Cuba unveils Disney World in Bayamo

Ordinary Cubans in Bayamo (my birthplace) can now seek a respite from the food shortages, dilapidated housing, lack of utility infrastructure, overwhelming hopelessness and all the other daily milieus of life in Cuba. The Cuban government has unveilied their own particular version of Walt Disney World, where ordinary Cubans wont find any Frontierlands (Frontierland is, obviously, the rest of the island) or Liberty Squares, but where theyll find what is known as "Paseo", a sort of FantasyLand, Adventureland and Tomorrowland mixed together, complete with Disney Bucks:

Along the stylish pedestrian mall known as "Paseo" or "The Boulevard," six blocks of restaurants, barber shops, ice cream parlours and department stores give Cubans a taste of tourist life at local prices. Jazz bands jam for free until 2 a.m. at the Piano Bar, where mojitos go for just 5.50 pesos, or 30 cents. A 1950s-style diner serves up tasty meatball sandwiches for about half a peso - the equivalent of three cents - and four scoops of the richest ice cream in Cuba for about the same price.

"Almost everyone who comes in is surprised at first. The music is good. The cocktails are strong," said Ernesto Aldana of the Piano Bar, where the Cuba Libre - copious rum pours with ice and splashes of cola and lime - costs 4.80 pesos, the equivalent of less than 25 cents.

"It's like you're paying in dollars," Aldana said. "But you're not."

It's the new vacation mecca for Cubans. Where else could those living in the communist country enjoy Jazz Bands and Piano Bars, happy hour mojitos and 1950 style diners that actually serve real hamburgers and freshly squeezed fruit juices? Not only that, there's an office supply store, two - count'em two - beauty parlours, a flower shop, two - count'em two - seafood restaurants and a Spanish restaurant.

That's right, folks. Cubans can now enjoy their own particular verison of Tomorrowland, by traveling back in time to the 1950's.

And who said the revolution wasnt all about progress?

Posted by Val Prieto at October 6, 2008 10:21 AM

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Posted by: La Ventanita at October 6, 2008 11:05 AM

Posted by: Peter Perez at October 6, 2008 08:58 PM

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