In my immediately preceding post (below), I touched on the importance of tipping when visiting Club Amigo Marea del Portillo – or any resort in Cuba, for that matter. For many people, tips are a vital part of their income because wages are incredibly low and, from what I’ve observed, tipping is not limited to the housekeeping and restaurant/bar staff. Within the resort, typically, tips baskets are located on counters as benign reminders.
My general rule is, if someone assists you in any way, especially if it is beyond what you would expect, give a tip and/or a gift to that person. Tip the wait staff at every meal, the bar tenders and the maid every day – you’ll likely get to know them by name. Tip the guy who lugs your luggage and the one who takes you sailing. Tip the people who provide you with transportation – the bus, taxi and horse carriage drivers, or the horseman, if you go for a trail ride. Tip the guy who comes to your room to fix the hot water (a common malady, unfortunately). I could go on but I’m sure you’re already thinking you may need to take out a bank loan, just to cover the tips.
Don’t worry! Tipping in Cuba is not like it is in Canada; a buck goes a long way. There is no expectation of a 10-15% tip, even if you are paying for a service (at all-inclusives, you don’t get those handy bills at the end of a meal to help you determine appropriate tips.) In Cuba, tourists use what are known as convertible pesos or CUCs, which are worth about the same as loonies. The peso follows the U.S. dollar and, since the Canadian dollar glides along in a similar fashion, a CUC peso is pretty close to being equal to $1 (CAD).
On my first trip to Marea del Portillo, I was advised by long-time guests to leave a peso on the pillow each morning for the maid. I sometimes leave small gifts too, such as notebooks and pens, hair accessories or dollar-store jewelry. In the resort restaurants, my dining partners and I usually take turns leaving a peso or so on the table – more, if the group is large or the service has been especially good at that meal. At the bars, I tend to tip sporadically, mostly because I don’t always have pockets or a purse and I stupidly forget to take money with me! But, since the tip jar is always there, I play catch-up and throw in extra change when I do think about it.
If you budget about $5/day for tips, and throw in a little extra for the little extras, you should be fine. I’ve never actually added up what I’ve tipped, so I guessing that $35-50 for the week will be plenty. It’s not a huge sum to a Canadian but, for the Cuban workers, it’s essential supplemental income.
When in doubt about what or when to tip, I would encourage you to err on the side of generosity. You can’t go wrong by being nice!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Restructuring the Cuban economy
All of my previous posts were items I'd written for other forums, or just for my own fun. This is the first piece I've written specifically for this blog.
The Cuban economy has been fragile for decades. Trading sanctions against it by the United States and other countries that follow its lead have taken their toll, and the people of Cuba suffer. Raul Castro’s government recently embarked on a massive employment restructuring program and, since the state is the island’s largest employer, many people are being affected.
The intent, I’ve read, was to cut the fat from inflated payrolls and promote productivity. However, there are often few work options available beyond what the government has long provided. So, when people have their previously guaranteed hours of work and wages cut, they struggle to find something else, just to make ends meet. This is particularly a problem in impoverished rural regions like Granma.
I recently learned that one of my friends, who has worked at Club Amigo Marea del Portillo for much of his adult life, has had his work cut to “high-season” only (just the winter months, when the bulk of the tourists visit). This summer, he and his wife, who was also working at the resort, were assigned to work at a hospital instead. Although they’re on the resort staff, they are actually paid by the government and, as I understand it, must work where they’re told when not needed at their usual jobs.
This friend said his wages have been reduced to about 60%, which means he’ll now take home about $8/month Canadian (CAD). His wife would likely have been making less but, because she was a waitress, would have brought home more money from tips. They are looking into other endeavors to generate income for their small family.
As an aside, let me explain a little bit about the importance of tipping. Another friend, who has worked at the same resort for about 18 years, if I recall correctly, was off work for three months due to eye surgery. He said missing work made it very hard for his family financially – not due to decreased wages (approx. $12/month) but because of the lack of tips. I don’t know how much he might typically take home on an average day but he told me, the best tip he ever got, once, was $20. Tips are vital.
Some people who will now be underemployed are seeking new options. Private enterprise is not exactly encouraged in Cuba but, it seems, the government is becoming a little more lenient in this regard. It remains to be seen what will happen in the long run.
For more information on what is developing, I would encourage you to read the Havana Times. Here’s an article to start with: Cuba Gov. Offensive to Cut Inflated Payrolls.
------------------------------
The Cuban economy has been fragile for decades. Trading sanctions against it by the United States and other countries that follow its lead have taken their toll, and the people of Cuba suffer. Raul Castro’s government recently embarked on a massive employment restructuring program and, since the state is the island’s largest employer, many people are being affected.
The intent, I’ve read, was to cut the fat from inflated payrolls and promote productivity. However, there are often few work options available beyond what the government has long provided. So, when people have their previously guaranteed hours of work and wages cut, they struggle to find something else, just to make ends meet. This is particularly a problem in impoverished rural regions like Granma.
I recently learned that one of my friends, who has worked at Club Amigo Marea del Portillo for much of his adult life, has had his work cut to “high-season” only (just the winter months, when the bulk of the tourists visit). This summer, he and his wife, who was also working at the resort, were assigned to work at a hospital instead. Although they’re on the resort staff, they are actually paid by the government and, as I understand it, must work where they’re told when not needed at their usual jobs.
This friend said his wages have been reduced to about 60%, which means he’ll now take home about $8/month Canadian (CAD). His wife would likely have been making less but, because she was a waitress, would have brought home more money from tips. They are looking into other endeavors to generate income for their small family.
As an aside, let me explain a little bit about the importance of tipping. Another friend, who has worked at the same resort for about 18 years, if I recall correctly, was off work for three months due to eye surgery. He said missing work made it very hard for his family financially – not due to decreased wages (approx. $12/month) but because of the lack of tips. I don’t know how much he might typically take home on an average day but he told me, the best tip he ever got, once, was $20. Tips are vital.
Some people who will now be underemployed are seeking new options. Private enterprise is not exactly encouraged in Cuba but, it seems, the government is becoming a little more lenient in this regard. It remains to be seen what will happen in the long run.
For more information on what is developing, I would encourage you to read the Havana Times. Here’s an article to start with: Cuba Gov. Offensive to Cut Inflated Payrolls.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
POEM: She is Moonlight
I wrote this poem for one of my dear friends in Pilon. She and her family have taken up residence in my heart.
She is Moonlight
(For Yolaimis)
Her beauty’s moonlight through trees,
subtle as slow-burning coals.
When she smiles, the branches part
and the moon beams brilliantly.
Her eyes are Venus and Mars,
brighter than the winking stars.
They flash a different hue when
rightful anger drowns her heart.
And, they fill a room with warmth
reflecting her lovely soul.
She walks with grace and dances
beautifully, her husband says.
When she whispers through my mind,
she is moonlight.
- J.R.C.
July 25, 2010
------------------------------
She is Moonlight
(For Yolaimis)
Her beauty’s moonlight through trees,
subtle as slow-burning coals.
When she smiles, the branches part
and the moon beams brilliantly.
Her eyes are Venus and Mars,
brighter than the winking stars.
They flash a different hue when
rightful anger drowns her heart.
And, they fill a room with warmth
reflecting her lovely soul.
She walks with grace and dances
beautifully, her husband says.
When she whispers through my mind,
she is moonlight.
- J.R.C.
July 25, 2010
POEM: Worth a War
A fairly recent poem, once again playing with personification, and expressing my desire to do what I can to assist in improving life for my Cuban friends.
Worth a War
I want to fight for you,
my beautiful one,
my beloved place.
I want to start my own
revolution.
You stir my blood
and haunt my soul.
You make me cry.
You are worth a war –
one with no violence
this time.
I want to touch your face,
my beautiful one,
my beloved place.
I want to caress you
with my toes,
as I walk upon
your warm sand
and slip into your bay.
You make me smile.
You are worth a war –
of words and paper
this time.
I want to see you smile,
my beautiful one,
my beloved place.
I want to see the sun
wink above your
mountains,
and I want to know
you have everything
you need.
You are worth a war,
dear Cuba.
– J.R.C.
June 21, 2010
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