One of them is a Cuban American, so we had the good fortune to spend time with his family and friends in their home and get at least a little sense of what it's like to live in Cuba today. My impressions, however, are mine alone, and not those of the lovely people I met.
Dollars make all the difference.
For example, on a typical Sunday afternoon a family might visit Copelli Park. It is an all day outing to get an ice cream. The city of Havana was clearly incredibly beautiful in 1959 as the architecture reflects. Today, most of the buildings outside Old Havana are in various stages of disrepair, but much of their grandeur remains. Click on images for larger view.