00:01Varadero, Cuba's dream beach and a destination for tourists.
00:05Vacationers were sunbathing here not too long ago,
00:08but due to the tightened U.S. embargo,
00:11oil imports to the country have vanished and flights have been cancelled.
00:15These musicians are looking for customers.
00:20Now that so many hotels are closed and there's hardly anyone in the streets,
00:25we have very little work, and we're feeling it.
00:34Everything is much harder for us now.
00:41Not long ago everything was better, but a lot has changed.
00:46Our business is suffering and so is the country's economy.
00:52I usually work as a mariachi, but now everything has come to a standstill.
00:57We walk along the beach and try to earn a little and survive.
01:04In the center of the coastal town it's the same problem.
01:08This art market used to be crowded, now there's hardly any visitors and many stalls are closed.
01:19Getting here is expensive because gas is scarce.
01:24But we need work and we need tourists to help us and buy our beautiful handicrafts.
01:36We journey towards the capital.
01:38In Old Havana we meet Armandau who drives classic cars.
01:44We're here at Maestranza Park.
01:46The square was always full of classic convertibles.
01:50Before the crisis we used to find driving jobs here.
01:54We drove tourists or large groups to all the provinces.
01:59It's difficult right now, little tourism and little work.
02:02I returned my license more than a month ago at the beginning of February.
02:08Now his car is in the garage.
02:10We asked him if things will settle down in the coming months.
02:15In four weeks?
02:16Well, nobody knows.
02:18Really, nobody knows.
02:20We've had economic problems for years and now we are worse off than ever before.
02:25And there's no solution in sight.
02:28There's nothing new to show that tourism is booming again or that the economy is recovering.
02:35There's no sign of that.
02:39The city is falling into disrepair and people are trying to make ends meet.
02:44In the city center, residential streets are now trading zones.
02:48Many with different professions and qualifications are now trying their luck as vendors here.
02:55I have a degree in hydraulics, so I should be a welder.
02:59But I earn more money here.
03:01It's a good business.
03:03With a steady job, you never have any freedom.
03:08Back in Varadero, this duo is now serenading a tourist from Argentina.
03:12But the mood isn't the same as it used to be.
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