I was warned before I went to Cuba of a few things: it's expensive (it is, hideously so, if you choose to go to the touristy beach resorts or stay at hotels); people hustle you (they do, but it is harmless); and that the food sucks (take dry food, trail mix, energy bars, I was told).
Rubbish, I thought. The first two indeed turned out so - the casa particulares were warm and nice, and the people were a pleasure to interact with, even if they were prostituting themselves right in front of their extended families. Then there was the food.
Cuban food is terrific. I hope you are not a cretin, and are good with your advanced math to follow my reasoning: it is called "Combination", which is a less prosperous cousin of "Permutation".
Step one: pick one of the following methods of cooking: a) grilled b) all of the above
Step two: pick one of the following main courses: a) pork b) chicken c) fish d) one of the above but will taste like none of the above e) all of the above
Step three: add one of the following sides: a) shredded cabbage b) canned peas c) tastefully sliced, yet absolutely tasteless, carrot stamped to floral designs d) all of the above e) d + boiled f) e+ preserved in vinegar.
My entire summary of Cuban food is: 1-a, 2-e and 3-f.
However, breakfast was uniformly good, for a completely different reason - fruit! Freshest, tastiest, tropical fruit - papayas, mangos, melons, etc. Definitely made the case for vegetarianism.
PS: You cannot say "papaya" in Cuba, because it is slang for the female private part. The more private part, if you are confused. The appropriate slang is "fruta bomba". Which if anything sounds worse!
1 comment:
Ok - take back the statement on the cool traveller bit. This was good too!
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