Year 49 of the Revolution (Cuba, 2007)

When I visited Cuba in 2007 I was surprised to find so many of the street vendors selling books instead of plastic toys trinkets. This is is probably related to the Cuban Literacy Campaign and the nearly 100% literacy the country boasts. I stayed in the home of a family, as many travelers without the funds for a hotel room do. Speaking to my hosts and random people on the street revealed mixed feelings about Castro's communism. Education, healthcare, and many more services were accessible, but things like the internet and democracy at the top was lacking, big time. I hope the path the Cuba is on today can maintain public services while bringing more information as well as democracy without the country being turned into a corporate playground for the United States.