhood and as an artist from Granma who didn’t have much money, which made it challenging to become successful in the art world of Cuba.
During the pandemic Jeff committed to his time and undertook the task of rescuing an abandoned space located on Calles 14 between 11 and 13 in the capital’s neighborhood of El Vedado where he created the private world. There he built a space that functions as a cultural center, where his sculptures are exhibited and his restaurant/bar Coco Blue y La Zorra Pelúa is located. The menu is full of traditional Cuban dishes, almost all cooked on charcoal, and live jazz music is usually playing.
His space was created with love for the dream to help the development of young entrepreneurs. He has declared that his interest is to promote cultural development and invite other artists who can be part of his work.
From Coco Blue we hopped on the bus and headed to the Policlínico Universitario for a guest lecture on Cuban health and medical services.
Policlínicos in Cuba are primary healthcare facilities that provide a range of medical services to the community. They play a crucial role in the country’s healthcare system, which is characterized by its emphasis on preventive care and accessibility. Policlínicos offer various services, including outpatient care, preventive health programs, maternal and child health services, and diagnostics. They are designed to be accessible to all citizens, often located within neighborhoods to ensure that healthcare is within reach for most of the population. The Cuban healthcare system prioritizes preventive care, policlínicos play a significant role in promoting health education, vaccination programs, and regular check-ups.
Healthcare is often provided by teams that include doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who work together to address the medical needs of the community. Many policlínicos are linked with family doctors, who serve as the first point of contact for patients and help coordinate care. Despite their importance, many policlínicos face challenges such as limited resources, shortages of medical supplies, and infrastructural issues, which can affect the quality of care provided.
We returned to the hostel as it was time to get ready for the API farewell dinner. The group loaded up in the bus one last time and drove to Restaurante Café Laurent. This was an elegant rooftop restaurant, with amazing food! As we enjoyed the delicious appetizers and entrees, we listened to farewell speeches from API, which made many of us very emotional. Then we gave our farewell speech, and it warmed my heart to give API members the donations we collected for them. It finally hit us that the amazing time we all spent together was shortly coming to an end, we would soon be back home living our individual lives again. Havana will forever hold a special place in my heart.
