Page 63 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Places to Meet the Locals ❮❮ 61

Baseball Games
6 TOP 10 CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS
Watching a Cuban baseball
game is as much a social experience
as a sporting one. The crowds are
passionate but friendly, and the
game is interspersed with chatting
and drinking. You will make new
friends here, even if you support
the “other” team.
Cumbanchas
7
Few Cubans have money for
discos, so they spark up their own
song and dance at street parties
where anyone can join in. Contribute
a bottle of rum, the drink of choice, Taking it easy on the Malecón
as courtesy. Even if you arrive with a 1 Politeness
partner, expect to be asked to dance. Old-fashioned courtesy, such as saying
Coppelia
8 “thank you” and “please,” is very
important to Cuban people.
Cubans adore ice cream,
and every major town has an outlet 2 Dress
Cubans dress fairly conventionally.
selling the Coppelia brand. Seating is Anyone wearing alternative clothing
communal and ice cream is sold in may be viewed as anti-establishment.
Cuban pesos at incredibly low prices. 3 Santería
Standing in line with Cubans is part More than half the Cuban population
of the experience. The branch in are followers of this Afro-Cuban
Havana is spread over an entire religion (see pp48–9).
block (see p79). 4 Racial Harmony
Cuba is an ethnically diverse society,
and the degree of racial harmony on
the island is profound.
5 Equality
The concept of equality for all on
every level is a concept Cubans hold
very close to their hearts.
6 Take it Easy
Hurrying is uncommon in Cuba,
and foreigners who expect things to
Mercados Agropecuarios, Havana happen quickly can be disappointed.
Mercados Agropecuarios
9 7 Greetings
Cubans greet everyone upon entering
The farmers’ markets are
packed with Cubans shopping for a room. People refer to each other as
compañero (companion).
fresh produce, while others enjoy 8 Machismo
the local gossip. Every town has at This is totally ingrained among most
least one “agro.” Even if you are not men – even married men flirt openly.
planning to buy, the atmosphere 9 “The New Man”
makes a visit worthwhile. Che Guevara dreamed of creating a
Casas de la Cultura
0 society where peo ple were motivated
by altruism.
These cultural centers can be
found in every town. The atmosphere 10 Chistes (Jokes)
A great sense of humor helps many
is informal and they are great places Cubans deal with the hardships of
to make new friends and perhaps daily life – the subject of most chistes.
learn a few dance moves.

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