[Cyclefrance]

It''s quite strange being a visitor to Havana - the things that we evidence as tourist visitors as being bad stuff really come down to the grand architecture that is decaying and the general apperance of people and life being poor (no iPods, no fast food, no large stores, no neon lights or advertising, no cars jamming the roads - nothing we would associate with our own countries - it's all very low key). This is something that is reflected across the whole country - you just don't see anyone who looks substantially better off than anyone else. That's the effect of a communist doctrine, and it's alien to us.

But the people are essentially a happy people - or certainly appear so - and to us this seems at odds with their outward appearance. Certainly, there is evidence from the conversations we had with the few Cubans we met offering that opportunity, that they want to spread their wings and that the natural enthusiasm of the human being to explore and discover is sadly suppressed, but against this there is a sense of common security that you don't see in many parts of the world. When we went to Tropicana (next section) we came home around half past midnight. Driving through the streets of Havana we passed group after group of people happily enjoying the evening air - no sign of violence, drunkeness or crime - no police sirens, no ambulance sirens. It was unfamiliarly peaceful. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, but merely an observation and my feeling is that this is one of the elements that the Cubans fear could be lost should the country change and open its arms to a capitalist way of life again.

Is my assessment right or wrong? I just don't know enough about the country and its people yet to say whether this first impression is valid or misplaced. I'm just presenting you with what I saw and witnessed within the confines of a relatively short visit that was taken initially and primarily for reasons other than to understand the way the country ticked. If nothing else I hope my observations cause others to puzzle and to want to know what this country really is like under a regime that is one we have an instant distaste for and therefore we may be biased ourselves when trying to reach objective conclusions.