Cuba - Lonely Planet [398]
Water
Tap water in Cuba is not reliably safe to drink. Vigorous boiling for one minute is the most effective means of water purification.
You may also disinfect water with iodine pills. Instructions are included and should be carefully followed. Or you can add 2% tincture of iodine to 1L of water (five drops to clear water, 10 drops to cloudy water) and let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cold, longer times may be required. The taste of iodinated water may be improved by adding vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Iodinated water should not be consumed for more than a few weeks. Pregnant women, those with a history of thyroid disease, and those allergic to iodine should not drink iodinated water. Click here for more treatment options.
A number of water filters are on the market. Those with smaller pores (reverse osmosis filters) provide the broadest protection, but they are relatively large and are readily plugged by debris. Those with somewhat larger pores (microstrainer filters) are ineffective against viruses, although they remove other organisms. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions carefully.
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TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN
In general, it’s safe for children to go to Cuba. However, because some of the vaccines listed previously are not approved for use on children (or during pregnancy), travelers with children should be particularly careful not to drink tap water or consume any questionable food or beverage. Also, when traveling with children, make sure they’re up to date on all routine immunizations. It’s sometimes appropriate to give children some of their vaccines a little early before visiting a developing nation. You should discuss this with your pediatrician.
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WOMEN’S HEALTH
You can get sanitary items in Cuba, but they are usually more expensive than in Europe, North America or Australia and they are not always readily available (eg easy to find in Varadero, but not quite so easy in Bayamo). Advice: bring a good supply of your own. If pregnant while traveling, see left.
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TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
The following table lists some traditional remedies for common travel-related issues:
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Language
CONTENTS
* * *
Learning Spanish
Pronunciation
Gender & Plurals
Accommodation
Conversation & Essentials
Directions
Health
Language Difficulties
Numbers
Question Words
Shopping & Services
Time & Dates
Transport
Travel with Children
* * *
Spanish is the official language of Cuba, and some knowledge of it is a great help in traveling around the country. Away from the hotels and tourist centers, few people speak English and then only very poorly. Despite this, many Cubans have some knowledge of English, since it’s taught in school from grade six. Almost all museum captions in Cuba are in Spanish only.
If you speak no Spanish at all, you can always ask directions simply by pointing to the name in this guidebook. Never hesitate to try out your Spanish on Cubans!
Words of Arawak Indian origin that have passed into Spanish and other European languages include barbacoa (barbecue), canoa (canoe), cigarro (cigarette), hamaca (hammock), huracán (hurricane), maíz (maize), patata (potato) and tabaco (tobacco). The only commonly used words of African origin are generally associated with the Afro-Cuban religions, but Afro-Cuban speakers have given Cuban Spanish its rhythmical intonation and soft accent.
LEARNING SPANISH
If you don’t speak Spanish, don’t despair. It’s easy enough to pick up the basics, and courses are available in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Alternatively, you can study books, records and tapes while you’re still at home planning your trip. These study aids are often available free at public libraries – or you might consider taking an evening or college course. For words and phrases for use when ordering at a restaurant, see Eat Your Words on Click here.
Lonely Planet’s Latin American Spanish phrasebook is a compact guide to the Spanish of