Capitalism in a Communist country?!

On January 6^th, 2018, as part of the “Customer Experience Analysis in Cuba” course with The George Washington University (GWU), our group of twelve students, two GWU instructors, and two Intrepid Travel representatives were given the pleasure of walking the streets of Viñales, Cuba on an orientation-tour of the area we would be staying in for the next couple of days. Viñales is the doorway to the amazing Sierra de los Organos limestone mountains and the stunningly-green Viñales Valley. 

This city was one of our first experiences outside of Havana and encompassed the more rural and agricultural region of Cuba. Gone was the smell of decaying trash that littered the streets, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings of Havana, replaced with beautifully-restored Casas (the Cuban version of a Bed and Breakfast), packed Paladars

(proprietor-run restaurants in homes), majestic mountain views, enthusiastic
citizens and tourists walking the streets and sidewalks, a street market, and even a street festival full of music, food, and fun closing the main thoroughfare. Now don’t get me wrong, Havana is beautiful in its own right and in its own way. Havana has amazing buildings that are, unfortunately, now crumbling, decaying, and falling apart in some areas; this was also observed in every city that we visited throughout our Cuban experience. Viñales has this, too; but to a
lesser extent due to tourism.

Most buildings that we encountered in Viñales were restored, updated, or in the process of being updated; almost every home seemed to be licensed as a Casa. This matters in Cuba as it is only through the reality of Capitalism in a Communist country that this was/is possible.

Cuba suffered immense pain at the end of the Cold War when the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) withdrew its economic support for the Cuban government. Essentials were cut and hard to come by as the Cuban Communist government searched for a way to bring in new dollars and investment lost when the USSR withdrew. Eventually, it was realized that

tourism was the answer and licenses began to be issued for Cubans to run Casas and Paladars; this led to investment and restoration into homes and buildings that were previously left to decay. It has been amazingly successful; perhaps too much so…

The Cuban government has recently suspended new licenses for these businesses, as those proprietors are earning so much more money than their neighbors. This cannot be allowed in a Communist society where everyone is equal (albeit equally poor)!

It was here that our group encountered the reality of life in rural Cuba: horse drawn taxis; horse drawn carts; occasional hot water; reclaimed water tanks; rooftop laundry lines; lots and lots of potholes (some filled with manure waiting for a rain to wash it away), and more. 

None of this made the experience negative (well, Stuart stepping in a pothole full of manure wasn’t great…); indeed, it helped make the experience authentic and brought home the realities of life that others in our world face daily. 

You appreciate what you have, what you can have, and the opportunities available to you. You see firsthand how capitalism is helping people, despite what you might read on some protester's sign walking around the International Monetary Fund, White House, or National Mall.

Participating in courses, tours, and experiences such as this can help shape, or adjust, our world-view, understanding, and obligation to all humankind.

Experience Life – Travel – Read – LEARN; it does a body good!