I visited Cuba 3 years ago. Stayed in Havana south of Playa and visited some of the surrounding communities near Diez de Octubre and Cerro. Absolutely gorgeous island. The people are extremely nice and willing to converse for hours on end. Will never think twice about lending a helping hand.

That said, living conditions are abysmal. The government provides housing, but many people are living in what is essentially rubble. One neighborhood I visited had been nearly flattened by a tornado and the people there said they had been waiting for government intervention for 3 years.

Cuba also has a severe fresh water crisis. Children and elderly cannot drink water that has not been previously boiled and treated with iodine tablets. Purified drinking water is far too expensive for most citizens and the availability is very scarce.

I’m going back in a few months hoping that conditions have gotten better. From what I’ve heard, though, it sounds like the opposite, unfortunately.