Cuba is stuck in the 1950’s. That’s what I was told and have read. All of the old buildings are tired and run down and the old 1940s and ‘50s cars are famously, still around and used as taxis. There are newer cars, but it is not common for someone to have a new car (or a car at all). The majority of cars would be 30 to 40 years old.
Everything is reused or recycled because stuff is just plain hard to get – there is a use for anything, no matter how old it is or what it was used for originally. This all adds to the uniqueness of Cuba. Without the economic and political history of Cuba, there is no way that Cuba could offer a tourist what it does today.
Don’t be fooled though, Cuba has embraced the new millennium and many of the mod cons that came with it. Each Cuban will carry one of the latest Samsung and Apple phones. I got my old Nokia out and the taxi driver almost ran off the road he was laughing that hard. Inside the old Chevys, Fords and Pontiacs a quick glance at the dashboard will show it in almost original condition except for the USB stick hanging out of the stereo.
