Rum For Debt

Cuba owes Czechland something like +6 billion koruna (~$276 million).  This is debt that dates back to the Cold War days.

Cuba doesn't have that kind of money available so it proposed paying off the debt with rum.

Cuban rum is quite popular here.  In 2015, Czech Republic imported 892 tonnes of rum from Cuba.

The Czech Finance Ministry hasn't agreed to anything but does want some of the debt actually paid in cash.

Here's the part that I don't get.  The money was owed to Czechoslovakia and Czechoslovakia spilt up in 1993.  So did Czech Republic assume the full Cuban debt?  Or was the debt spilt between Czechland and Slovakia?  Does Cuba also owe money to Slovakia?

Queuing For Bananas

Back in the days of communism, imports from non-socialist countries were not allowed.  Shortages of goods were commonplace.  Exotic fruits, such as Mandarin oranges and bananas were normally only available at Christmas time.

When stores would get oranges or bananas, I assume from Cuba, people would wait in line for hours.  Products were strictly rationed.  You had to show your ID card and could only purchase 1 or 2 kilos of fruit per family member.   

It's hard to think of oranges and bananas as exotic.   Now one can buy as many oranges and bananas, and even kiwis and pineapples without standing in line more than a few minutes.  Oranges are still part of the Christmas tradition.  And when you see long lines of people at government offices, ticket offices, etc., the expression is that the people are 'queuing for bananas.'