One of My Favorite Countries

2009-09-15

I am going to tell you about one of my favorite countries in the world: Cuba. Cuba and the United States are only 90 miles apart, but they are opposites in so many ways! In Cuba there are no advertisements, no McDonalds, no pressure to buy, buy, buy! It is a socialist country, so the government owns nearly everything. Making a profit is not a high priority. Even on the plane to Cuba, if you fly Cubana, you feel this: they will give you a Cuba libre (rum and coke) for free! Housing, medical care and education are all free for Cubans. The literacy rate is extremely high (95%) and the infant mortality rate very low (5.3/1000). Most Cubans are very well-educated. But most of them are also very poor. A doctor’s salary, for example, is about twenty dollars a month. So many doctors choose to work as waiters instead, because a waiter can make more money in tips. Cubans are a very open and friendly people. Despite their hardships, they know how to have a good time. Often all it takes is a bottle of rum . . .

The country is also quite beautiful. There are great beaches and mountains. You can hike, explore caves, dive, and ride horses in Cuba. Here are some pictures from a recent trip:

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