Page 293 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  291

shop. If you take out more than proper titles when speaking to by on the street: it is almost a
50 you may well need to pay Cubans – señor, señora, señorita, form of chivalry, a ritual, even
duty when you get home. doctor, ingeniero (engineer) and if it is not always expressed
Visitors can take no more than profesor. The word compañero with good taste. In any case,
three bottles of liquor and 200 (comrade) is not used as much these kinds of comments
cigarettes out of the country. as it once was and in any case is should not be misinterpreted
In order to export works of art used only among Cubans, or at or a become a cause for
that are part of the national the very most with foreigners concern; no reaction is
heritage, you must have official who are part of volunteer seriously expected.
authorization from the Registro organizations on the island. Women travelling alone
Nacional de Bienes Culturales should not experience
del Ministerio de Cultura. problems, although they may
What to Wear be obliged to deal with
The most suitable clothing for frequent offers of assistance and
tourists is light and generally compliments from men. The
casual attire. In the winter a best way to put an end to
cotton or woollen sweater is undesired flirtation without
useful in the evening, and may offending is simply to say that
be useful at other times of year you are married; this should be
in places with air conditioning. enough for most men to take
A waterproof may come in the hint and leave you alone.
handy all year round because
of the tropical showers. Sunhats
are recommended to protect Hitchhiking
the skin from the burning sun. The lack of fuel and consequent
Except for evenings out at scarcity of public transport
cabarets and nightclubs, there has forced Cubans to resort
is usually no need for evening to hitch hiking (pedir botella)
dress. However, Cubans do both in the towns and in the
appreciate elegance and countryside. Everyone
cleanliness. For a formal meeting hitchhikes, young and old,
or interview, men should not to get to work, run errands
wear shorts or T-shirts, but or travel to other towns and
Rum for sale in a tienda, three per person trousers and a light shirt instead; villages, but it is never
for export and women should wear a completely reliable. Students
dress or a skirt and blouse, sometimes have to walk for
Avoid purchasing items made but nothing too revealing. miles and miles to get to
from endangered species such their schools.
as tortoiseshell, or bags or belts Although locals are used to
made from non-farmed reptile Local Customs picking up hitchhikers, it is not
skins. These are covered under the Cuba is a tolerant country recommended for tourists who
Convention on International Trade but attitudes are still rather are driving to do this. Cubans
in Endangered Species (CITES). conservative. Nudism and always pick up their fellow
The import and export of vaccin- topless sunbathing are not countrymen, but if they offer a
ated domestic animals is allowed. allowed on most beaches. foreigner a ride they may be
Cuban men feel virtually fined by police unless they have
obliged to pay compliments a permit. Some drivers may
Languages
(el piropo) to women passing expect payment.
The official language in Cuba
is Castilian Spanish, which
is spoken with a distinctive
local inflection and vocabulary
(see p327).
English is spoken fairly widely
in Havana and in most hotels
and resorts.
Forms of Greeting
The most common greeting
in Cuba is a kiss on the cheek,
while shaking hands is common
among men only in formal
circumstances. It is polite to use Hitchhiking is a popular form of transport for Cubans in rural areas

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