The popular Dominican TikToker @toxicaliz27, known on social media as “the most Cuban Dominican,” recently shared with her followers a story from her previous trip to Cuba. In a story time style video, Lizzy recounted with humor and surprise a couple of situations that left her puzzled during her time in Varadero.
“This happened to the Dominican who is the most Cuban on TikTok,” she said at the beginning of the video. The influencer explained that, due to her family roots—her great-grandparents were Cuban—many people tend to assume she is local. She affirmed that she feels deeply connected to the island's culture and proud of her Cuban heritage, although this time she noticed attitudes she did not expect and believes they were precisely because they thought she was Cuban.
According to her account, she went to dinner with a group of Cuban friends at a terrace in Varadero and, after ordering a mojito, the waiter informed her of the price before taking her order. “I'm not asking you for the price, I'm telling you to bring it to me,” Lizzy recalled, visibly uncomfortable with the tone of the response. Although they eventually served her the drink, the situation and the waiter's attitude left her “in shock.”
Despite the difficult moment, the influencer chose to maintain a positive attitude and showed a kind gesture towards the worker. “When I go to Cuba, I want to give a good tip because I know that people don't earn well, and I want to contribute,” she explained. For this reason, she left a tip of 25 dollars, although she felt the gratitude was distant and insincere.
The next day, she experienced another awkward moment when she tried to enter a well-known bar in the area with her friends. Although the security staff had informed them that the place closed at midnight, upon returning, they were denied entry, claiming they were no longer accepting customers. “They told us they didn't want any more people, but we saw others being let in,” Lizzy recounted. Even though it was uncomfortable for her, she chose to continue her night elsewhere.
At all times, the TikToker was clear in emphasizing that her intention was not to criticize Cuba or generalize: “I love Cuba and I adore its people,” she stated. She also compared the experience to similar situations in her native Dominican Republic, where —as she mentioned— occasionally foreign visitors are prioritized over locals. Her testimony sparked multiple reactions, including that of a user who commented: “Cuban everyday people face that same discrimination every day in the places that the dictatorship has reserved for tourism.”
Frequently asked questions about tourist experiences in Varadero, Cuba
Why did the Dominican TikToker have an uncomfortable experience in Varadero?
The Dominican influencer Lizzy experienced a distant and unfriendly treatment at a restaurant and a bar in Varadero, which she attributed to confusion about her nationality, as many assumed she was local due to her Cuban roots, which may have influenced the treatment she received.
How was discrimination against Cubans manifested in tourist sites in Cuba?
Lizzy noticed that local people in Cuba often receive less favorable treatment compared to foreign tourists. This was evident when she was denied entry to a bar while other customers were allowed in, a situation she linked to discrimination against ordinary Cubans.
What was Lizzy's reaction after the awkward experiences in Cuba?
Despite the negative experiences, Lizzy maintained a positive attitude, leaving a generous tip at the restaurant as a kind gesture and expressing her love for Cuba and its people, without directly criticizing the country.
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