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Cars are probably the most valuable luxury items in Cuba, not to mention
a necessity for some, and the skills and resources necessary to maintain a
car not only provides the best job, but having such skills considered a
well-kept secret, passed down from father to son through the generations.
The Cubans consider the family car, and its clean-running engine, like a
Frenchman or Californian thinks of his vineyard. Up until The Revolution
in 1960, Cuba was the largest importer of American Cars, mostly the
huge, gas-guzzling, multi-ton pile of metal that so many of us look
back on today as a romantic relic of the past. After the embargo, Cuba
has had cars from other countries—most notably, Russia—but few
of them have ever been able to last but a few years. The American cars,
however, have lasted through the years, and still run perfectly today.
For most Cubans, this is their main source of revenue, since they can
operate a taxicab, taking tourists around, and taking in up to $50/day
in an economy where the average Cuban makes $15-25 a month. Of course,
the cost of owning a car is high, especially with gasoline costing
$8/gallon. But, with prices this high, it's not surprising to see a
beautify gas station with a mini-mart and fresh, clean paint on the
walls, popping out conspicuously from a scene of intense poverty along
rural roads.
The "Camel", as it is called, because of the two "humps" that are on
the front and back, is an enormous people-moving vehicle that can
carry more Cubans than the entire Cuban Population of the state of Florida.
Built out of 18-wheeler semi's, normally used to haul earth-moving equipment
or actors from the World Wrestling Federation, these trucks pack people
so tightly, explains one old woman, that "people have done everything
biologically possible that a human can do."
Now, here is where Cuban ingenuity and sense of humor combine
to not only solve problems, but do it with a smile. The Coconut Taxi,
or the "coco-taxi", is a cute little two-seater, which is mostly used to
do quick trips around the city, or to be used as a wedding limo to take
you to... well, back home. And, despite the obvious visual conclusions
you may draw, not one has been seen on a golf course. (Well, Cubans
understandably don't have a lot of Republicans, so golf has
had limited exposure on this tiny island.)
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