Pensacola to Cuba

My last days in Pensacola were quite enjoyable. On Thursday, another Couchsurfer reached out and invited my host and me to a line-dancing venue. It reminded me of a place we used to go to in California called the Branding Iron. We did a few line dances and went on to have great conversations about everything from politics to religion. She dropped me off, and the next day, I started wrapping things up for my trip to Tampa on Saturday. I was glad that, despite some initial uncertainty, I was able to meet a couple who are close friends with someone I know from Boulder, and in the end, it couldn't have worked out better. We walked around a bit in historic Pensacola, shared some stories, and had breakfast before they dropped me off at the airport.

I arrived in Tampa, picked up the rental car, and headed to my Couchsurfing hosts, a most generous and caring couple. I arrived later in the evening, and after grabbing a delicious sandwich at Hemingway’s Cuban Kitchen based on his recommendation, we chatted a bit before I headed off to bed. The next day, he invited me to join him on his dog walk around the neighborhood. We ended up walking for almost three hours, all around town. It was an incredible tour. I learned about the transformation the area had seen over the past decade—from abandoned buildings to luxury apartments and a fancy riverfront. They were also the first of two people who played a huge role in helping me gather medical supplies to take to Corazón con Cuba. In an unexpected turn of events, not only did I receive a suitcase they no longer needed, but we filled it with unused items from suturing kits that she had saved from her ER job. She had been keeping them in hopes of finding a use, and this couldn’t have been a better outcome. Since I had the car, I took a day to travel around a bit and see a few of their recommendations. I drove to Fort De Soto Park and checked out the beach and the fort, then on my way back stopped by St Petersburg for lunch and walked down the pier. Our last night, we had a great time in historic Ybor, then parted ways the next day: they left for a trip, and I moved on to spend one last night in the U.S. at a different Couchsurfing home.

The second person who was instrumental in my goal had reached out weeks before my arrival and went above and beyond in helping me gather medical supplies. By the time I arrived, she had already acquired a suitcase and lots of supplies from her Buy Nothing group and other sources—all for cheap or free. Then, the day before staying at her home, we embarked on a well-organized plan she put together to visit some places, including attending a church sale and hitting up a few thrift shops. The highlight was the weekly church sale, where they lay out all sorts of donations, and you can take whatever you want and pay what you think is fair. I found a number of things, all for under a dollar. After a productive morning, we switched gears and did some sightseeing. She took me to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks and showed me some hidden gems, including an area where you can watch an old film about how the sponge industry in the area came to be. This was followed by a delicious Greek lunch at the Restaurant Hellas before we called it a day. The next day, we did a bit more sightseeing, joined by her grandson, and I got to experience some of her daily life. The following morning, I woke up early, we said our goodbyes, and I headed to the airport. Her hospitality and generosity are rare and truly inspiring.

Upon arriving in Cuba, I dropped off the medical supplies and met the organizer of Corazón con Cuba in person for the first time. She had mentioned a couple of events I might be able to help with, but they fell through, which she said happens often. She leads a very busy life—studying to become a doctor, while also managing and organizing supply distribution at her home (as the warehouse they used to have is no longer in good condition). It's all very admirable. After the drop-off, I headed to Hostel Red, where I met the owners, a warm and welcoming family whose hospitality made me feel right at home from the moment I arrived. The husband welcomed me with some delicious mango juice, and we shared a few stories. The next day, his wife made a wonderful breakfast with avocado, platanos, and a salad. Since then, I’ve had many conversations with them and learned a lot. The day I arrived, I was also invited by a Couchsurfing member to a birthday party for another surfer. It was a fun gathering with live music and several more Couchsurfers. In the following days, I’ve walked and taken various forms of transportation around the city, met more surfers, and visited the Fidel Center.

During my stay, I’ve felt an unparalleled sense of safety and community, unlike anywhere else I’ve been. I’ve walked throughout the city at all hours, and the people here are truly remarkable. Their resilience, combined with the system the government has put in place, seems to be what has enabled them to survive and endure external sanctions. I constantly wonder what they could accomplish if the embargo and other limitations were lifted. That said, like all governments, this one isn’t without its flaws. It’s not hard to imagine how much more challenging things would be for any country facing the same level of restrictions over so many years.