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toneart
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Registered: 7-23-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lizard lips
I was trying to figure out why Toneart mentioned that he had "Free Rein" to travel anywhere he wanted to go and other tourists were not allowed. On my
two trips there I went anywhere I wanted to go but I was also followed by the Cuban Secret Service. I was going in and out of the American Services
Offices often and I guess they felt I needed to be watched. I was there for work to investigate a 7 million dollar life insurance claim where the
insured was knifed by a Cuban in the southern part of the country for what I was told by the local cops eyeing the Cubans girlfriend. I knew I was
being watched and these guys were not really good at surveillance. They went through my security box at my hotel and hid behind trees taking my
photograph. It was fun to have these guys watching me. I was in the country legally with the permission of the State Department. I was told by them
that it is "Legal" for Americans to travel to Cuba but it was illegal to spend any money there. Figure that one out!
I have stayed both times at Hotel Nacional in Havana but went to many secluded places in the country which are pristine untouched and beautiful. The
Cuban people are fantastic and the woman are exceptionally beautiful and will chat with you and not be snobs. They smile a lot.......
When Castro finally leaves us, which may be another 50 years, (That man seems to lives forever) Havana will completely change from what is is right
now so if you are going to visit-do it soon. The malecon downtown has many apartment buildings facing the ocean and what you see is laundry hanging
out to dry and the occasional old Cuban man sitting in his chair smoking a stogie. This will all disappear replaced by Planet Hollywood's and Hardrock
Cafes and the always present Starbucks.
GO NOW.... |
Lizard Lips. Your post is very interesting. Lots of good information. That thing about it not being illegal to be there, but yet, illegal to spend
money there does seem paradoxical, and illogical. I had heard that too. The odd thing is, when I was there about 10 years ago, the currency of
exchange was the U.S. dollar. The Cuban Peso also existed but you didn't see any. Also, the exchange rate was 1 Cuban Peso=1 U.S. Dollar.
The reason I said I had "free rein" to go anywhere is because I was not part of a tour, a sanctioned athletic, educational or cultural organization,
or any kind of business. Lizard Lips, you were there on business, with a mission, and they knew in advance you were coming.
I may have been tailed, but I was not aware of it. I stayed at the Hotel Presidente and loved it. The hotel concierge was a nice looking woman,
dressed in business attire; skirt and tailored jacket. She did notice me and probably on around the second day, she approached me. (Maybe she was
ordered to, but I didn't get that feeling). She asked me what I was doing there, and what interests me about Cuba. I told her that I was interested in
the culture, the architecture, art, music, especially Afro-Cubano Jazz, and athletics. That evening there was a bag at my door containing official
looking, government produced magazines and pamphlets. The graphics and photography looked like it was produced in the 1970's by Russians. They
covered all the subject matter I told here I was interested in.
I think that if I were being tailed, they would lose interest pretty quickly as I was not snooping around any sights that may have high security. The
only possible exception might be the photos I mentioned earlier that I took of the Capitol building' exterior. I was aghast when I arrived home and
one of the photos showed a man crawling through a window at the base of the dome.
Lizard Lips. I too would not like to see the inevitable changes in the street scenes and the innocent-like joy of the people in the streets, after
Castro dies. I fear that you described accurately what would replace it. This is by no means a political statement.
I wanted to address some other things that posters here brought up:
The immigration officials at the airport know that they are not supposed to stamp our passports. They Do want us to be there (and spend money). They
issue a tourist card instead. I was sweating it though. The windows were up high so that I could only see the officials face. His desk was not
visible. This guy decided to have fun with me. I could hear, stamp, stamp, stamp, stamp. I thought, "Oh oh, I'm screwed." Then he handed my passport
and tourist card up to me, stared at me like he had just tasted a sour lemon, and then broke out in a big smile. I nervously looked through my
passport and there were NO stamps. Whew!
I went round trip from Costa Rica. Someone mentioned that the fine for going to Cuba is $250.00, if you were caught "entering or leaving". The only
place I think we would be caught is, while reentering the United States you may be carrying Cuban things, such as the magazines I told you the hotel
concierge gave me, or maybe, Cohiba Cigars. If $250.00 is the penalty, and no jail time, I think taking the chance is worth that risk. Oh well! Chalk
it up to the added price for an adventure of a life time.
This is also something that I was sweating: I had those magazines and a T shirt from Cuba, kinda packed in with some other innocuous stuff, and the
airline from Costa Rica lost my luggage. They told me that when it is found they would clear it through customs for me and then deliver it to my home.
Gulp! Well they got delivered the next day and nothing was said about it.
I had many encounters on the street with people who just wanted to talk to an American. One was actually a failed boat escapee. The all talked in low
volume voices and kept a keen eye out for eavesdroppers.
Nobody I talked to liked Castro. They say he and the government hold all the power and wealth. But they did like the Communist System. Remember, most
of them were born since the revolution and were indoctrinated into the System from the earliest school years. That propaganda is all they know.
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CortezBlue
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Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
We did Havana from Cancun five years ago. The Cubans do not stamp American's passports, so there will be no repercussions.
It's really lovely. I agree with what others have said about the country and its people.
My father went there in the 50's when it was one of the great destinations for world-wide travelers.
If anything, they have been impeded by US policy. That's why you will encounter mostly Canadian and European tourists there.
OK. A political comment. If it wasn't for the huge ex-pat Cuban community, mostly in Florida, who vote almost 100% Republican, just maybe this silly
embargo would have already ended. Geez. The Soviet Union dissolved a long time ago. Cuba has posed no threat to the US since then. We need to get over
it.
[Edited on 4-21-2012 by Bajahowodd] |
So if I read your comment correctly, are you saying that if we had a Democrat Prez we could get Cuba opened up?
Honestly I think once Fidel is gone it will open up very soon. BTW I am a fiscally conservative republican and I also wish they would just push
everything behind them and move forward. I also think pot and prostitution should be legitimized. That being said, enough of the deficit spending.
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Stickers
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
Registered: 4-12-2006
Location: SoCal
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I highly recommend a brilliant book written about Cuba about ten years ago. The author took his motorcycle to Cuba and rode the island (every nook and
cranny).
Stayed with the rural peasants, sampled the ladies, dealt with the government.
The best insight of what is really Cuba today. He loves the place and finds the heart of its people, although it's quite damaged.
"MiMoto Fidel"
by Christopher P. Baker
Fantastic book -
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Marc
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Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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When you are in the old town square (cathedral) say hi to my girlfriends! (December 2001)
[Edited on 4-24-2012 by Marc]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Went there on a cruise ship
Uh...... in 1959 and the ship was big, gray and had a big flat top with lots of planes with bombs.
And Castro came aboard and told our Captain to leave and our Capt told him the same thing, and Castro left and we did not.
Yep, it is beautiful, the women are beautiful, the folks are friendly
and I am on a board that supports seminaries there and it is about as oppressive as you can possibly imagine.
Sad, such great folks, such a bleak economy,
I too hope the man gets on, and soon,
love to have it open up for everyone.
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durrelllrobert
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Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
the reality is always hidden by socialists in power and then they 'allow' capitalism so the people don't starve...  |
Same as China and maybe N. Korea to a certain extent.
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lizard lips
GO NOW.... |
Wish I could. My Canadian wife can go without me but I might never see her again.
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
However, if you have any issues or are "caught" entering or exiting Cuba as a US citizen, there is a $250K fine. |
...and it's worse than that when you have had access to DoD and DN secrets.
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
If $250.00 is the penalty, and no jail time, I think taking the chance is worth that risk. |
Duh, thats $250,000 not $250
Bob Durrell
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
If $250.00 is the penalty, and no jail time, I think taking the chance is worth that risk. |
Duh, thats $250,000 not $250 |
Oops! I missed the K after the 250. That does make my assumption incorrect. A constructive correction would have been gladly accepted. It would also
have informed readers of my oversight, as it definitely changes the assumption. As it stands now, $250,000 does NOT make the risk worthwhile.
Thanks for the "Duh", Sourpuss. Sorry that's all you got out of my reports.  Too
bad there isn't a middle finger smilie.
By the way, Einstein, "thats" (sic) should be that's. For the uneducated, that's is a contraction of that and is. An apostrophe (') is used
between the t and s. It replaces the missing letter, i.
Oh, and one more thing: You need a period (.) at the end of a sentence. If you require any more tutoring, that will cost you more than embarrassment.
I charge $250.00, a figure I seem to have stuck in my head.  
It would appear that I gleaned a lot more out of your poorly constructed and incomplete sentence that you got out of my three joyful, descriptive
narratives. 
Aren't you glad you chose to make your "Duh" the highlight of your constructive message?
Peace, Love and Fish Tacos
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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At age 14, I was fortunate to fish Cuba's Treasure Lake with my father. He always thought the next world record largemouth bass would come from that
lake...and maybe it will?
Anybody else ever fish that lake? Kind of special...had trout, too.
To date, a dozen bass larger than the world record have been caught in Cuba, but not one was caught legally.
The old Record stands: 22lb 4oz. 1932 Buck Perry,Montgomery Lake, Georgia.....now tied in 2009 by Japan's Manabu Kurita, Lake Biwa, Japan.
Treasure Lake, anyone?
[Edited on 4-23-2012 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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You made me smile
| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
If $250.00 is the penalty, and no jail time, I think taking the chance is worth that risk. |
Duh, thats $250,000 not $250 |
Oops! I missed the K after the 250. That does make my assumption incorrect. A constructive correction would have been gladly accepted. It would also
have informed readers of my oversight, as it definitely changes the assumption. As it stands now, $250,000 does NOT make the risk worthwhile.
Thanks for the "Duh", Sourpuss. Sorry that's all you got out of my reports. Too
bad there isn't a middle finger smilie.
By the way, Einstein, "thats" (sic) should be that's. For the uneducated, that's is a contraction of that and is. An apostrophe (') is used
between the t and s. It replaces the missing letter, i.
Oh, and one more thing: You need a period (.) at the end of a sentence. If you require any more tutoring, that will cost you more than embarrassment.
I charge $250.00, a figure I seem to have stuck in my head.
It would appear that I gleaned a lot more out of your poorly constructed and incomplete sentence that you got out of my three joyful, descriptive
narratives.
Aren't you glad you chose to make your "Duh" the highlight of your constructive message?
Peace, Love and Fish Tacos |
Every time I have attempted to help out some of our folks with English 101 I get sniped and sneered at. (somehow I just could not end that sentence
with anything other than a preposition, alas.)
When I edited Bernie's last book, by the time we were at the halfway point he was no longer addressing me by name but simply as "The School Marm."
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
Thanks for the "Duh", Sourpuss. Sorry that's all you got out of my reports. Too
bad there isn't a middle finger smilie.
By the way, Einstein, "thats" (sic) should be that's. For the uneducated, that's is a contraction of that and is. An apostrophe (') is used
between the t and s. It replaces the missing letter, i.
Oh, and one more thing: You need a period (.) at the end of a sentence. If you require any more tutoring, that will cost you more than embarrassment.
I charge $250.00, a figure I seem to have stuck in my head.
It would appear that I gleaned a lot more out of your poorly constructed and incomplete sentence that you got out of my three joyful, descriptive
narratives.
Aren't you glad you chose to make your "Duh" the highlight of your constructive message?
Peace, Love and Fish Tacos |
You're too kind. You could have really slaughtered me for the errors of my way. Here are the missing apostrophe and period: ' .
from my post but what's up with this grammer "that you got" in your response?
Bob Durrell
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