I was actually at someone's moving in party on Saturday night it was on the 15th floor of a modernist high rise with views over the Dutch countryside and Rotterdam in the distance. Actually quite a liveable environment with lots of space and spectacular views. Not ideal for a family, but for a couple quite good. But at street level these kind of high rise suburbia that the Dutch do so well feels hard and not so enchanting. I prefer my tree lined lakeside suburbia.

The host was telling me that he is buying a planetarium for the bedroom - apparently all the rage - and someone said they already had one for the bathroom for when having a bath. It seems gazing at the universe aids sleep and relaxation. Anyone heard of these? They weren't cheap either, about five grand.

^
Right up my street. 

I read that many of those old cars, although they may look great, have frugal methods to keep them running, like maybe a gas tank held in place with rope.

I was told that there was a government program to give people diesel engines to transplant in all the old American cars. (They may very well may be second hand, Japanese diesel engines.) There are no car sellers on the island....you can only either buy an existing car from someone else or, if you've got money, import a car. I met an Italian guy there who was in the fledgling Cuban real estate business and he told me the tax you have to pay on importing a car is something like 700%.

Arriving in the airport you see all these Cuban expats bringing all sorts of brand new consumer goods, which they pay like 100% tax on, but still can make a profit re-selling on the island. You should see the stores in Cuba (all government run)....they are terribly stocked and not cheap at all. It is what I imagine 1980s Soviet Union was like. Although there are "bodegas" that take ration cards which give very basic staples to the people either cheap or free, on a ration system. They look like a market stall, and all have an old, heavy metal scale (probably of good quality) up front to measure the goods.

I found it all fascinating, while also acknowledging the unnecessary misery being imposed on the Cuban people (but not extreme misery, as people do get the basics to live). Despite some level of deprivation, there is almost zero violent crime.  No gangs, no intimidating street people, or anything like that. You can walk down the dark, broken down streets of Havana at all hours of night with no problems.

Last edited by alkydrinker (2016-03-08 10:11:28)

Defo... there's a lot to be said for vitamin D and sandy beaches.