A Russian woman residing in Cuba, known by her online persona "Me llamo Poli," recently shared a video detailing her eye-opening first trip to La Cuevita, Cuba's largest informal market. This experience left her both amazed and bewildered.
In the caption accompanying her video, Poli summarized her visit succinctly: "I came away with a psychological trauma... but also with stuff."
The video begins with Poli addressing the camera directly: "I've just returned from La Cuevita. This is something else. It's not Cuba, it's like India or Haiti."
Her adventure started even before reaching the bustling market. Poli recounts how she was ready to shout at the corner to stop a vehicle when her husband enlightened her about the need to "press a button." "Wow! I didn't expect that, just like in American buses," she chuckles.
Upon arrival, the first thing to hit her senses was the smell. "I detected a barbecue aroma. Oh no! It was burning garbage," Poli explains, highlighting one of the city's persistent issues.
Inside the market, the organized chaos took her by surprise. "Everything blends here—goods, people, carts, tricycles, pharmacies," she describes.
What stood out the most was a stall overflowing with medications: "So many medicines. I've decided that if I'm in pain, I'm heading to La Cuevita instead of the hospital."
Located between streets 106 and 110 in the San Miguel del Padrón district of Havana, La Cuevita emerged in the 1990s as "La Candonga." It operates from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm and draws buyers from across the island, from Pinar del Río to Camagüey.
In 2019, it was revamped as the "Feria de Monterrey" with 241 stalls. However, the market continues to grapple with issues like disorder, garbage accumulation, and poor sanitation.
The market has also been a hotspot for police operations, with vendors arrested and cases of counterfeit products.
Poli concluded her video confessionally: "You can find everything here. I could have bought sunscreen, but I didn't."
This isn't the first time Poli has captured online attention. In April, the Russian living in Cuba made headlines by naming her newborn daughter "Apagonia," inspired by the island's chronic power outages. The video garnered 241,000 views, propelling her fame within the Cuban online community.
Insight into La Cuevita Market
What is La Cuevita's significance in Cuba?
La Cuevita is Cuba's largest informal market, known for its chaotic yet vibrant atmosphere, selling a wide range of goods including food, clothing, and medications.
Why did Poli describe La Cuevita as "India, Haiti"?
Poli compared La Cuevita to "India, Haiti" due to its bustling environment and the overwhelming experience of navigating through the market's disorderly setup.