Living there half a year i can tel that Cuba as “we thought we knew it” already has fallen more or less. Fidel’s future death won’t change cuba more than the collapse of the soviet union did. Cuba is not turning into a supermercado in the next ten years even if Fidel should happen to pass away…
Still, go to Cuba now hurry, hurry!!! But if people don’t treat Cubans with humility and respect (or don’t know how to do this), I’d rather see the same people go diving in lava. To the stereotypical thailandbackpacker and joy-seeking old sleezeballs: FORGET IT!!! find another place to defile with your presence… To everyone else, forget enything yo ever read about Cuba, it is only going to derail your experience. Cuba is not about cigars, veteran cabs, rum, mojitos, hemingway, communist utopia or other cheap thrills, it’s about the incomprehensively fantastic people that you’ll only get to know and understand by understanding spanish and living amongst them for min to months. I’ll say go there if you can leave arrogance prejudice and paternalism at home, and if your attitude is right Cuba can enrich your life deeply and thoroughly. Good luck anyways…