Ricardo and I Conversing at Breakfast

Ricardo's breakfasts consisted of many different fruits: fruta de bomba (papaya), pine apple, and mango. The fruit is fresh from the outdoor market that morning. For most shopping needs, Cubans go to the outdoor market which I found Ricardo doing on our behalf. Ricardo made a strong cup of coffee for Keith and I. Plus he made me a couple scramble eggs in the morning, joined by some bread. I brought with me my trusty bottle of Habanero (no pun intended) sauce as like Spaniards, Cuban's are not big into spicy food.

Ricardo is a great conversationalist! Like most Cubans, he has a plan to get out of Cuba. His plan is to wait for the lottery every year where the Cuban government will give out visas. His mother/father/sister are already in Pennsylvania. They won the lottery before him. (The US has a rule where if a Cuban makes it to dry land in the USA, they are welcome to stay. However, if a Cuban is intercepted before making dry land, they are deported back to Cuba.)

Ricardo uses his parents apartment flat solely for the purpose of the casa particulares. He only stays there when he has guess in the other room. The room rental is his way of making money as the Cuban government provides only 1/2 of the monthly ration needs of a Cuban. The Cuban government provides education, a place to live, insurance and health care too. Evidently there is a saying in Cuba "The government pretends to pay us, and the Cubans pretend to work." In fact, Ricardo's sister told him that the USA is wonderful for its wealth and prosperity. However, she warned him that you have to actually work!