Cubans cheer as internet goes nationwide for a day
Aw, that&#x27;s a shame.  Cuba is a really cool place, and a lot of what makes it special is the lack of internet.<p>It&#x27;s disconnected in a way that you really can&#x27;t experience anywhere else in the world.  Want to change your flight?  Too bad.  Can&#x27;t do that.  Want to research the next town?  Pull out a book or ask somebody.<p>Going there is like travelling was back in the 90s.  You take a bus to the next town, then walk around with your bag asking at various houses if they have any rooms available.  The lady at one may direct you a block down to her friend, and it all works itself out.<p>Better still, go to a restaurant at night, drink a beer and watch the amazing local band playing.  And <i>talk to people</i> because nobody is engrossed in their phone.  They can&#x27;t be, because there is no internet.  Other places, I can&#x27;t remember the last time I was able to strike up a conversation with travelers through the barrier of their phone.  In Cuba, I was talking to random people every single night.  Because that&#x27;s all there was to do.<p>It really drives home how much connectivity can wreck things.  And it&#x27;d be a shame if we lost the last place in the world that still works like that.