Lower thirds:

00:04 Report by / Jochen Beckmann
00:20 Alexis Ramirez / Musician
00:43 Yoieinis Espinosa Fuente / Musician
00:53 Alexis Ramirez / Musician
01:22 Elina Sanchez Gonzalez / Souvenir vendor
01:46 Armando Pruna / Classic car driver
02:16 Armando Pruna / Classic car driver
02:55 Abraham Gonzalez, Street vendor

Script:

Varadero, Cuba's dream beach and destination for tourists from all over the world. Vacationers were sunbathing here not too long ago. But due to the tightened US oil embargo, oil imports to the country have vanished, and flights have been canceled.

And these musicians are looking for customers.

+++ SOT Alexis Ramirez, Musician +++
"Now that so many hotels are closed and there's hardly anyone in the streets, we have very little work, and we're feeling it. Everything is much harder for us now."

+++ SOT Yoieinis Espinosa Fuente, Musician +++
"Not long ago, everything was better, but a lot has changed. Our business is suffering, and so is the country's economy."

+++ SOT Alexis Ramirez, Musician +++
"I usually work as a Mariachi, but now everything has come to a standstill. We walk along the beach and try to earn a little and survive."

In the center of the coastal town, it's the same problem: This art market used to be crowded, now there's hardly any visitors and many stalls are closed.

+++ SOT Elina Sanchez Gonzalez, Souvenir vendor +++
"Getting here is expensive because gas is scarce. But we need work, and we need tourists to help us and buy our beautiful handicrafts."

We journey toward the capital. In Old Havana, we meet with Armandao who drives classic cars.

+++ SOT Armando Pruna, Classic car driver +++
"We're here at Maestranza Park, the square was always full of classic convertibles. Before the crisis, we used to find driving jobs here. We drove tourists or large groups to all the provinces."

+++ SOT of some other driver +++
"It's difficult right now, little tourism and little work."

+++ SOT Armando Pruna, Classic car driver +++
"I returned my license more than a month ago, at the beginning of February."

Since then, and following the cut off of Venezuelan supply, his car has been in the garage. A liter of gas costs almost 10 US dollar.

We asked him if things will settle down in the coming month.

+++ SOT Armando Pruna, Classic car driver +++
"In four weeks? Well, nobody knows. Nobody knows. We've had economic problems for years, and now we're worse off than ever before. And there's no solution in sight. There's nothing new to show that tourism is booming again, or that the economy is recovering. There's no sign of that."

The city is falling into disrepair, and people are trying to make ends meet. In the city center, residential streets are now trading zones. Many with different professions and qualifications are now trying their luck as vendors here.

+++ SOT Abraham Gonzalez, Street vendor +++
"I have a degree in hydraulics, so I should be a welder. But I earn more money here. It's a good business. With a steady job, you never have any freedom."

Back in Varadero, this duo is now serenading a tourist from Argentina. But the mood isn't the same as it used be.

END