[NJT Ottawa] A highlight on our trips was discovering the satisfaction of bringing surplus medical supplies to donate to local hospitals and health care providers. A voluntary group called Not Just Tourists has chapters across Canada . They’ll set you up with suitcases of surplus medical supplies. We have taken suitcases to several hospitals, met their directors, taken tours, and been thanked with the deepest gratitude. Cuba has good doctors. But due to their low incomes and the U.S. economic embargo imposed on the country, Cubans are often unable to get treatment for health problems that Canadians consider routine.
Your local doctors and hospitals also can find surplus medicines and medical devices you can take to Cuba. If you do this once, we expect you’ll do it again.
The airlines are helpful when you plan a Cuban trip. On our recent trip, Air Transat waived baggage fees on all the donated medical supplies and other donations we brought , including a bicycle. Contact the airline in advance to arrange this.
Finally, there is so much to enjoy once you’re seeing the real Cuba from the street level. Most towns have a Casa de la Trova, which features traditional music, or a Casa de Cultura, featuring art, music, literature and other cultural activities. Art and music and stimulating experiences are everywhere if you avoid the all-inclusive resorts and big hotels. But bring everything you expect to need. It’s hard to find common tourist accessories such as sun screen, headache remedies, toothpaste, bug spray, batteries, etc.
And think of bringing small quantities of travel products that you can give to the Cubans you meet and the servers you want to tip. Those gifts and a few Spanish phrases will win you a really warm bienvenido from the Cubans you meet.
Ish
