RiverBlues

This is not correct. There are certain brands that Americans are not supposed to buy because they are owned by companies with ties to the Cuban military. Whether anyone will enforce this, however, is another question.

 

http://amp.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article183888081.html

If you read the regs fully, you might understand that, while buying rum directly from the distilleries on the list is not officially permitted, buying from a third party, i.e. the corner bottle shop, id OK. So all Cuban rum is OK to purchase.

We had a specific tour that took us to a synagogue that sets up a pharmacy for the community ( Jewish and non Jewish community ) so we knew what to bring.

 

I think it is hard for those of us in the US to understand what they have or don't have.

This is the El Patronato that I have mentioned several times in these "donation" threads. They have been running this "pharmacy" for decades. You can just take a taxi over there (Calle I, corner of 13th, in Vedado) for 5 CUC, walk into the office and drop things off.

Get in contact beforehand to ascertain what is needed. And they in turn are known to people who have a legitimate need to use, and not sell, the items. They, as some charities do, may supply a letter to use at Cuban Aduana/Customs in the event (doesn't happen all the time) that you are stopped by a Cuban official.

Contact info (again):

Adela Dworin

Vice President of Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea de Cuba

El Patronato

Calle I, #259, Esquina 13

Vedado, Ciudad de la Habana 10400 Cuba

Phone: (537) 832-8953

Fax: (537) 33 3778

E-mail: beth_shalom@enet.cu or

patronato_ort@enet.cu

very funny

 

I asked because of the published regs.

AND wondering about immigration and bringing back something purchased at the wrong vendor

And IF you had actually read the regs, you might have seen that buying from a third party is OK. In other words, if you buy rum direct from a distillery that is on the naughty list, it is not OK, but if you buy that same rum from the corner bottle shop, it's fine. It has been posted online that this could also apply to hotels booked through a third party.

Don't worry about not having read the regs though. CPB staff probably haven't either, even if they cared.

Even for those (Europeans, for example) whose credit cards function in Cuba, it is largely a cash society. Few places are set up to accept credit cards.

ETECSA sells cards to enable smart phone use. The lines are long to purchase one. Hotels often sell them at a higher price. You will see people lined up along the streets in areas that have Wifi hotspots. Some hotel lobbies also have Wifi.

Please tell your mum, from another of possibly similar age who wanders around Havana at will, that there is nothing to be concerned about in Havana. Learn the word for cruise ship (crucero ---crew-SAY-roo) or cruise pier (muelle de cruceros----MOO-yay de), or write it down, and any taxi driver will get you back there from any location.

Also, be careful walking around in Vieja. It's easy to trip and fall on the cobbles and uneven pavement. Use the inexpensive bici-taxis to get around the neighborhood.

Some/most items look a bit high, but better to have more cash than less. I suspect the one thing that is low are the taxi rides, especially any after dark, especially from/to the pier. The taxi drivers know who you are and know they've gotcha.

Note: Some of my Cuban friends get very upset when I tip at restaurants what I am used to tipping in the US. They will even snatch back some of the money when my back is turned and give it back to me outside! We are driving up the market unnecessarily, they claim.

The bar musicians are not always the best, especially the ones on/near the major plazas in Vieja, popular with tourists. If you really are interested in the music, hit one of the clubs listed in LaHabana, or even one of the BVSC shows. The Fabrica del Arte can be interesting; art, drinks and music in the same venue, with a mix of tourists and better-off locals.

The bar crawl bars are likely to be packed with tourists. Some of them, like La Bodeguita del Medio and often La Floridita, are so packed with tourists you can't even get near the front door.

At tourist bars, drinks run about 6 CUC each.

But the AirBnB site quotes U$72/€61pp for the tour, much cheaper.

Doesn't seem like you need to be associated with AirBnB in any way to take the tour. Seems like it goes to the same farm and the same restaurant.

I ate at the restaurant of a well-known organic farm in Vinales and it was a wonderful experience, a varied menu and very good quality. (Food in Cuba can too often not be good, even at the paladares that are said to be higher quality, with higher quality products to start from, so I am always thankful for a good meal in Cuba.)

Hope you enjoy your tour, whomever it ends up being sponsored by.

Didn't realize there is anything duty free at the port

Was under the impression there wasn't anything there

Previous posters are saying that you don't pay duty on the first bottle/liter that you bring back through US Customs, (It is free of duty/duty free.) not that there is a duty free shop at the pier. (There is one at the airport though.)

Looks like others (AirBnB, CTN) offer this same tour, with a visit to that farm and back to the restaurant Mediterraneo :

https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/117928

https://www.cubatravelnetwork.com/cuba-excursions/excursion/from-farm-to-table-a-culinary-field-trip

Old Havana brand? Still produced?

They make rum because the island grew/grows sugar cane. They use whiskey barrels to age the rum. A lot of food items are hard or impossible to get on the island, so I wonder if (malted) barley, or wheat for making other than bread, or maize other than for people/animal feed are given growing room and priority. The resorts must have something though. Imported? I am told that you might find whiskey from some former eastern block country. I'll stick with mojitos.

This is the Canadian charity mentioned. They regularly send containers to Cuba full of donated items that are needed.

http://www.duboischaritablefoundation.com/

The Dubois Charitable Foundation

686681 Hwy #2

RR#1

Princeton, Ontario

N0J 1V0

admin@duboischaritablefoundation.com

I think I saw some in the little shops along Obispo and around that area of Vieja, but didn't really notice enough to point out one specifically.

Emphasis on the word "SOMETIMES".

There are shortages, not usually a permanent lack. Cubans have developed patience about these things.

I first understood this when my casa host came home one day with half a dozen sturdy fans on a tall stand/foot.....,.because they appeared in the marketplace that day, and might not have been there the day after.

I have brought sink faucet fixtures down in my suitcase, with a can of plumbers putty as well, as a matter of fact, and jars of spackle for holes in the wall, and those nifty picture hangers that you can pull and remove without wall damage. But those are things I was specifically asked for or observed a use for when in that home.

I also noticed that their dogs and cat were scratching and brought down flea collars, which were gladly received. However, I was told the cat could not wear hers, because she goes outside where it was likely to be removed from her. And on that note, the Spanky Project is another entity that you could donate to. Do some research.

It may be surprising for we who are used to be able to get whatever we want 24/7 to see how the Cubans manage.

I have friends who had been on mission trips to Cuba years ago, building houses way out in the middle of nowhere.

Canadian charities have regularly been sending supplies (building supplies and more) to Cuba over the years. Nothing preventing Americans from donating to those entities.

And in fact, IMO, rare and expensive construction materials may be what the poor need most to improve their living situations. Maybe bringing gallons of paint and pallets of wall board to fix up apartments would be of more value in upgrading living conditions than one more tube of toothpaste or a handfull of hair scrunchies from the dollar store.

Also, you see it as a "small window of tourism", but US citizens have been going to Cuba for decades (read posts and get to know about posters on TA and TT).

Much of the material goods (appliances, new furniture, building material, etc) flowing into Cuba actually comes from the relatives in Miami, so I doubt Cubans are overly concerned about the grand opportunity of a few toothbrushes tourists are, perhaps temporarily, bringing.

Yes, it is one of the places in Havana to go to hear jazz. Starts late.

Another is Havana Jazz Cafe (which also has timba and salsa once in awhile). It has a view over the Malecon, which you can walk in during the day to see, and some interesting sculptures.

Easy to get a taxi to and from.

There are more music venues listed in LaHabana online magazine (with contact phone numbers and addresses), but it seems they are no longer publishing monthly with schedules and bands/singers for each. You can get an idea of the venues and the many different styles of Cuban music though. Some clubs have an afternoon session (which attracts a lot of locals) and a late night session.

Since they quit publishing monthly, I usually have someone call around to see who's playing on any given night.

This FB post is why I asked about toiletries etc and what to bring. That there are shortages and needs.

There are shortages. "Shortage" means that for some period of time a certain item may not be able to be found. Then it appears on the market again. This can get tiresome to Cubans that have to live with those conditions and spend their days among affluent tourists with a plethora of "things".

But because a Cuban can't run out to CVS at 3 am to get deodorant does not constitute 'need'.

Bring what you want. Its your money and time and effort. Just understand that some Cuban is likely to sell it for cash, at half the price you paid or less, to buy what they really "need".

I suggest you read the TA comments on gifting by travelers who have been going to Cuba for years.

Please post where you saw private tour guides ASKING for donations from clients, rather than trying to deal with overzealous tourists with misconceptions about conditions.

1) NOTHING

2) This applies to air passengers coming through Cuban Customs with all their luggage.

3) Cubans have what they need. Do not take their dignity by assuming they are unable to fulfill their basic needs.

There was a time, back in the 1990s, when the Soviets first withdrew from Cuba, when these gifting posts/schemes began, when there was need. Nothing dies on the internet. Today there are usually simply shortages.

Cuba Libro, an English language bookstore in Havana that also coordinates donations to local organizations, has requested these as they are difficult (if not impossible) to find in Cuba.

 

Tampons are also appreciated, as they are not available as part of the state-sponsored rations. The sanitary products that are provided are of low quality and often are in insufficient quantities.

Cuba Libro's Connor Gorey also requests "exotic" condoms (flavored, ribbed, Magnum) as her cafe has a give away basket....and "the government dispenses plain condoms" so they "NEED exotics".

Unfortunately, Cuba is not yet in a position to have the full variety of products a US resident may be accustomed to having easily at hand, but products for basic use can be found. Cubans are clean and healthy and well-educated. Use your judgement regarding "need".

How about buying these items IN Havana/Cuba and distributing then? Like toothpaste, toothbrushes, personal hygiene items, etc.

IMO there are some misconceptions here.

If there is a temporary shortage, there is a temporary shortage. Why would you think you could find something when a Cuban local can't at any certain time? It is usually a question of shortages rather than lack of resources to purchase basics.

How would you know what was hard to find in any given time period? An item that you might spend time, effort and money on that might simply show up on the local market the next week?

Would you like to see photos of pharmacies in Havana and elsewhere around the country with shelves full of products?

Would you like to see photos of elderly Cubans with teeth as good as any person of their age in the US, proof of the existence of sufficient toothbrushes and toothpaste?

Blexie just posted this on his Facebook page a few hours ago. Something to think about.

*********

 

Hi everyone,

I really didn’t want to write about this but since it has become abusive and embarrassing,I guess I have to address about it.

 

People coming on cruise ships to visit Havana have shown interests on helping the Cuban people.They have been committed to spend their money and time to bring gifts for the people here in Cuba.Suddenly, at Cuban customs,they have been stopped and their gifts have gotten confiscated.

 

Cuban authorities have advised that they don’t want tourists bringing gifts (which I call them necessary items that our government can’t provide sometimes).

It boils my blood seeing things like that,seeing how Cuban people that are supposed to care about us do nothing but hurting us (again and again).

 

What I recommend is :

-Don’t bring an extra bag for gifts.

-Tell the items in your bag are for personal use.

-Unpack (unbox) the items so they don’t look brand new.

-Don’t let them confiscate the stuff.They make it look like a big deal but most of them just want to keep the stuff (sad).

Blexie

Many people, including those from US, Brazil, Cuba and elsewhere, are quick to criticize their own government, like this statement above. (And of course, all have shortcomings that can improve.)

Please note the wording though:

"tourists bringing gifts......necessary items that our government can’t provide SOMETIMES"

Note the word "sometimes". There are often shortages of one item or another, occasionally, but most items are available. It might take a bit more effort running around town to find them than you are used to at home, but eventually most things appear on the market, especially in Havana. The utter lack of things that occurred right after the Soviets pulled out in the 1990s, the situation that gave rise to the original posts about donations that have outlived their usefulness, does not really exist today.

I don't know how to post a photo here, but I have them, of pharmacies with full shelves, that may show you that you don't have to bring toothbrushes to unfortunate Cubans who don't have basic toiletries.

Also, the advice about unboxing items so they do not seem new works if you are coming through Aduana with all your luggage at the airport, but is not really applicable to cruise passengers

Many people, including those from US, Brazil, Cuba and elsewhere, are quick to criticize their own government, like this statement above. (And of course, all have shortcomings that can improve.)

Please note the wording though:

"tourists bringing gifts......necessary items that our government can’t provide SOMETIMES"

Note the word "sometimes". There are often shortages of one item or another, occasionally, but most items are available. It might take a bit more effort running around town to find them than you are used to at home, but eventually most things appear on the market, especially in Havana. The utter lack of things that occurred right after the Soviets pulled out in the 1990s, the situation that gave rise to the original posts about donations that have outlived their usefulness, does not really exist today.

I don't know how to post a photo here, but I have them, of pharmacies with full shelves, that may show you that you don't have to bring toothbrushes to unfortunate Cubans who don't have basic toiletries.

Also, the advice about unboxing items so they do not seem new works if you are coming through Aduana with all your luggage at the airport, but is not really applicable to cruise passengers

If you do some research online, on the various Cuba forums or with Google, you will come across a current price list for each type available (There are many.). The most expensive are about 10 CUC a piece (single). Prices are pretty uniform across all the official stores. Make sure you buy in an official store and not on the street. If you are bringing back presents for serious cigar afficionados, ask them exactly what they want.

Not really. Some do, maybe; the education system is quite good there. (I don't really speak English there on the street, so can't say for sure, nor can I say if you'll be asked to pay more if you can't negotiate in Spanish.) Learn some basic numbers in Spanish and the word for "How much?" (Cuanto? or Cuanto cuesta?) or carry a cheat sheet/phrase book. Show the written numbers/vocabulary and point if necessary. They understand "OK?" and a thumbs up sign, and universal sign language/acting out works fine, like in most places. Be inventive. They are used to dealing with tourists from all over the world. Learn the words for "Can you wait?"(Puedes esperar?) and expect to pay for the wait, although there should be taxis around most tourist sights or on the streets if you wait a minute or two.