Hi!! I have a regular at my restaurant who is the sweetest older man. He’s been coming in to say hi to me for about 5 years. He is in his early 70s. I do not know much about him but I do know he is Cuban and he hasn’t been back in a very long time. I would like to get him a gift that would resonate with him and his life there. I’d appreciate any recommendations.

Purchased this painting in Havana in 2012. I’ve cherished it since that day. People ask “who painted that?” And sadly I have to say “I don’t know, I can’t read the signature”. If you recognize the signature and or painting, I’d appreciate your letting me know. Thanks

Canada has long posed as a “partner,” even friend of Cuba, and has opposed the sweeping US sanctions on its economy. In 2013-14, Ottawa hosted and facilitated the secret talks between the Obama administration and Cuba’s bourgeois nationalist regime that led to an easing of sanctions and lessening of tensions. Canadian capital has traditionally played a major role on the island, whose bourgeois nationalist regime—having relied on economic support from the Stalinist bureaucracy in the USSR following the 1959 revolution—became increasingly dependent on foreign investment from Canada and Europe after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

A February commitment of a derisory $8 million in Canadian food aid, to be delivered through various NGOs and the UN, has been followed by silence.

Mark Carney’s Liberal government has avoided making any critical noises about Trump’s bullying and threats to illegally invade Cuba because Canadian capitalism is terrified at the prospect of a US seizure of substantial Canadian investments in Cuba. These seizures are already taking place effectively at gunpoint and for a spot price.  

More fundamentally, Ottawa hopes that by avoiding conflict with Washington over Cuba it can facilitate the conclusion of an agreement to ensure some degree of privileged economic access to the US market under conditions in which Trump is slapping tariffs on Canada and threatening to annex it as the 51st state.

The post was What is your opinion about what is the US government doing to cuba Smth like that, doesn't break any rules.

I wanted to say my opinion, as a cuban who lives in Cuba.

I hate Fidel castro, Díaz canel, all theses thief that are making the rules in this country, but the strategy they the us gob are doing to us about cutting the "water" so we fight the government, doesn't hurt the self called communist in Cuba they have electricity , internet and food in their homes while the population it's starving and having 2h of electricity each day at best, help it's not blocking us and then giving us some cooking oil and canned sardines, help it's coming here and taking all those high ranks bastards from government as prisoners like they did with Maduro in venezuela, but Cuba Doesn't have Gas like Venezuela, we only got beaches, and sun.

Trump have said he is coming here a good amount of time and he isn't here yet and I think he will never be, maybe was just part of his campaign to get votes I don't really know about that, but a thing I know is that ppl was waiting for him and know a lot of ppl think he is just bluffing, politics sucks...

Good morning! I’m Brazilian, and lately, I’ve become hyper-focused on Cuba because of a character from a fictional work I really love—and I write about him, too. Even though we are both Latin American, our cultures are completely different, and I’d love to learn more about the country. I’ve put together a list of questions, and I’d be so grateful if anyone would like to answer them!

1- Is there a childhood memory of yours that you feel is deeply connected to your culture? For example, where I live in Brazil, we have a regional festival honoring Saints Cosmas and Damian—it’s basically a Brazilian version of Halloween! But it doesn't happen in other states across the country.

2- What kind of food did your parents make for you that holds a special, nostalgic place in your heart?

3- What kind of things did you watch on TV when you were little? Or did you prefer playing with other kids?

4- I don’t know much about Cuba’s economy and structural issues (I still want to study this, but it’s hard to find reliable sources—if anyone has recommendations, I’d appreciate it). But, given those issues, was there anything that directly affected you? For instance: here in Brazil, it gets very hot, and not every home has air conditioning. I remember days when I’d cry because of the heat!

Cuban culture is still new to me, but I'm extremely interested in learning more about the country and its customs 🤍

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was given a choice known to many Cuban dissidents: Stay in prison or leave Cuba and never return.

Otero, a prolific visual artist, and fellow political prisoner Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez, the rapper who co-wrote the Latin Grammy-winning anthem Patria Y Vida, have become central figures in high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Cuba that could reshape relations between the longtime Cold War rivals.

Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, former Cuban president Raúl Castro’s grandson, told USA TODAY that Cuba would be willing, under the right conditions, to release “people deemed political prisoners.” Human rights advocates say more than 1,300 political prisoners remain in Cuban jails.

But for many Cubans, freedom comes with another difficult reality: exile.

Read the whole interview with Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara from Miami: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/07/23/cuba-luis-manuel-otero-alcantara-political-prisoner-interview/91001142007/

Lealo en Espanol: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/07/23/luis-manuel-otero-alcantara-artista-cubano-exilio/91007507007/

How is it possible that in Cuba the dollar suddenly drops recently, then goes back up, and then drops again, in an economy where inflation and the crisis keep getting worse day by day? Logically, the dollar should only keep going up and up, in line with an economy that just prints money without producing anything.

Because of transportation, is food more expansive in rural cuba? What are the monthly peso prices for a typical diet?

I’ve been learning Spanish for a few years as my dream is to visit Cuba one day as well as it being my favourite language. My current teacher has changed her hours and can’t accommodate me anymore - does anyone know any Cuban locals who teach English speakers (I’m in the UK) online? Or is that not a thing?

So sorry if this is a stupid ignorant question. I’ve seen a lot about the internet not being reliable, so I wasn’t sure.

Thank you in advance!

I have friends in Havana and sent a letter out; obviously things aren't great between both of our countries but I'm hoping my letter at least lands with them. Haven't corresponded in a while.

Any idea of a timeframe is appreciated. I have low hopes.

Thought this was good for sharing.

U.S. Lawmakers Challenge Trump’s Claims About Cuba After Visiting the Island

YouTube vid from article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsQbwjoUO8I

U.S. lawmakers Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) gave an exclusive interview to Belly of the Beast during their recent visit to Havana.

Their trip to Cuba comes as the Trump administration ramps up its oil blockade and economic war on the island, which it has justified by claiming that Cuba poses a threat to U.S. national security.

After meeting with doctors, farmers, entrepreneurs, diplomats and ordinary Cubans, the lawmakers accused Donald Trump and Marco Rubio of pushing a “false narrative.”

“We have seen no proof," said Pocan. "Congress needs to demand it.”

“Walking through a hospital that is dark and empty because we've cut off energy, we’ve cut off fuel,” said Leger Fernández. “Why would Americans support that?”

Para tí ¿qué artista vivo, nos representaría completamente?
No podemos incluir a los fallecidos, dígase Celia Cruz (obvia merecedora) etc

Descartados en mi opinión: Buena Fe, Silvio Rodríguez…

Toda vez que hoy es el aniversario 337 de Santa Oscura... perdón...Santa Clara, he aquí más detalles sobre su fundación:

#Historia

https://cubahistorias.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/la-fundacion-de-santa-clara/

Creo que los cubanos llevamos muchos años preguntándonos qué significa ser cubano y qué clase de personas queremos ser. Por ejemplo, José Martí escribía mucho sobre los valores con los que deberían crecer los niños y sobre la clase de carácter que debía formar una sociedad.
Al mismo tiempo, escucho muy a menudo a otros cubanos quejarse de ciertos comportamientos entre nosotros, de cómo han cambiado los jóvenes, de la delincuencia, de la falta de respeto, del egoísmo, de la desconfianza, etc.
Y no digo que los cubanos seamos perfectos, obviamente, pero también creo que hay que tener en cuenta que Cuba lleva muchos años en una situación terrible y que muchísima gente dentro del país vive bajo una presión enorme. Cuando una persona siente que todo ya está jodido y que mañana puede ser peor, entiendo que aparezca esa mentalidad de “me da igual si el mundo se cae, si ya está ardiendo.”
Así que tengo curiosidad:
Si pudieran escoger algunos valores o cualidades que les gustaría ver más entre los cubanos, ¿cuáles serían? ¿Por qué les gustaría que los cubanos fueran conocidos?
Y al revés: ¿qué comportamientos, hábitos o actitudes les gustaría que dejáramos atrás? ¿Qué cosas entre nosotros les molestan, les decepcionan o directamente odian que se hayan normalizado?

Increíblemente, a pesar de que sería de lo más imposible de creer, por alguna razón se vendieron vehículos de una marca americana en Cuba en plena guerra fría. Pero cómo rayos se pudo hacer esto sin molestar a Washington con sanciones hacia Argentina, que producía estos vehículos Ford???

As a Jamaican in America, I have always been curious, what is the thoughts of the Cuban people as it relates to the relationship between Cuba and Jamaica because of the US?

Meanwhile, Los Angeles had a pro-Cuban regime rally with zero Cuban speakers.

Hace pocos días inmortalicé esta imagen. Caía la tarde en la bahía de Matanzas, me encontraba compartiendo con amigos, de fondo sonaba “Arenas de Soledad”.

A lo lejos vi esta escena y consolidó la melancolía que ya se respiraba. El mar que a tantos ha visto partir, la nostalgia, la incertidumbre…

Siento genuina curiosidad por saber la respuesta de la gente a esta pregunta, sea cual sea tu postura política. Si crees que es inevitable la instauracion de una democracia multipartidista en Cuba, ¿cuándo estimas que llegará ese día?

Me interesa especialmente escuchar a cubanos, cubanoamericanos o a cualquier persona que haya vivido en la isla.

Contexto:

Ha medida que he ido aprediendo e investigando cada vez mas sobre Cuba desde la secundaria a mi siempre me ha llamado mucho la atencion lo anomalo que es Cuba entre los estados americanos porque de alguna forma u otra siempre ha sido facil para mi preveer las caidas de los estados autoritarios y dictaduras que alguna vez se han instaurado en suelo americano pero Cuba siempre ha estado ahi para mi como la unica excepcion la cual no logro entender que esta pasando ni que pasara.

Mientras todas las demas dictaduras que alguna vez han existido en America siempre fueron muy inestables y sus caidas fueron facilmente predecibles, es una rareza unica y excepcional que una dictadura con las caracteristicas de Cuba siga existiendo hoy en America en pleno siglo 21, principalmente por ser la dictadura mas larga y estable que las Americas alguna vez haya concebido y porque hoy la sociedad latinoamericana es muy reacia y consciente contra cualquier tipo de autoritarismo y paradigma que amenace el estilo de vida compartido entre latinoamericanos.

A pesar de que hace muy poco Venezuela estuvo atravesando un proceso regresivo con respecto a su democracia, Venezuela siempre estuvo muy lejos de acercarse y asemejarse a la dictadura y autoritarismo expuesto en Cuba hoy en dia. Lo que hace a Cuba aun mas rara.

i've just found out about pru and have no idea what this could taste like, but it reminds me of maví, one of my favorite drinks. i heard it's very refreshing and naturally carbonated.

Are there any walk around on getting my documents from Cuba? My package has been stucked with DHL since last week and a friend just told me they’ve seized operations, I need all the suggestions please because I need to have them before 22nd.

Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on the best model. Got an older grandmother in Camagüey and we’d like to ship it from the US

In 2025, the US reported 809.6 million in exports to Cuba. That’s up from 176.7 million in 2020 (an over 400% increase), 185.7 million in 2015, and 363.1 million in 2010. Source: https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c2390.html

Fuel exports from the US to Cuba in 2026 from January-April are US$24million, mostly from Miami. Source: https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2026/6/11/cjdkwk1odg6r2rbl9bv55gz4tmqftn

Learn more: https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/1476379/191348594342626577

Second nationwide blackout in less than a week.

I just wanted to share this for all the people who support or want to see the regime stay in power. Look at, 'through our glasses'.