During breakfast, I noticed that the milk was hot. Emerson told me that all milk in Cuba comes in the form of powder. As a person who loves milk, I couldn’t imagine my life without milk in liquid form. For me, it was another indication of socialism in this country through a reminder of food rationing.
— Hayoung
Today, we had a very good breakfast. This time they were able to get ham. There are many things that seem to be scarce and that one cannot find, even if you have money.
—Sergio
We ate next door in a cafe where I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich, a fresh fruit juice, and a delicious coffee for only 40 CUP (about $1.60). The prices seemed to me to be from another world, since they really are – another economy, at least.
—Gabi
 
On the way back to the hotel, we went out to eat something, and since we were all hungry and impatient we ended up in a slightly expensive restaurant (about 7-9 CUC per dish). It was weird – three of us ordered chicken, but without asking they brought fried chicken for the other two and grilled chicken for me. They had also told us that they couldn’t make several dishes because it was difficult to get the ingredients, which might be due to the rationing of some things. When we left, we turned the corner and there we saw a café with juices for 6 CUP (about $0.25) and main courses at about 50 CUP ($2). I find it very interesting that there’s such a wide range of prices in close proximity. It’s not as though restaurants in touristy places were more expensive than in the rest of the city – these two were one block apart from each other.
—Gabi
