THE RHYTHM OF HAVANA - FROM CUBA WITH LOVE
From the very first moment you set your foot in Havana, you simply cannot resist the sight of the crumbling art deco houses and vintage cars from the 50s rolling through the streets along with the infectious upbeat energy spreading like a plague from the middle-ages invading all the nooks and crannies of the human body and plundering the mind at the same time.
The stimuli come from everywhere and silently molest all your senses - the latino tunes, the swagger, the swaying hips, gazes - fearless, quiet, confident.
Despite the faltering economy where the majority of the people only earn 30 USD per month and the shops – fully stocked only with water, beer and the bottles of Havana Club rum (with the rum being more common than water) the Cuban’s capital is captivating, intense and seductive.
SEDUCE & GET SEDUCED - LOVE IN CUBA & dating in cuba
Most Cubans are very social, friendly and easy-going. Young men are predatory in nature. Sexuality is a strong element of Cuban identity and culture and something you cannot escape. This is a human need and the word “prudishness” does not exist in Cuba. Funny, how that is different from where you are from? In Cuba sexual desires are treated on a par with hunger or thirst. What do you do when you are hungry or thirsty? You eat. You drink. You satisfy these primeval needs and do not make a fuss.
Cuban Sexuality
Cubans are very direct and open. They do not beat about the bush. When you catch his eye, he will not leave you in doubt. The spark in his eyes with a tantalizing fearlessness can ignite the fire and awaken the most dormant part of your nature and soon make you burn and destroy everything on the way leaving just cinders behind. He grabs your hand or most likely your butt and before you even notice, you are his “trophy” (Girl, just run!). This is something that in other parts of the world would be classified as a “sexual harassment” but for Cubans is every day’s life.
Do not get me wrong, flaunting their feminity Cuban women with their chins up and arched backs are also on prowl and that includes women working in the airport security in mini-skirts, sexy tights, cut out tops “uniforms” and a few inch platform heels and full make-up. The hunter and the prey – but who the hunter and who is the prey? When Cubans finally get access to high speed internet and access to Tinder, God help us!… I foresee the next Revolution.
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN CUBA?
Contraceptives are subsidised by the government therefore cheap (a pack of 3 condoms costs approx. 0,3 USD) but their application stretches far beyond the sexual intercourse (they are used to fish, ferment wine, fix punctures, tie up hair or as birthday party balloons). When there is nothing available, you make the most from what you already have. But bear in mind, the demand may exceed supply and shortages in Cuba are common (but this does not apply to rum & cigars). Many Cubans still use abortion as a form of a birth control. It is legal without any restrictions…
Interestingly, HIV infection rates in Cuba are among the lowest in the Americas. This is due to its quarantine policy when from the late 80s through the early 90s its entire HIV-infected population was kept in specialized sanatoriums. Things are changing though…
On a side note, shave or not to shave? Regardless of your gender, remove your body hair (everything below your neck line) unless you are completely oblivious to what others think and chat about as this fact will not be kept a secret for too long… Do not worry though, the internet connection is slow (practically does not exist) so everything stays in Cuba.
