Retiring in Cuba: Struggle in Paradise

It's not an easy life, but 65+ year-old Cubans have figured out some surprisingly creative ways to make it work.
Depending on your politics, Cuba is either a repressive dictatorship or a benevolent support system. Either way, unless you have are independently wealthy, Cuba is not an easy place to retire.
Pensions are just a few dollars a month, so if you don’t have relatives to care for you or a secondary income, it can be hard to make ends meet. Many elderly Cubans have turned to the black market or are selling newspapers or collecting cans.
• Where do you turn in your aluminum cans and what do you get for them (hint: it’s not cash)?
• How much do you make a day selling one of Cuba’s two national newspapers?
The Cubans have managed, with their usual combination of patience, pride, and resignation, to find happiness no matter what their situation.
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Download our complete 2-hour PBS documentary series on Cuba: www.japanlandonline.com/
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#Travel #Adventure #Cuba
Category: Travel

[@RamonaLeigh]

It’s also hard when you’re a tourist and you can only spend tourist money and can’t give it to the locals because they can only spend cuc. So we bring gifts for our Cuban locals like tooth brushes etc. As much as our extra suitcases can carry. I can’t wait to go back. It’s my favourite place in the world.

[@Jmula999]

You can convert cuc to cup while in Cuba..

[@nosomysoto5238]

Yes, you can give them dollars they have locals who will convert it for them or they go to exchange store and covert the dollar but get less for it.

[@trustytrucking9917]

Ramona. I am a cuban and what you are saying is not true. Cubans are poor but not stupid they know how to change dollars or euros or whatever to cuban pesos.

[@Ricobaca]

@@trustytrucking9917 how are so many Cuba women getting into Texas for strip club work?

[@user-uz5ko8sv2f]

This is not true, I was in Havana and I was allowed to help ppl without any issues.

[@brucevilla7490]

I'm retiring to Cuba in a few years.

[@user-uz5ko8sv2f]

Having recently returned from Beautiful Havana, the one thing I know is the Cuban people are simply amazing, always welcoming!!

[@errolandrade4235]

Thanks for your vlog. Such a tough life for them but they have a positivity and zest for life that's truly amazing ☺️

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Errol!

[@Lazaro38Roca2]

Thank You 🙏🏼 Darling soo much For Uploading the Video it was more powerful than I thought .

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank YOU, Alexander!

[@susyQ564]

I am very impressed with your videos. They show the reality of a Cuban"s life.

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you so much, Susan! That was exactly my hope....

[@curtisjones400]

@@OurHumanPlanet I wish the USA could male Cuba a part of the United Sates and make it a vacation spot Las Vegas. Cuba would be much better off.

[@rawnarrative]

I agree

[@randallknapp7528]

Beautiful video

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Randall!

[@brianmarshall1637]

Mind you here in the UK if you have not a private pension or good savings you can quickly be in poverty because the state pension will not do.

[@CesarPerez-rm2fl]

Was in cuba last year. Havana is expensive compared to the outer parts. If you want to live like a king with not much cash cuba is a great option. I plan to spend many warm days there when i retire one day...

[@rawnarrative]

Same :)

[@tamaratamara7600]

Heavenly Father helping me, .. I will go to Cuba someday and handout dollar bills so this hardworking people will live like millionaires even if it's for a day. My prayers are with them.

[@rawnarrative]

Thank you !

[@karlad4082]

Tamara Tamara There are about 500,000 homeless people in the U.S. who get bo shelter or food from the government. Would you please help them as well? 🤷‍♀️

[@peppigue]

@@karlad4082 more expensive to aid people in need in higher cost countries

[@laabuela13]

The average pension of a retired US senior is $1400. Or less. The money was worth something back in the 70's but now it's not enough to live on. My 80-year-old neighbor has to work washing dishes at a local restaurant in Berkeley CA to make it. And there are many homeless seniors living on the streets, folks in wheelchairs and walkers living on the streets. Blocks from high end eateries and shops and luxury apartments.

[@Damremont18]

The unspoken problem that colours this entire video is that for decades the most powerful nation on earth has put a tiny country under the most crushing sanctions and embargoes more relentless than anywhere on earth. It’s not a fair fight. The US has effectively created an environment where it has become impossible for this tiny country to succeed. In the 21st century the US is beginning to see the fruits of capitalism in the fact that the majority of American wealth is in the hands of 1% of the population and millions of Americans are sliding into poverty. You would think that the focus would turn from suppressing Cubans to caring for Americans. All in all, smugness over the trials of this tiny nation looks like the smugness of the bully when the defenceless kid is under his heel.

[@alexisvladimir8148]

Lol so communism never works at all

[@shauncameron8390]

It wasn't so crushing when that tiny nation had Soviet and Venezuelan aid to live off of.

[@clarkewi]

$1500 US Social Security pension must be a fortune in Cuba???

[@OurHumanPlanet]

It certainly is....

[@curtisjones400]

@@OurHumanPlanet This is why we in the USA do not want socialism or have a dictatorship like Cuba

[@rawnarrative]

An absolute fortune !

[@amoralay840]

@@curtisjones400 This is why we in the USA have tried everything in our power to destroy every socialist country that has stood up to US imperialism with financial terrorism, policing and coercing the entire world to sanction them, place embargoes upon them, attempt hundreds of assassination upon their leaders and send the CIA to perform coups and terrorism....Stop swallowing your toothpaste!

[@matthewd6306]

@@amoralay840 Shithole countries that could be great places to live, but are kept back because of Authoritarian Governments and Dictators. Compare NK to South Korea. 1 Communist, 1 Capitalist. South Korea is one of the greatest countries in the world to live in. NK is 1 of the worst.

[@karlad4082]

Reality Check. There are about 500,000 homeless people in the U.S. and the government doesn’t even care whether they get shelter or food. Cuban’s retirees have it 100% better than in the U.S. 🤷‍♀️

[@CaRrOtCaKe32200]

Wow someone who sees it as i do thanks

[@edwardgarcia7862]

you are crazy if you think anyone in cuba has it better than in US CRAZY

[@dharmawiguna3232]

@@edwardgarcia7862 the oldman in video is poor , but not HOMELESS

[@catec6184]

These people aren't homeless, they're retired. How about you compare them to U.S. retirees and see how that stacks up? :)

[@richardque1036]

"Communism turn the entire country into land of beggar"-- solidarity activitist(1987)

[@Lazaro38Roca2]

Now That’s What I Call Abuse On The Elderly I Feel Soo Sorry For Them. Now We Have To Deal With Fidel Castro Biden And Vice President Che Guava Kamala Harris

[@Damremont18]

You make this claim when Trump and Pompeo renewed sanctions and restrictions on Cuban. The US has imposed crushing sanctions on this tiny country for decades. After decades, Obama made significant steps to normalizing relations with Cuba thereby giving the people of this nation a hope that they might have a chance to succeed after years of American oppression. Trumps hatred of Obama was more important to Trump than the well being of Cuba and every effort Obama made was swept away. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH6vZKiXrcmhhtk

[@TenzinLundrup]

Cuba has free healthcare.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@TenzinLundrup But no doctors or supplies.

[@nasimreza2727]

everyone is fu*ked in this garbage model. even the elderlies aren't spared!! what a misery 😥

[@alizamzam11]

Nonsense, they don’t pay for anything: housing, health care , education.. how much do we pay for rose ? At least 3000$ monthly. We are shaves and they are free men but no luxury

[@ACS2]

It is not free. Nothing is free in the universe. Not water neither air, oversupply just make them worthless. Those "free" things don't come out of nowhere.

[@fireresq157]

Said the guy who wasn't born there and has no idea what he's talking about.

[@spaghettimon3851]

@@fireresq157 While >90% of Cubans have their own homes, more Americans are spending half of their income on housing.

[@alejandroavila2646]

@@spaghettimon3851 That's simply not true.