IS IT TRUE Â since President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Cuba, we thought it would be fun to reveal fascinating facts about this intriguing nation?
IS IT TRUE in Cuba healthcare is free and seen as a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the state. Despite spending a fraction of what the United States spends on healthcare (the World Bank reports Cuba spends $431 (£303) per head per year compared with $8,553 (£6,000) in the US) Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than the US and a similar life expectancy?
IS IT TRUE despite not having much access to the internet, Cubans are a smart bunch. In fact, there are so many doctors in Cuba they’re often sent to other countries that have a shortage. The country has 90,000 of them to serve its population of 11 million. That’s eight for every 1,000 citizens – which according to the World Bank is more than double the rate in the US (2.5) and the UK (2.7).
IS IT TRUE while reports vary on whether it’s actually illegal or not, taking photos of anything associated with the police or military is certainly frowned upon and could result in you losing your camera?
IS IT TRUE that Cuba is the most populated country in the Caribbean, with more than 11 million residents?
IS IT TRUE while many of us use search engines a dozen times a day to find out everything from the weather to how to cook a steak, Cuba is one the least connected countries in the world with only 5% of Cubans enjoying access to uncensored internet at home.
IS IT TRUE that the  average state salary in Cuba is just $20 (£14) per month even though the cost of survival runs around $50 (£35) a month?
IS IT TRUE that Cuba has not one but two currencies. The Cuban peso (CUP) and the Cuban convertible peso (CUC) are both legal tender on the island with the latter worth 25 times as much as the CUP. While most Cubans are paid in CUP, nearly all goods are priced in CUC, making the gap between the haves and have nots glaringly obvious?
IS IT TRUE In 2012, current Cuba president Raul Castro (Fidel’s brother) reinstated Good Friday as a public holiday at the request of Pope Benedict XVI for the first time since the 1959 Cuban revolution?
IS IT TRUE In recent years, the government of Cuba has eased its stronghold on internet censorship with more than 40 government approved wi-fi hot spots around the capital city Havana and other major cities. Although the price of wi-fi access in public places has recently dropped to $2.25 (£1.58) an hour, it is still prohibitive for the vast majority of Cubans.
IS IT TRUE CUBA has one of the lowest birth rates in the Western Hemisphere. Falling dramatically since the 1970s, in 2013 only 9.51 babies per 1,000 Cubans were born?
IS IT TRUE in Cuba Christmas did not become an official holiday in Cuba until 1997. This was introduced by former leader Fidel Castro as a gesture of goodwill in honor of Pope John Paul II’s visit.
IS IT TRUE that the United States pays Cuba approximately $4,085 (£2,875) a year to lease the 45 square miles that holds the controversial Guantánamo Bay Naval Station. Cuba has reportedly only cashed a check once, and by mistake, according to an essay written by Fidel Castro.
IS IT TRUE in CUBA blowing your nose in public in Cuba is considered extremely rude?
IS IT TRUE Cuba is often called El Caiman or El Cocodrilo (Spanish for alligator), because that’s what the island resembles from an aerial view?
IS IT TRUE Bacardi, the spirit maker of rum, Dewar’s Scotch and Grey Vodka, was actually founded in Cuba. However, the brand moved its operations to Puerto Rico after Fidel Castro came to power.
IS IT TRUE in Cuba sex change operations have been permitted since 2008.? Â ….they’re also covered under the National Health Care System for qualifying citizens?
IS IT TRUE in 2015 the half-century ban on purchasing Cuban cigars as lifted,? Â …it was revealed that then US President John F. Kennedy bought 1,200 Cuban cigars for himself hours before he ordered the US trade embargo?
IS IT TRUE that Cuba is one of two countries where the sale of Coca-Cola is prohibited? Â … when the Castro government began seizing private companies in the 60s Coke made a swift exit, with not a drop being served in the country since?
IS IT TRUE some say former president Fidel Castro grew his signature beard because the US stopped exporting razors, other reports say he did it as a time-saving measure, boasting that he saved himself 10 working days per year by not shaving his beard?
IS IT TRUE that two of Cuba biggest passions are baseball and ballet. The latter is funded by the government, which pays for ballet training and subsidizes tickets to performances.
IS IT TRUE on New Year’s Eve, it’s tradition for Cubans to burn dolls in order to symbolize forgetting bad times and looking forward to new and good times during the New Year?
IS IT TRUE It’s said that when Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, he immediately ordered all sets of the game Monopoly to be destroyed?
IS IT TRUE one of Cuba’s most distinctive anachronisms has always been streets full of classic cars like Chevrolets, Buicks and Fords.  …the reason why is because up until 2014 it was forbidden to purchase cars manufactured abroad?
IS IT TRUE in Cuba you can forget buses because lots of Cubans engage in the Nationalized Hitchhiking system which came about in the 1990s? Â … at the time buses were scarce and it was illegal to buy cars with the only automobiles running with regularity being state-owned cars and trucks? Â …the government made it mandatory for government vehicles to pick up hitchhikers?
FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE†will be posted on this coming Wednesday?
Please take time and read our newest feature article entitled “HOT JOBSâ€posted in this section are from Evansville proper.
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Todays “Readers Poll†question is:  If the election was held today for the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional seat who would you vote for?Copyright 2015 City County Observer.
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