Page 295 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  293

Personal Security

Compared with any other part of North, Central or South America,
Cuba is a peaceful and safe place to travel in. However, in recent
years, the great development of tourism, combined with the
economic crisis, has triggered an increase in petty crime,
especially in Havana and Santiago. Although the situation is
under control, it is wise to take a few precautions: leave your
valuables, documents and money in the hotel safe; never carry a
large amount of money with you; do not wear showy jewellery;
and keep an eye on your camera. If you have a hired car, it is
always advisable to park near hotels or pay someone to mind it,
and do not leave any belongings open to view in the car.
A traffic policeman
Cuban Police and the individuals. They speak Theft and Lost Property
Fire Brigade some English and can also To report the loss or theft
Policemen in Cuba are usually provide information. of personal documents and
polite and willing to help Different uniforms are worn belongings, either find a
tourists. The officials who check by the traffic policemen (policía policeman, who should
passports in the airports, who de tránsito) and firemen take you to the nearest police
belong to the Inmigración y (bomberos). Traffic police wear station, or ask for directions.
Extranjería and wear green very dark navy blue uniforms, Once there, be prepared
military uniforms, do their sunglasses and motorcycle for a long wait to make
job slowly and with what helmets. They may stop you for your report.
might be considered excessive speeding; do not ignore them.
meticulousness, but problems Guards from the relatively new
are not common. Tourists’ SEPSA organization offer security Natural Disasters
luggage is often not checked, for banks and tiendas and also The greatest natural danger
but it is best to adhere to the see to transporting valuables. in Cuba is the possibility of
customs regulations to be on being caught in a hurricane.
the safe side. These seasonal storms cause
The policemen of the very high winds, high tides and
PNR (Policía Nacional heavy rainfall which can lead to
Revolucionaria) wear blue flooding. Hurricane season runs
trousers and a light grey shirt. from June to November. The
Their role is to maintain public autumn months are when
order, and they seldom stop hurricanes are most likely, with
foreigners. In some tourist Road sign indicating a dangerous most occuring in September.
areas such as Varadero and stretch of road Nowadays hurricanes are
La Habana Vieja, you may forecast well in advance, leaving
see policemen in dark blue Road Safety plenty of time for adequate
uniforms; they belong to a There are not that many cars security measures, so the risk
special corps that was created in Cuba, even though traffic is involved should not be that
expressly to protect tourists increasing. While driving in the great. Should a hurricane occur,
from pickpockets and to check cities, watch out for cyclists, who follow the instructions given by
the documents of suspicious do not always observe traffic hotel staff. You will probably be
regulations. The greatest told to wait in the hotel until
potential dangers while it passes, and asked to keep
travelling on roads and motor­ away from windows.
ways through the countryside
(see p305) are the animals DIRECTORY
grazing on the side of the road,
the railway crossings without Emergency Numbers
gates, and the vast areas of unlit Ambulance
roads. The road surface is often Tel 104.
bumpy, with sometimes deep
potholes, so speeds should be Fire Brigade
kept down. Tel 105.
When it rains for several days Police
in a row, the roads may easily Tel 106.
A fire engine at Matanzas become flooded.

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