Cuba is living a new touristic boom: in 2016 4 millions of turists (mainly U. S. Citizens) have visited the island: that means new incomes for Cuban entrepreneurs: homestay (casa particular), restaurants, ride in old American cars,etc.
But let's write a little about two important activities in Cuba: the promotion of sports and the Cuban cigars. In Havana Sophie meets Rene Pedroso, a boxing coach who goes to the primary schools and look for the young pupils who want to learn boxing, a very popular sport in Cuba. In the gym he teaches them boxing but also values such as collective behaviour, solidarity: little by little Rene will select young Cuban boys who could be later good boxers. Sophie goes with Pedro to an arena to see a boxing fight and also to observe the spectators.
Then the Partagas cigars factory: we follow the workers who roll the leaves, the quality controller (ventilation of the air in the cigars, colour, shape of the cigars). And then we meet Miltania, the teacher who reads newspapaers and novels for the workers of the factory (one famous Cuban cigar is the Romeo and Juliet because it was the preferred novel of the workers).
Now bacck to the journey of Sophie: the guest-houses of Pablo and Sandra Havana, the tour on a bike taxi with Joel, the visit of the Old Havana (Carmen and Migdalia, two street artists wearing colonial dresses and smoking cigars), the water bar (Casa del Agua), the souvenirs shop. Also a moment with Carlos Campos ,the owner of a 1955 Chevrolet who explains now the importance of these restored American cars for the tourism.
I enjoyed also the stay of Sophie in the farm of Roberto and and Haydelis: rolling tobacco leaves, riding on horses and visiting of the cave where Che Guevara was hidden during the Missiles Crisis.
Then the travel by train in the "Valle de los Ingenios with the commentario of Osvaldo, a former train driver and the diving moment at the coral reef near Trinidad with Ernest Entenza, a diving coach.
I appreciate also the visit of the Cienaga de Zapata biosphere reserve with so many birds and the crocodile farm.
Finally Trinidad, it's colonial architecture and a social moment: the quinceanera feast: a very important event for the 15 years old girls (nice dresses, photo sessions, dancing).