Chris Turner, author of the Hammy winning book, “The Leap”, has an outstanding article in the latest issue of The Walrus about the unique relationship between Canada and Cuba which captures, way better than I ever could, much of the mixed emotions you feel as a wealthy Canadian tourist in Cuba – are you helping their economy or exploiting it? Should you give in to the tourist trappings or seek an “authentic” experience? Does such a thing even exist? Why do we feel the need to bring gifts of medicine and dollar store trinkets in Cuba when we rarely do the same for our trips to Mexico and the Dominican?
Here’s my own mixed message colonization attempt: “Here’s some books for your children (good!). They’re all in English (not so good?)”
