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Food

Since the surge of tourism in the past few years from the warming relations between the U.S. and Cuba, there has been a larger demand for food. Thanks to the United States embargo, but also to poor planning by the island’s government, goods that Cubans have relied on are going to the tourists and the hundreds of private restaurants that cater to them, leading to soaring prices. Without the resources to supply the surge in food demand, some foods have become so expensive that even basic staples are becoming unaffordable for regular Cubans. Things like peppers, onions and even beer have become scarce to find since they are usually bought in bulk by restaurants.

While the influx of new money from tourists and other visitors has been good for the island’s growing private sector, most Cubans still work within the state-run economy and struggle to make ends meet. As for the food that is served in Cuba, there is traditional favorites that are hard to find outside of the country. These can include: lechon (suckling pig), bread pudding veined with guava jam, and mojitos. Along with that they country is filled with many fruits, like papaya and pineapple, that are normally found within other tropical climates.

Casas Particulares

In 1997, Cuba made a major change in regards to accommodations for tourists. The Cuban government made it possible for people to rent out rooms in their homes for tourists to stay in. Since then, the owners of the casas have promoted their homes by distributing business cards and using online advertising. A major site for is this called Cuba-Junky.com, but there are plenty of other sites to look on. These sites are similar to the U.S.’s Airbnb. Havana is the city that seems to be the well-advertised, but there are other smaller towns and even Oceanside residences offered. One city that is full of casas particulares is Trinidad. Being that Trinidad was founded in the 1500s the town is well known for offering tourists the chance to stay in authentic colonial homes.

It is important to note that not all casas particulares are colonial and a wide variety of houses are offered. Another thing that is important to note is that there are two different types of casas: those that are catered specifically to foreigners and those for only Cubans. Casas particulares for Cubans will have a red sign on the door while the one's for foreigners will have a blue sign. There are different types of permits for these residences so it is important to find the correct casa when looking for a place to stay. The general rate per night is between 20 and 30 CUC (convertible pesos) with an additional 5 to 10 CUC for meals to be included.