sf7307

Good thing is - one of our party speaks really good Spanish, and the rest of us can get by!

annhig

I drank water from tap and I don't believe for one second that the ice cubes for the mojitos are made with bottled water. >>

Whathello - we drank only bottled water but still both of us got ill. I'm sure you're right about the ice used in mojitos. [not sure that was the cause - who knows?]

Whathello

Last I got food poisoned it was the tomatoes.
In Egypt. It lasted 10 days and i needed antibiotics.
But I think luck plays a good part.

SambaChula

Maybe not bottled water, annhig, but probably boiled, as Cubans are accustomed to do for their own consumption, as mentioned.

annhig

You think that all the water used for all those cocktails for tourists has been boiled, SC? I find that difficult to believe. [and that is not a criticism of the Cubans, BTW, just realism].

SambaChula

I'd like to think they'd treat me the same way they treat their family members who drink and make ice from boiled water. Also, sick tourists are not good for business.

lovecuba

The tap water NEVER should be drinked, however it can be used to brush teeths or cook with no issues.

When dinning outside ask for bottle water or ultimately boiled water which is the most common among Cubans.

SambaChula

That's been covered.
The question was the consistent safety of ice for drinks. Is it ALWAYS made from boiled water, in every location?

annhig

Is it ALWAYS made from boiled water, in every location?>>

I think that's highly unlikely, SC.

SambaChula

Well, I don't. Sick clients are bad for business.

Visitors who spend a very brief time in an extremely limited area may not be capable of speculating on common practice on the island.

Whathello

So you are Cuban too ?
And an economist.
And a logistician.
Any idea how much energy would be required to boil all the water ?
I would say if they have a reverse osmosis it would already be great.
But sure enough I didn't spend years in Cuba.

SambaChula

SO you're just guessing.

My point is that those who haven't been in a lot of Cuban homes to see how they operate, and who have eaten/drunk in just a few establishments over a week or so, are just speculating.


It doesn't take an economist or a whatever to understand that sick clients are bad for business.
And that most Cubans in cities with old infrastructure (pipes) boil their own water to keep themselves healthy, and that the minimal costs must be worth it to them.
Cubans have good educational system, an excellent health care system, and a first world understanding of health issues (unlike some destinations for which the clean water issue comes up).

sf7307

We just got back. We used only bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. Every one of us (toddler included, who had zero ice, but did have some fruit juice at the casas) got at least a mild case of stomach distress, some cured with a dose or two of Immodium, some needing Cipro. I wasn't the slightest bit sick until after we were back in the USA for 24 hours. So who knows?

sf7307

BTW, SambaChula, a doctor friend who has been to Cuba thinks their health care system is good in that it provides basic care for all, but that it is not excellent, in that care beyond basic care is often better dealt with outside of Cuba.