1984 Blended: My Experience in Beautiful Communist Cuba

In 2005, I went for the first time in vacation to Cuba. Before leaving for my vacation, my idea of Cuba was that of a gorgeous country, with lots of sunshine and world renowned beaches. However, it is also fair to say that i had heard about the dark side of Cuba, which refers to its totalitarian and oppressive communist regime that  has brought misery and  poverty upon its own citizens. The first day that i got there I remember being exited. The weather was hot and the day was full of sunshine. From the airport to the resort,were I was going to stay, was about ten minutes drive, so I could not see much of  the surroundings. Upon arrival at the resort we were received by warm and friendly staff. While enjoying the food, the life in the resort and the days at the beach it did not take long for me to come across the other side of Cuba. My first encounter with the reality outside the resort was when we went on a day excursion trip. I remember being in shock and feeling like i was exploring some other planet during that day trip. All i could see was destroyed roads, buildings with no windows, and piles of garbage everywhere. So all  i had heard about the life outside the resorts was true. On our way back to the hotel I remember being upset from what I had seen and I started questioning myself if I had done the right thing to have come  there in the first place. In a sense I started to feel guilty, because i was seeing the money that i was spending to vacation there  as a contribution to the dictatorship therefore keeping them in power so they can oppress and control their own citizens. At the end of my vacation I remember leaving Cuba with mixed feelings, because i really had fun in the resort but i was shocked about how poor and underdeveloped such a beautiful country was. Finally, leaving all that paradox behind i remember saying to myself that I would not contribute to the dictatorship anymore, and the only time i would ever go back to Cuba was when the people had the rights and freedoms that we all enjoy in our country.