Buying a box of cookies tells another part of the story of Cuba’s economy – the biscuits are from Argentina. Cuba used to export sugar to the Soviet Union and buy back finished products. I guess they now sell sugar to Argentina. It is startling how little vertical integration there is in the Cuba economy. Like so many former colonies they produce primary goods, but do very little subsequent processing of their production.

The beach of Cayo Jutias is white, narrow and a bit underwhelming. Cuba’s reputation for beaches was not made in this part of Pinar del Rio. One of the state tourist corporations things good enough for some investment.

They have built new beachfront cabanas and a large covered bar/dining area. Though a heavy weekend of traffic now generates about ten tourist vehicles a day out to the island, somebody must expect more because there is now several miles of causeway out to the island. A second attraction of the island is a 90-year-old lighthouse. It features a small museum and the keeper is happy to escort you to the top for a view and his kids are happy to have some new faces the through their baseball to.

Back at the Campismo we had an hour-long talk with a journalist for the government newspaper from the region. The tables were turned a bit as she answered questions about the economy, society, the Pope's visit, government and a range of other topics we raised. There was nothing that wasn’t frank about the conversation. A most pleasurable education.