Well Read Kids
Why not start off our list with a surprising one. Did you know that Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate? This happens to be one of the highest literacy rates in the world!
Well Read Kids
Neat And Tidy
If you’re wondering just how Cuba has such a high literacy rate, perhaps this will help answer your question. In Cuba, grade school is obligatory for every child between the ages of 6 and 15. And to add a little more to this fact, the children all wear uniforms, with each color representing a different grade.
Neat And Tidy
Doctor, Doctor
Considering the last two facts, would it surprise you to know that Cuba has the highest ratio of doctors to patients in the world? Although some might argue that despite this, the country doesn’t have the facilities to accommodate their massive medical staff.
Doctor, Doctor
Dancing Celebrities
For a communist country you might be wondering what their doctors get paid like, well maybe you should be looking elsewhere. In Cuba, ballerinas get the greatest brunt of fame and popularity and very often they will actually earn more money that other professionals, say, like doctors.
Dancing Celebrities
Movers And Shakers
Seeing as ballerinas earn so much money, it makes sense that dance is such a pinnacle part of the Cuban culture. Dance styles like the Cha-cha, Bolero and Mambo actually come from Cuba. How neat is that?
Movers And Shakers
Lennon The Legend
Fidel Castro was actually a fan and follower of Lenin. No, wait, that was obvious. He was an admirer of Lennon, John Lennon. In 2000, Fidel Castro erected a statue in the country’s capital, Havana, to pay tribute to the man he called a “true music revolutionary.”
Lennon The Legend
For His Eyes Only
In a park in Havana, the statue of John Lennon sits with a pair of wire glasses on his face. But due to a high number of thefts of his glasses, during the day a guard keeps an eye on him. What about at night? Well they remove them and then replace them in the morning.
For His Eyes Only
Close, But No Cigar
Before President John F. Kennedy ordered a trade embargo on Cuba, he made a ‘small’ transaction to weather him through the storm. JFK bought himself 1,200 Cuban cigars, and then gave the green light for the embargo.
Close, But No Cigar
Oh Man! Or Miss?
Do you like to dress up? Well let’s say you find yourself in Cuba and you get invited to a fancy costume party, what do you wear? Well, we don’t know what you will wear, but we know what you shouldn’t wear! Cross-dressing in Cuba is downright illegal, so rather don’t take any chances, sir… or miss.
Oh Man! Or Miss?
Limited Access
Let’s imagine that you’ve just come back from a trip to Cuba, wondering why the Cuban hottie you friended hasn’t messaged you back? Chances are because they don’t have access to the internet. Only a small 5% of Cubans can access the uncensored web.
Limited Access
Millions And Millions
Just because it’s an island doesn’t mean that there isn’t anyone living there. In fact, Cuba has the highest population in the Caribbean – more than 11 million people!
Millions And Millions
Crocodile State
Did you know that Cuba is the “crocodile state”? Locals and others have been calling the island “El Caiman” and “El Cocodrilo” since they discovered it. The reason for this is because the island looks like a giant alligator.
Crocodile State
Dinosaur Fish
It’s not just crocodiles that you’ll see in Cuba, you have the opportunity to see a fish that has survived since prehistoric times. If you want to see the Manjuari fish, Cuba is the only place in the world that you can.
Dinosaur Fish
Old Cars
What would it feel like to go back in time? Take a trip to Cuba and you might just feel like you’ve stepped out of a time machine. Since the US embargo on Cuba, the majority of the cars that have remained are America cars from the 1950’s. We aren’t saying that it isn’t a beautiful sight to see all the 1950 American classic cars, it’s just a throwback… a really far throwback.
Old Cars
Secret Recipes
Are you thinking of a gift for a Cuban local? Here’s a tip, don’t give them a recipe book because they probably won’t use it. Cubans don’t believe in writing down recipes, they prefer to pass them down from generation to generation by word-of-mouth, keeping it more intimate and secret.
Secret Recipes
Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?
What would be one of the last things you would see in Cuba? No, not an American citizen. Snow. But actually there was a day when snow did fall on the crocodile island and that day was March 12th, 1857.
Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?
Imports And Exports
It’s sad to say, but the Cubans aren’t too famous for their cooking because it’s nothing too special. That doesn’t mean that they don’t import food, because they do, as well as chemicals, oil and machinery. Cuba’s main export amongst other things is fish, coffee, citrus fruits and medical products.
Imports And Exports
Economic Crash
When the Soviet Union was still strong and running, Cuba received a lot of financial support from them. When the USSR came crashing down, Cuba suffered an economic crisis which they called the “Special Period”. Pretty special, as they legalized the use of the American dollar in business as well as allowed self-employment for some of the population.
Economic Crash
Keep your Enemies Closer
Some might not realize just how close the two closest parts of USA and Cuba are. Between the tip of Florida and Havana, there are only 90 miles of ocean. Interested in a swim?
Keep Your Enemies Closer
Burn, Baby, Burn!
How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve? Well we highly doubt you do it like the Cubans. They burn dolls. Don’t panic, they have a good reason for it. They burn the dolls to symbolize forgetting difficult times and clearing the way for good times.
Burn, Baby, Burn!
Christmas
Who could possibly imagine going through a whole year and then not even having Christmas? In Cuba this was the reality until 1998. When Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, the Cuban government (shall we just say Castro?) declared that Christmas would be a national holiday.
Christmas
Papers
During the 1950’s Cuba had an incredible 58 newspapers that were published on a daily basis. That number has dropped to 20, but we’re pretty sure they’re all printing the same stories anyway.
Papers
Cubans Fled
It must have been quite different for Cubans to wake up one morning and hear that America was an enemy and Coca-Cola was banned. More than 1 million Cubans actually moved to America when Fidel Castro announced that Cuba had become a communist state.
Cubans Fled
Castro To Castro
In 2008, Fidel Castro eventually decided to step down as the president of Cuba. He had held the position for an incredible 49 years. Who do you think took over from him? His brother, Raul, did.
Castro To Castro
No Photos
Like some other countries in the world, in Cuba you are not allowed to take photographs of police officers, military personnel or airport personnel. Airport personnel? Really?!
No Photos
Sex Changes
Even though it is illegal to cross-dress in Cuba, there is no ban on having sexual reassignment surgery. In 2007 Cuba made the procedure legal and believe it or not, the country’s public healthcare system supports it.
Sex Changes1
No Cellphones
Do you remember the days of having to make calls from your home or office phone? There were even some fancy cars that had phones in them! In Cuba that memory is still fresh since cellphones only became legal in 2008!
No Cellphones
Tourist Money
Cuba has two currencies! Sorry, I had to get that out there. One currency is used by the locals. One US dollar can get you 25 Cuban pesos. But then there is a currency that is designed for toursits to use. The equivalent of the Cuban convertible peso is a little more than a dollar.
Tourist Money
Guantanamo Bay
It’s no secret that Guantanamo Bay is on the island of Cuba. The United States pays Cuba $4,000 a year to lease the area which is a military base/detention center. Cuba however hasn’t cashed in the money since 1959.
Guantanamo Bay
American Embassy
In 2015, relations between America and Cuba finally took a turn for the positive after having been at odds for 54 years! Diplomatic relations were opened and the American embassy in Cuba was opened too.
American Embassy
Average Salary
How much money could you run off for a month? Can you imagine what it’s like to earn $20 per month? Well that is the average monthly salary of a Cuban local. Guaranteed their costs are a lot lower, and education and healthcare is free.
Average Salary
Picking Up Hitchhikers
If you’re planning on hitchhiking in Cuba, you might have some luck. Drivers of government vehicles are required to stop to pick up hitchhikers. Seeing as the buses are almost always full, this might be your best option.
Picking Up Hitchhikers
In The Army
You probably haven’t heard much about the Cuban army, but it exists. In fact, both men and women between the ages of 17 and 28 must serve at least two years in the military.
In The Army
Unpaved Roads
If you decide to hire a car when you’re visiting Cuba, might we suggest that you take a 4×4 jeep? With around 38,000 miles of road, about half of them are actually paved. But at least you won’t get stuck in much traffic.
Unpaved Roads
Cuban Yankees
When it comes to American influence in Cuba, sport was definitely influenced. The Cuban population are all about baseball! They also love boxing, but baseball is their number one.
Cuban Yankees
Smallest Bird
Cuba is proud to be the natural habitat of the world’s smallest bird. The bee hummingbird can be found in other places around the world, but Cuba is its home.
Smallest Bird
Operation Castration
As much as I want to take credit for that name, I just can’t. The CIA had many operations planned to assassinate Fidel Castro. They weren’t short on ideas; one idea even involved an exploding seashell. One such operation was called “Operation Castration”. Whoever the guy was who made up that name… buy him a beer!
Operation Castration
Monopoly Money
Establishing your own state must come with a fortune of new responsibilities. I mean, can you imagine the stress! But you have to set your priorities straight, just like Fidel Castro did. One of the first things he decreed when he came into power was to destroy all Monopoly games.
Monopoly Money
South Korean TV
We’ve all pretty much been on vacation somewhere without any TV channels in English. Well being in Cuba doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be stuck watching something in Spanish. For some reason the Cubans have fallen in love with dramatic South Korean soap operas!
South Korean TV
Atchoo!
Got a tickle in your nose? Have you just sneezed? Your best option might be to NOT blow your nose. In Cuba it is considered bad manners to blow your nose in public. So just knock on someone’s door and ask them if you could enter for a quick nose-blow.
Atchoo
Scary Crocodiles
There are many beautiful beaches to visit in Cuba. The sea is gorgeous, but maybe avoid the rivers. Cuba is home to a unique leaping Cuban crocodile. That’s right – LEAPING! Understandably it is very dangerous!
Scary Crocodiles
My, That’s Big!
When it comes to the Caribbean, Cuba has something to boast above the rest. It is the largest island in the area since it has a land mass of 42,426 square miles.
My, That’s Big!
It’s A Great Place
What does ‘Cuba’ mean? Well there is some debate about its translation, but it has been narrowed down to two options. The first, meaning “where fertile land is abundant” by the word ‘cubao’. The second from the word ‘coabana’ which means “great place.” But then again, it could be because Christopher Columbus named it after the town of Cuba in Portugal.
It’s A Great Place
African Slaves
Cuba was a major port for slavery. Masses of African slaves were brought to the island to work on coffee and sugar plantations. But it didn’t stop there for the slaves as they were exported then to other countries in the region like Peru and Mexico.
African Slaves
Not For Sale
There were 5 different U.S. presidents in history who tried to purchase the island of Cuba. Between 1845 and 1898 presidents, Polk, Pierce, Buchanan, Grant, and McKinley all failed to make a deal.
Not For Sale
Trying With Millions
It was President William McKinley who pushed for a last-effort deal with Spain to buy the island for $300 million. The deal didn’t produce any results and the United States invaded Cuba with what would become the Spanish-American War of 1898.
Trying With Millions
Unlimited Presidency
When it comes to the president’s term of office in Cuba, it’s quite different to how we have it back home. The president’s term is 5 years, but he can serve for as long as he wants. Fidel Castro was a sterling example of this.
Unlimited Presidency
Voting Rights
If you’re 16 or older, you have the right to vote in Cuba. There is a catch, though. You have to be clear of any criminal offenses, which actually makes sense. The next election is supposed to take place this year – 2018.
Voting Rights
World Heritage Sites
Cuba has its fair share of UNESCO World Heritage sites; in fact it has 9 of them! One of those sites is the petite, romantic city of Trinidad which is known for its small cobble streets and colorful homes.
World Heritage Sites
Bacardi Rum
It’s common knowledge that rum is Cuba’s favored and most abundant drink. Bacardi Rum’s manufacture originated in Cuba, but it was moved to Puerto Rico. Cuba has its own brand of rum called, “Havana Club”.
Bacardi Rum
Almost Bananas
They look like bananas, but they don’t exactly taste like them. Cuba is abundant with “cooking bananas” – a somewhat sweeter and starchier form of bananas. They can be eaten raw, but are generally used in cooking.
Almost Bananas
Losing The Beard
Everyone knows that one of the most iconic features of Fidel Castro was his beard. What do you think he would be without it? Well, apparently the CIA believed that he wouldn’t be much without it and that’s why they formulated a plot to get rid of it. They wanted to use a depilatory chemical to cause his beard to fall out.
Losing The Beard
A Missing Man
Cubans are still riddled with a disappearance of man who took off in a hot air balloon in 1856. The man left from Havana, never to be seen again.
A Missing Man
Shaving Time
How much more time do you think you would have if you took one common daily task out of the equation? According to Fidel Castro, he saved about 10 working days a year because he didn’t take that time to shave.
Shaving Time
Twitter’s Twin
As the Cubans didn’t have access to social media sites, the U.S. government set one up for them. in 2011, the U.S. government created a clone of Twitter specifically designed for the Cubans.
Twitter’s Twin
Coincidence?
Are you suspicious? Would you take a flight on Friday the 13th? Some people believe the matching of that day with that date is bad luck, but Fidel Castro probably doesn’t. He was born on Friday the 13th.
Coincidence?
No Aid
After Hurricane Katrina struck, Cuba was actually one of the first countries to offer aid to America. Their offer was medical aid, and Venezuela offered to provide gasoline and $5 million. America outright rejected both countries’ offers.
No Aid
Kosher Butcher
Out of all the butchers in Cuba, there is one that is kosher. President Castro personally gave him permission to provide kosher meat for the 1,500 Jewish residents of Cuba, most of whom, reside in Havana.
Kosher Butcher
Cuba And Korea
Cuba was caught in quite a stink in 2013. It was discovered that Cuba was sending weapons to the Kermit State, North Korea. The ship was seized by the Panama Canal Authority which told of Soviet-era jets and other war instruments being hidden under sacks of sugar.
Cuba And Korea
Size Might Matter
For a man who feels he needs a little boost down there, there is some hope on the Caribbean island of Cuba. When it comes to enhancing the size of one’s, you know, little knight, the surgery is actually free in Cuba.
Size Might Matter
Barack Obama
It took almost one hundred years for a sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba again. That president was Barack Obama and he made his trip in 2016. He tweeted on his arrival, “¿Que bolá Cuba? (What’s up, Cuba) Just touched down here, looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people.”
Barack Obama
Phantom Money
When Fidel Castro was just 12 years old in 1940, he wrote a special letter to the president of the United States. In his letter to President Franklin Roosevelt, he asked for a $10 bill since he had never seen one before.
Phantom Money
Coca-Cola
In the entire world, there are two countries that have a ban on the sale of Coca-Cola. Both North Korea and Cuba don’t allow the sale of the American soft drink, although Cubans still sell it. It is available in many places now in Cuba.
Coca-Cola
Monthly Rations
The Cuban people might not have all the money in the world, but their government provides each household with a monthly allowance. Their allowance comes in the form of a ration book which entitles them to food and staples which they can acquire at a nominal cost.
Monthly Rations
Castro, Not The Cult
Despite having a sea of photos, posters and billboards with his face on, Fidel Castro has wanted to remain out of the sphere of becoming a cult personality. Throughout Cuba you will not find streets named after him, or buildings or localities for that matter.
Castro, Not The Cult
The Italian Mafia
The CIA failed to assassinate Fidel Castro in 1960 – that’s no secret. But what many people don’t know is that the CIA collaborated with the Italian mafia in their plight to get rid of the Cuban leader. The information was revealed in 2007.
The Italian Mafia
A Nuclear Cuba
At the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the Soviet Union and the United States were on the brink of war. The Soviets sent more than 150 nuclear weapons to be deployed on the island of Cuba.
A Nuclear Cuba
Fidel’s Father
The times are always changing, that’s no lie. Fidel Castro fought for the independence of Cuba, whereas his father, in his time, fought for the Spanish Army against Cuban independence seekers. Of course, that war was in the late 19th century.
Fidel’s Father
Paying In Booze
Heaven knows it’s not easy climbing out of the pit of debt. Since Cuba was suffering under Soviet-era debt, the country offered to pay the Czech Republic US$270 million… in rum.
Paying In Booze
Homegrown Pesticide
Cuba wasn’t able to afford pesticides in the 90’s so the government took to organic pollination and agriculture. Today Cuba boasts organic honey as their fourth biggest agricultural export.
Homegrown Pesticide
Living Statues
Like most countries, erecting a statue of someone is a great honor. However, the rules in Cuba differ somewhat because you can not put up a statue of anyone who is still alive.
Living Statues
