8:30 – on the bus – we’ve got a relatively long ride in front of us – so we all settle in for the duration. First we drive through Miramar (view of the sea) again. Only now in the day time you can actually see how the neighborhood is being revitalized, the quietness of the streets and the smaller avenues. Designed on a grid system, the rich initially settled here. But of course, everyone left in the 50’s, and the area fell into disrepair with looters and squatters doing damage. Today you can see the renovations, the Embassies now taking up residence on 5th Avenue (the main avenue of Miramar) and the hotels on the water.
Passing out of Miramar, we head west on the little roads that will take us to Las Terrazas, a small community and nature preserve located in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range, which was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1984. It will take a couple of hours – so while we drive – Julie gives us quick interesting tidbits about the Cuban life and lifestyle
Home Ownership:
- Cubans can own their own homes, but prior to 2011, they could not sell their homes. They could only swap homes. And they had to swap them according to occupancy. For instance, if an older couple had a home with 2 bedrooms, they could swap with a young family with a 1 bedroom home and are in need of an extra bedroom because they have children.
- When selling and buying homes, each side must pay the government 4%.
- You can only own a maximum of 2 homes – one in town and one in the country or by the water. No speculating or “investment” properties are allowed.
- There is a website that lists things people are buying/selling, such as houses, cars, motorcycles, etc.
Government/Private Enterprise and property:
- Since 2008, private enterprise has been allowed in Cuba
- 10% of economy is private enterprise
- New law in December 2012 allows people to own land (given to them by the government) to grow food and build a house.
- 85% of all food is imported to Cuba – so the government is giving away land to people if they will grow produce. You can get up to 67 hectares (165 acres) of land to grow food as well as build your house.
Miscellaneous Human Interest:
- Cubans can vote at age 16
- Cubans can drink at age 18
- 21 is still the year they consider you have “come of age”
- Average salary is 450 Cuban Pesos, or about 20 CUCs (or $20 US)
- 84% of all Cubans work for the government, they stay in the same jobs all their life, with no raises and no incentives to perform
- It is anticipated over the next 10 years, that private enterprise will grow and less than 50% will work for the government
After our information packed ride, we finally arrive at the entrance to Las Terrazas and turn up a steep and winding road to get to the Buenavista cafetal (originally a coffee plantation, that is what cafetal means) to pick up our local guide, Auriele, who gives us an overview of the biosphere area.
But first – there is the welcome drink and music! Of course! Today we have a Cuba Libre but with orange soda. It is delicious and I am deciding I like rum a lot! Maybe not so great a discovery! The band is fantastic – we managed to take a video of them….
…but our only regret that we did not buy the CD! And they just signed a recording contract too….oh well…next time!
After our refreshment and bathroom break, we head down to the seating area by the lake to listen to Auriele.
He reviews the area with us, and explains how there are 5 other biospheres like this in Cuba. Las Terrazas is the original eco-community in Cuba, where after the coffee plantations denuded the forests, the government built terraces (las terrazas) to lessen the impacts of erosion and re-forested the whole area with pine trees. By recreating the original forest, the native trees and plants came back, thus maintaining the original ecosystem. Today, the area teaches everyone the value of protecting the ecosystem, and the infrastructure here now supports eco-tourism with excursions to old coffee plantation ruins, one of which we will see, hotels, restaurants, and even a zip line canopy tour.
The community of Las Terrazas was originally developed in the 1970’s with 45 houses. The government built them to try to entice people to move here from the city. Many people did not want to move and live out in the “wilderness”, but those who came to see the original homes were impressed with so many luxuries (including running water and air conditioning!) and the community began to grow. Now there are about 1500 people living here, in this sustainable community, among the beautiful forest lined lakes.
There are restrictions on the housing though (of course). The government controls who can live in Las Terrazas. And, once there you do not own the home. You can’t sell it – but you can move within the community (i.e., swapping). Auriele is exuberant and expressive in his explanations (along with great translations – such as “trustable”). It’s proving to be a really fun tour!
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