Jon Lee Anderson

And then you had COVID and then you had the uprising by people in 2021.

You referenced

and the crushed expectations of an increased liberalization, you know, some private enterprise initiatives that that had gotten underway.

There's been a waxing and waning as the party tries to take control.

It's increasingly militarily run.

So you've just had this exodus that's unbelievable.

When I went back in May for the first time in a number of years, I was trying to put my finger on what was different, because in some ways, the story of Cuba the past 30 years since the end of the Soviet Union is one of

decrepitude, you know, it's one in which we've seen the place become famously distressed.

You know, there's 50s Chevys, nothing's painted.

Some people think that's quaint, whatever.

But this time it was that plus no tourists,

And no people.

There was less people everywhere.

And I finally realized, wow, it's true.

The exodus, there is literally less people.

You notice that there are less people.

Every plaza I went to was empty of people.

The old crowded parts of old Havana where, you know, people would get hustled by people.

people selling cigars, girls, people wanting you to go in their restaurants.

There was still a few hustlers there, but now there were indigent old men lying on the street.