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Cuba

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'''Cuba''' is an island nation in the [[Caribbean]].
In '''Cuba''' there are maybe may be more hitchhikers than cars - private . Private cars are very rare. Everybody is hitchhiking in Cubaand consequently almost everyone hitchhikes. You will see hitchhikers at nearly every crossing, bridge or highway junction. Cuban hitchhikers never uses use a [[sign]]. If you look like a western tourist everybody want to work as a private taxi for you (which can be expensive) - make sure how much it costs when entering a car or state clearly that you don't want or can not pay something. Your chances for getting a free ride are low especially if don't speak good spanish. Infact there is not much traffic in Cuba and there are also a lot of other hitchers on the road, which can make waiting times long. Furthermore hitchers will often be picked up on the back of trucks (together with many other people). The trucks go slow and the roads are sometimes in a bad state.
On ''If you look like a western tourist everybody want to work as a private taxi for you (which can be expensive). Therefore, before you enter a car, either agree on a price with the driver or tell him that you cannot pay. Your chances of getting a free ride are low especially if don't speak good Spanish. In fact, there is not much traffic in Cuba and there are also a lot of other hitchers on the road, which can make waiting times long. Furthermore hitchers will often be picked up on the back of trucks (together with many other people). The trucks go slow and the roads are sometimes in a bad state. In Cuba''' people with a private car are required to pick up hitchhikers. This sounds good but actually less then 40% of the cars passing by are private cars and traffic in total is pretty low already. There are yellow police officers ("amarillos") who stop cars and oblige the driver to give a lift to the people waiting on the street. There is a small cost involved - about 20 pesos from one city to the next. As the amarillos collect the money during the daytime, the government gets the money, hence it can be easier to hitchhike at night when the driver gets the money. Nevertheless the amarillos who are supposed to stop the car and ask the driver where he/she is going complain that less and less cars actually stop.
[[File:Amarillo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[User:fabzgy|Fabzgy]] took this pictures while hitchhiking in [[Cuba]], the two guys dressed in yellow pants and shirts are the "amarillos"]]
== Eat and Drink ==
In touristic places you will be asked very often if you want to eat in a paladar, which is a private restaurant in private places. This is mostly better and cheaper then in an offical restaurant. But always choose the restaurant on your own, don't go with the guys who asked you because they will get a provision which you will have to pay, sometime they also want you to invite them.
In touristic places you will be asked very often if you want to eat in a paladar, which is a private restaurant in a private residence. These places are mostly better and cheaper then in an official restaurant. But always choose the restaurant on your own, and don't go with anyone who asks you, because you may be forced to pay for their bill. A typical meal is rice with beans and some meat. For most europeans Europeans it is not very tasty. Keep some salt and pepper with you.Market's Markets don't have a good choice of products. A good idea is to buy fresh fruits from the street.
Don't drink tap water in Cuba.
== Sleep ==
Wildcamping, Pitching a tent or sleeping (in a sleeping bag) on the beach is strictly forbidden in Cuba. But if you don't have a sleeping bag or tent (it is warm) , you can do still get away with it. There are a lot of mosquito'smosquitos. If you do it with choose to use a tent or sleeping bag do it hidden , be very discreet as there is are many police in Cuba. Best It is best is to pitch up your our tent when it is already dark and leave early in the morning.
Casa particulares are like bed and breakfast and cost 20-30 CUC per night. They have a blue anchor on the housedoor. It is usually very simple but clean.
All inclusive hotels can be the a luxurious experience for hitchhikers luxus if you really need something to eat (and drink). You can smuggel smuggle yourself in easily if you carry colored coloured straps with you, : check out what colors colours the tourist wear at there on their arms and choose your colordo the same. Enter the hotel via the beach, check some room numbers (if you are asked for a room numernumber) and eat as much as you can. Even some Some hotels don't even have straps for the guests. If you try to do this, try to look a little bit like a canadian AI Canadian package tourist and not to rotten and don't a low-budget traveller, otherwise you might get caught. They have plastic couches on the beach. You will use this to stay overnight :) == Health ==There is no malaria on cuba. Look out for your [[hygiene]] and for the sun. Don't drink tap water and don't eat to much stuff from the streets and you will be ok. Sometimes there is dengue in Eastern Cuba. Ask the locals and protect from the mosquitos.
== Cities ==

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