Interesting facts about Cuba - The literacy rate in Cuba is 99.8%, which is one of the highest in the world. There are two countries where Coca-Cola cannot be bought, at least not officially. North Korea and Cuba, which are both under U.S. trade embargoes in Cuba since 1962. viewed from the air, the island of Cuba looks like a crocodile. It is also referred to in Spanish as “El Crocodilo” or “El Caima.” In Cuba, there is a dual monetary system: the Cuban peso (CUP) and the convertible peso (CUC). The national currency is The Cuban peso. Cubans could not own cell phones until 2008 the ban was lifted by President Raul Castro’s government. Cuba is roughly the size (in total area) of the U.S. states of Tennessee or Virginia. Did you know that the United States pays Cuba approximately $4,085 a year to lease the 45 square miles that the Guantánamo Bay Naval Station occupies? Cuba, however, has not accepted the payment since 1959. Cuban cigars are known as the finest in the world. handcrafted with homegrown tobacco. Sugar made from sugar cane is their major agricultural crop. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Cuba is the largest. There are as many as 4000 other islands in the region, which are much smaller than Cuba. the national game of Cuba is The game of dominoes. Cuba has the highest doctor-to-patient ratio in the world. Due to this fact, many Cuban doctors are sent to countries where medical aid is required. Bacardi rum was originally manufactured in Cuba. However, production moved to Puerto Rico after Fidel Castro overtook Cuba. the famous writer Ernest Hemingway wrote “The Old Man and the Sea,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls” while he lived in Cuba. Americans can bring home $100 worth of cigars and rum when returning home from visiting cuba. Recipes in Cuba are not typically written down. Their recipes are passed down from generation to generation. In Cuba they burn dolls on New Year’s Eve to symbolize forgetting bad times and look forward to a fresh start with the New Year as a tradition. Cohiba cigars were smoked by Fidel Castro. The C.I.A. allegedly attempted to assassinate Castro by sending him a box of poisoned Cohiba cigars. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez became the president of Cuba On April 18, 2018, after the stepping down of the previous president Raul Castro. Cuba has nine UNESCO World Heritage properties. two are natural while Seven of these are cultural. the gross national income per capita of Cuba is $5,539. yet Cubans take home net $20 per month. Government vehicles are obliged by law to pick up hitchhikers in cuba. You are allowed to drink alcohol on the streets in Cuba. There are no laws that forbid drinking alcohol on public streets. Just like in Brazil or Las Vegas. According to Numbeo’s crime index, Cuba is the safest country in America, with almost no violent crime. for solo female travelers, It makes it one of my favourite destinations. Education is free and compulsory, All children are required to go to school until they finish basic secondary education. life expectancy of men is higher in Cuba than men in the United States. Life expectancy of Cuban men is 76.8 years of age. 90% of Cubans have homes under their ownership. Cuba has a homeownership rate of 90 %, which makes it the fifth-highest in the world after Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Singapore. In Cuba they celebrate the new year with a bucket of water. This interesting tradition takes place on New Year’s Eve. Cubans take buckets of dirty water and empty them out onto the street, signifying that they are throwing out all the bad stuff that happened during the previous year. Catholicism is The most popular religion in Cuba. The second most popular is Santeria, which is an African diasporic religion born in the 19th century. Son Cubano is The most popular music genre in Cuba. It contains Spanish and African musical influences. Vintage cars are a symbol of Cuba. driving through the city in a Rented classic old car its one of the most popular things you can do in Cuba.