Cuba Recomendations

[IanBat]

Hi Guys, thought I'd start a Winter convo for you, well summer for us.

I've booked a trip next year to Panama to a fishing lodge for a week. There is 5 of us. One of the Guys has also had a trip to Cuba on his bucket list for years. So we're going to add that in as well.

He has heard that the home accommodation is a better way of immersing yourself into the culture.

Any experiences, must do's etc you guys would like to suggest we do?

Thanks

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[BubbaFrsh]

I just returned yesterday from Havana.

All I can say is it was an amazing four days. My Dad and I went down because it was on both of our bucket lists, and I wanted to go while he is still able to get around. We were with a tour group so we spent most of the time in the city, with one day driving out to the mountains to see a tobacco farm and a cave.

It almost seemed like it was a Hemingway tour, as a lot of the places were some of his old haunts. We went to La Bodegita del medio which is the birthplace of the mojito, and Floridita which I think created the daiquiri. It also has a life size bronze statue of Hemingway standing at the bar. We went up to his house as well and that was a nice visit as well. I am from Tampa, so the mob hangouts were important to see as well. We had drinks at the Hotel National which the mob ran the casino there. I also ran through the Riviera and took some pics as well. The Riviera was built by Meyer Lansky and is undergoing renovations right now, but the lobby looks great, straight out of the 50's. I read a good book called Havana Nocturne, which was a great primer for the influence the mob had on the country. We did a tour of the forts as well.

It was just a neat city to walk around. The architecture was fantastic, although it was sad to see so much of it falling apart and in disrepair. They are making a national effort to restore them, but that takes tie and money. All in all, well worth the trip. We packed in a lot for 4 days so it was a bit of sensory overload. Shoot me a pm and I can try to help and answer questions.

Matt

 

[Sea Gull]

I was in Havana and Cienfuegos in April. Can't wait to go back. I Highly recommend it as a Caribbean vacation spot. I'm now craving Havana Club 7 Años rum which is very difficult to get here in the US.

 

[HUMPH]

How does that work out as Americans traveling to Cuba? I know there has been strides in allowing American tourists to travel there but with restrictions I thought. Flying to Mexico or Canada and getting 30 day "passes" was one option I saw and also heard the Cuban customs agents know not to stamp passports sometimes. Can you fill me in?

 

[Havana Shamrock]

My wife went two yrs ago she's Cuban, our gov wouldn't let me go due to my employment. She visited family while there and saw the Real Cuba. Said she'd never go back its just too depressing. Beautiful country side though .

 

[Sea Gull]

We went on a charitable "mission" organized through a sanctioned tour group. There are lots of groups who do it legally like we did and there is the Canada/ Mexico route. Either way, the Cubans are friendly, warm and welcome the business.

 

[sdarc]

Especially if you bring '50's Chevy parts.:lol: I'd really like to go. I hope the political bs ceases soon.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Especially if you bring '50's Chevy parts.:lol: I'd really like to go. I hope the political bs ceases soon.

my wife hates Chevys ,loves Mercedes Benz though don't think they are allowed to strap barrels onto them there
she doesn't laugh at that humor. Actually my mother in law is the hardest working woman I have ever met she's owned 4 houses in NY since 1970 raised 2 kids without a handout and sends medicine and money to her I'll brother in Cuba who can't see a Dr for months now he is wheelchair bound. Great Gov run healthcare !!! Keep spending your tourist money there so the politicians can live in palaces while the "Folks" live in squaller!!! Sorry for the rant but my kids saw how the real Cubans live,,,, sad

 

[BritLady]

my wife hates Chevys ,loves Mercedes Benz though don't think they are allowed to strap barrels onto them there
she doesn't laugh at that humor. Actually my mother in law is the hardest working woman I have ever met she's owned 4 houses in NY since 1970 raised 2 kids without a handout and sends medicine and money to her I'll brother in Cuba who can't see a Dr for months now he is wheelchair bound. Great Gov run healthcare !!! Keep spending your tourist money there so the politicians can live in palaces while the "Folks" live in squaller!!! Sorry for the rant but my kids saw how the real Cubans live,,,, sad

That's so true. Our son says it's so sad how they try to get to the USA in the flimsiest of home made boats, they are so desperate to leave. And if spotted by the USCG they have to send them back to goodness knows what punishment. At least if they get one foot on US soil I think it's $10k they get and asylum. By and large they are very hardworking too if they do get here. Few years ago we had a "bath tub boat" that even ended up here on the mid west coast with a few who made it. No wonder they kiss the ground if they make it after what they endure there


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[IanBat]

So I'm gathering, staying in registered home stay, is better for their economy


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[BubbaFrsh]

I was able to go down on a cultural exchange visa. I think they call it a “people to people” visa or something of that sort. It was something my father has always wanted to do and I had the opportunity to get him there before it is too late. He grew up in Tampa and had friends would visit all the time when he was younger, but he could never afford to go. Rumor was if you got down there and Trafficante found out you were from Tampa, he made sure you had a good time and took care of you. I was also able to get pictures of a friend’s family’s house as well. Her father had not seen it in 50 years since they left. From all the emails I have received her family the pictures have been a moving experience for all of them. Three others had been down to photograph the house and were not successful, but somehow I did, and did not get thrown in jail as it is part of the Korean embassy now.

Seeing it with your own eyes, really makes you appreciate what you have here, and your heart breaks for those who suffer there. It also reinforces my beliefs on how their political structure does not work. There is still a huge class divide between the haves and have not’s. However they do not have the ability to use smarts and hard work to lift yourself out of poverty. Our system is far from perfect, but it is the best thing going right now(and has ever been) As I told my friend’s family, I felt so helpless knowing there was nothing I could do to help them. Things are changing down there now, they have property ownership rights at least, and there seems to be a lot of little business. A lot seemed to be done under the table, sort of the underground economy we have here.

They told us Raul is stepping down after this term, so it will be interesting to see who the successor is, and what reforms he will push through and allow. I personally feel there are a lot of other Caribbean countries that are pushing for things to stay the same, because when it opens up again, they will regain the title “Pearl of the Antilles” because the people are wonderful and the country is breathtaking.