The power outage that paralyzed the island of Cuba for several days disrupted hotel activities in the Holguin and Varadero areas much more than the passing of the hurricane. Oscartestifies to Quebec residents on vacation. One travel agent warns that those thinking about going should wait at least a month.
• Read also: Hurricane Oscar hits Cuba, which remains paralyzed by massive power outages
“They're running on generators. It's worse than the worst,” laments François Laramie, who has been staying at the Starfish Hotel in Varadero for a week. “We don't have any information either!”
The hotel has been without electricity since late Friday morning due to a power outage that affected the entire island.
Some areas, including the capital, Havana, regained power during the day on Monday.
Mr. Laramie, who is also a travel agent, was critical when it came to what plans Quebeckers considering traveling to Cuba should make.
“The advice I would give is to easily wait a month before coming back, until they get back on their feet,” he says. There is a limit to saying that we can manage it!
Brought only debris Oscar
Cuban employees are mostly “tired” and “exhausted.”
For Sylvie Poulin, a Quebec resident who regularly travels to Cuba, her situation is particularly worrying, especially because of the humidity, rain, mosquitoes and food shortages.
“the [Cubains] They're hungry, and it hurts the heart […] “People should not travel at the moment, otherwise they should bring food with them,” she explains.
The woman from Mirabel, who had been in Varadero since October 14, was in the Cuban municipality to visit some of her family members.
“It is very difficult for Cubans, I went fishing yesterday and there were dozens of people trying to catch fish to sell […] The 59-year-old adds: “The windows of some government institutions have also been smashed, and we are seeing a revolution.”
“They go out of their way to accommodate us even though they don't have much,” says Caroline Giasson, a travel agent based in the Holguin area.
She tried to advance her return to Quebec to Saturday due to the arrival of the hurricane OscarBut no flights were available.
Caroline Giasson was also in Cuba, in the Holguin region, during widespread power outages on the island.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Giasson
“I was finally supposed to leave today [lundi]But there is a problem at the airport. “Computers are not working and flights are delayed from Monday to Tuesday.”
In Holguin, Oscar Ultimately, it had very little impact: debris on beaches, according to MI Jason.
In Holguin, damage caused by Hurricane Oscar was limited to debris on beaches.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Giasson
However, she wants to be more precise about whether Quebecers should avoid this sunny destination.
“You have to be aware of the situation and that anything can happen,” she analyzes. “If you're an anxious person at all and need stability, it can be stressful.”
The Canadian government still has “extreme caution” and avoid non-essential travel advisories on Monday to Cuba and the areas of Guantanamo, Holguin and Las Tunas.
– In collaboration with Marianne Langlois
