At Home With – Mayra Delgado
CASA LOS PELÍCANOS
“At Home With” is our new blog series that introduces you to the private homestays or “casa particular” owners who are a part of our community.
Casa Particulares are private residences where the owner can rent one or more rooms to other Cubans or international visitors. The Casa Particular was one of the many types of private businesses made available to Cuban citizens beginning in 2011 as part of its first major socioeconomic reform. Citizens can apply for licenses from their local governments to legally open their business. Owners must pass courses in hospitality and their homes are subject to regular inspections to meet the requirements set by the Ministry of Tourism.
The tightening of US sanctions against Cuba plus the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating affect on the private economy in Cuba. We’re happy to give some exposure to those who managed to survive the double-disaster.
Our resident coordinators, Yadira and Dayana, will sit down for an exchange with one our favorite casa particular owners. Our hope is you gain a little familiarity with the members of our community.
Next time you’re in Cuba with us for student or conference, your host may be a familiar face.
¡Adelante!
Mayra Delgado and her husband, Gonzalo, have been welcoming international visitors as a casa particular for almost 8 years.
My name is Mayra Cristina Delgado.
2. Who are the members of your family who live with you in your house?
We are only two in the house, my husband and me.
3. What is your educational background?
I am a BA, specialized in Mathematics and Computing.
4. Did you have another profession before opening your Casa Particular?
I was a math teacher and later I studied Informatics.
5. Why did you decide to open a Casa Particular?
My sister was the former owner of the house. She left the country and I inherited the building. Then, we decided to open it as a Casa Particular because we considered the house had a good location and all the conditions required.
I have been running the business for approximately seven years and a half.
7. What do you enjoy most about running a Casa?
Honestly, what I enjoy most about running a Casa Particular is to have company. We live alone, just my husband and me so, when we have guests we welcome them as if they were our family.
8. What is unique about staying in your Casa Particular?
Well, there are two main things; one of them is the attention they receive and the other thing is the privacy they have. We give them a key of the house so they can come in at any time and leave whenever they want. We make our guests feel as if they were in their own house.
9. What do you enjoy most about welcoming international students?
Generally, international students are younger, they are full of youth and we learn from them and from their culture. They talk about their experiences here in Cuba and I love to hear them talking about that. Also, we have the opportunity to give them some pieces of advice.
10. Is there anything you‘d like people to know about you or staying in your Casa Particular?
Staying in my Casa can be a nice experience for many reasons; it is safe being here. The house is fenced, it is located in a good area; we are close to El Malecon (Sea wall), stores, private restaurants, the promenade (Prado) and some other places of interest.