Why do I travel to Cuba?

Why do I travel to Cuba? This is a big subject. In attempting to answer I thought it best to talk about a specific “Cubaism” that is emblematic of the vitality of life on this unique island. Out of all myriad possibilities I hit on the practice of hitchhiking in Cuba.

In my youth I was a serious hitchhiker. Often hitchhiking from San Francisco to Vancouver and back. I had great experiences. This was in the 1970’s in the United States when life was a little different. Today, hitchhiking in the US is not a viable mode of transportation because there are so many crazies roaming the roads. In contrast, hitchhiking in Cuba is everywhere. Why is there so much hitchhiking? The simple answer is because it is safe, with much fewer crazies. The deeper reasons touch on the beauty of the Cuban society and why I like going there.

In Havana the largest segment of the population that hitchhikes are women. They hitchhike to get around town, to go to work, to shop. You will always see groups of women at the major intersections gesturing for a ride.

A little background will help here. In Cuba, most people do not own cars because they can’t afford them, and the people that do have cars (often men) are open, when they can, to give women a ride. Moreover, hitchhiking is encouraged by the Cuban government to help deal with the lack of adequate public transportation.

So there are these men drivers and women hitchhikers. In the United States this would be a dangerous and unheard of combination. In Cuba, it is no big deal. It’s all part of “life on the street” where you can walk up to just about anyone and talk to them without feeling strange. One reason why this works is because most people in Cuba are in the same economically challenged social class. Another reason is: the men drivers enjoy the female company, and the women appreciate the ride. The sexual tension that may occur in these interactions is also the norm in Cuban culture. Sexual energy and sensuality is in the air always and is celebrated. This innate sensuality of the culture means much less repressed feelings and disrespectful behavior. For women in the street, they learn at a young age to deal with the realities of male behavior in a relatively safe environment. As a result Cuban women generally mature earlier then their North American counterparts.

More central then the gender dynamics, this pattern of hitchhiking in Cuba reflects a consciousness shared by most Cuban’s about the value of community and helping each other out. These values are, in part, a legacy of the spirit inspired by the Cuban Revolution and to the island’s profound connection to traditional Spanish and African cultures. As a result Cuba is one of the few countries in the World that has not bought into hyper-materialism. Hitchhiking in Cuba is a manifestation of a society that is largely people and culture oriented. This is why I go and will keep going.

Philip
Boogalu Productions