Cuba: 90 Miles From Florida, 67 Years Cut Off From the World

Cuba sits just 90 miles from the coast of Florida — closer to the United States than many islands most Americans think of as 'the Caribbean.' Yet this nation of 11 million people has spent more than six decades isolated from the global economy, a legacy of the Cuban Revolution that still shapes daily life today. This documentary explores how Cuba became a country frozen in time: 1957 cars still running because nothing newer has been allowed in, 1920s buildings left un-renovated for lack of materials, and a national power grid that collapsed completely three times in a single recent month, plunging all 11 million residents into darkness. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, stretching 1,422 kilometers, and is one of only two countries on Earth — along with North Korea — where you cannot legally buy Coca-Cola. There is no McDonald's, no Starbucks, no KFC anywhere on the island. At the same time, Cuba holds nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, more than any other Caribbean nation, boasts a 99.8% literacy rate, one of the highest in the world, and has more doctors per capita than almost any country on the planet — doctors it exports to nations facing their own shortages. And yet, according to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, 88% of the population lives in what is classified as extreme poverty, with many families cooking over open fires. This video examines the contradictions of modern Cuba: a highly educated, resourceful population living under crushing economic isolation, chronic blackouts, and decades of embargo. Discover the real story behind the vintage cars of Havana, the crumbling colonial architecture, the medical missions abroad, and the daily struggle for basic necessities like electricity and food. Learn how geography, revolution, and international politics combined to create one of the most unique and misunderstood nations in the Western Hemisphere. Topics covered include Cuban history, the U.S. embargo, the Cuban Revolution, Havana's architecture, Cuba's healthcare system, the island's education system, power grid failures, and everyday life for ordinary Cubans in 2026. Whether you're interested in geopolitics, Caribbean history, Cold War legacy, or human rights, this documentary offers a comprehensive look at Cuba today — 90 miles from America, yet a world apart.