A common joke in Cuba says that the three great triumphs of the Cuban revolution - education, health care, and culture, came at the price of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is because while Cuba does enjoy some benefits of socialism, there is much yet to be desired - especially in the way of food availability.
Cuba does not have supermarkets in the North American or European sense, and
Cubans often have to go to more than one place to purchase everything they
need. Bread (Cubans don't eat tortillas) comes from the bakery (see picture
at right), fruit and vegetables from the market, and meat from the butcher,
and certain foods from "dollars only" shops - they cannot be bought with
pesos. The prices of some foodstuffs are subsidized by the government through rationing and are thus kept artificially low. for example beans and
rice. There are occasional food shortages and sometimes one is not able to
acquire exactly what one wants. Certain foods are especially difficult to
obtain and can only be obtained with dollars in special government run
dollar stores or illegally on the black market. (For more information on
rationing and shopping with dollars, click here.) Beef is difficult to
obtain as is fresh fish because these items are sold for American dollars
to tourists. Pork and chicken are the most common forms of animal protein
but are very expensive to buy for the average Cuban. Beans provide a very
important additional source of protein.
At the market...
A girl selling plátanos in the market in Habana Vieja |
Because of the lack of meat, beans constitute an important protein source in the Cuban diet. |
Pork - "guarantee and quality here" |
This man is chopping cheese with a hatchet in this peso store in Habana Vieja. |
There is a decided lack of animal protein in the Cuban diet because eggs, meat, poultry, and fish are rationed. In an effort to make the shortage not seem so bad, large signs adorn the market place such as the one below which announces
" Vegetable protein....natural health"
or this sign which states
"Vegetables....more years for your life."
At the Peso store...
Cubans buy basic foodstuffs for pesos at stores such as the ones depicted below.
Get your ration books ready! |
|
There isn't much to be bought at this peso store - mostly rice and flour. |
There are neither credit cards nor "couponing" in Cuba. In fact, there is also no advertising. Even signs for stores are rare as one can see in this picture of a peso store above. |
