luv2fish
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Cuba
With relations being normalized with La Havana, will we be able to fly there from L.A.X. ?? and do flights from T.J. go to Cuba ?? would really love
to visit.
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bajabuddha
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After reading the preliminary reports, normal 'tourist travel' is still banned. Travel involving education or business/technical stuff will be
allowed, but at least it's a start. I am glad to see it, would love to go myself; it's going to take a while though. It can still be done, but it's
a tough dance to get it done for now.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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Bob H
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This is just the first step. But, eventually, we can go there. It was a stupid policy for 50 years and we were the only country. I'm happy to see
this progress starting for real.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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vandenberg
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Should be able to fly from TJ to Havana through DF.
It's done all the time, just don't let them stamp your passport. 
Bring dollars, they love them.
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Ateo
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Glad to see our policy towards Cuba maturing.
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bacquito
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Quote: Originally posted by Bob H  | This is just the first step. But, eventually, we can go there. It was a stupid policy for 50 years and we were the only country. I'm happy to see
this progress starting for real.
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AGREE!! The sanctions never worked for us and made life miserable for many Cubans. But we must remember Cuban Government's decision re. Russian ICBMs
back in the early 60's. Have faith but verify.
bacquito
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LancairDriver
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This is long overdue. Undoubtedly many behind the scenes deals at work here. Not the least being the U.S. gambling and hotel industry's decades old
lobbying efforts to keep Cuba closed. Maybe they have finally cut a deal to elbow in on this potential gold mine in the Cuban tourism business. Also
may be part of the effort to marginalize growing Russian influence in the area. This will eventually bring billions in new investment to Cuba.
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BigOly
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Birded there last year by way of Mexico City. Fantastic people, best guide in the country! Shared tears with our new friends when we departed. The
country will never be the same.
[Edited on 12-17-2014 by BigOly]
[Edited on 12-17-2014 by BigOly]
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BajaBlanca
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about time, for sure!
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alacran
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I agree is good, but do nor forget the missile crises that created that situation.
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lizard lips
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Monterrey use to have flights with Mexicana but now it's Aeromexico from Cancun.
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lizard lips
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Just checked and Aeromexico does not fly there anymore. Cubana from Mexico City makes quite a lot of trips.
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durrelllrobert
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha | | After reading the preliminary reports, normal 'tourist travel' is still banned. Travel involving education or business/technical stuff will be
allowed, but at least it's a start. I am glad to see it, would love to go myself; it's going to take a while though. It can still be done, but it's
a tough dance to get it done for now. |
You can always fly to THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA if you want to socialize with the Communists. Another option is that you can drive up I-15 and
cross into Canada where you can get a non-stop flight to Havana.
Bob Durrell
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monoloco
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The missile crisis didn't create the situation, the embargo existed prior to it. It's more likely
that the embargo led to the missile crisis.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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bajaguy
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Hotels and Casinos
I would be willing to bet that US hotel and casino corporations have been working through third parties and already have properties staked out or
owned.
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Sweetwater
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy | | I would be willing to bet that US hotel and casino corporations have been working through third parties and already have properties staked out or
owned. |
I would be willing to bet that the Casino's that were a big part of the revolution will not be opening with US ownership. I'd like to know the status
of casinos in current Cuba from someone who has had boots on the ground. I'm really impressed by the interviews with the Cuban youth who don't even
have Interwebs experience, they are all excited to join the world via that resource. Outstanding change for the better, IMHO
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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Whale-ista
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Luv2Fish-
for now, visitors still need to coordinate with an organization or tour group that has non-profit status and sponsors "legitimate" activities for
travel to Cuba.
In 2007 I travelled with this group. California Building Bridges They made all arrangements for visas, tours, hotels etc.
We visited schools, met with the director of the main medical university, toured museums and other places, and went on "cultural" outings involving
food, art, cigar rolling etc. One trip was to a tobacco plantation a few hours from Havana, that had generated worldwide afficionados- a plaque inside
the home noted a visit from a Pope! (apparently they like their cigars at the Vatican)
We came back with a lot of original music, art and a new appreciation & understanding of Cuba's history, land and people.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Pompano
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A trip to Cuba long ago...it was a dictatorship then, too.
I was barely a teenager in 1959 when I traveled with my folks to Cuba. While we were there Castro came down from the hills and seized the country from
it's dictator, Fulgencio Batista. Along with all other US citizens, we were sequestered (held prisoner) in our Havana hotel until air transport back
to Miami was made possible. For me, it was a fine adventure, plus I got a few great snapshots with my Brownie Hawkeye camera..one of which shows a
Batista soldier standing guard under our hotel balcony just before the takeover. I said Hello to him and then pointed to my camera. I'm certain we
were both wondering about each other. I sure hope that soldier made it through the revolution alive.
Naturally, my father had a rather different point of view of the 'adventure'. 
I know what he would have thought of sweeping under the rug what Castro's oppressive communist regime has done to Cuba's chances of democracy and
countlesss lives lost over the last 50 years.
My father had gone to Cuba for many years prior to this on agricultural business, plus enjoying the fantastic fishing, freshwater and saltwater... and
also for horse racing, which he loved dearly. This last trip he took me with him and we caught monster largemouth bass in an inland lake. What a
blast that was! Just tough luck that that was the last year we could do that Cuba trip together. I can only hope that those huge bucketmouths still
thrive there.
An interesting anecdote from that trip. After Castro had seized Havana and Cuba's government, he re-entered Havana by gunship to an arranged and
triumphant fanfare from the local population. (you yelled Hooray...or else!) I learned later that a Cubano told my Dad that Castro wanted to make a
grand entrance...like a Ceasar rescueing his people.
The U.S. embargo, and the failures of communism, have locked Cuba into 1959. Some say that the country is/was on the verge of economic collapse and
just a couple more years would have seen it tumble. Who can say? One thing is for sure...Politics always spoil the soup.
Today even the cars and buildings are the same. And this may prove the solution to some of Cuba’s problems.
Classic 1950s Fords, Chevys and other rare ones here are everywhere in Cuba. Imagine the reaction of a guy making $20 a month, after trade reopens
with the U.S.: “I won’t give you more than $40,000 for your De Soto.” Hah...sorry, it's likely most of you younger folks don't even know what a De
Sota was or what it looked like.
The hotels and casinos are still mostly closed up...and owned by the Cuban Army ..i.e. The Castro Bros. So guess who benefits from those sales or
investments, if any?
Cuba already has tourist zones, where locals are not allowed to enter, except for work. Canadian tourists already fly directly to resorts on the
southern coast of Cuba, just to go to the beach. The natural spot for the first Cuban casino-resort is, ironically, the Bay of Pigs. The scene of the
disastrous failed invasion of 1961 is now a thriving resort, especially for Europeans.
But there is another spot, where a casino would be even more of a positive political statement by the Cuban government: Guantanamo Bay. It is isolated
from the vast majority of the population; at more than 500 miles from Havana, it is actually closer to Miami. There are beaches and an airport and one
of the largest sea ports in the world for cruise ships, if the U.S. will allow free passage.
Cuba could set up another tourist zone, with legal gambling, on the Cuban side of Guantanamo Bay. Local residents would be barred. But visitors from
every other country, including the United States, would be welcome.
Most probably the Red Chinese will be first investors in Cuban casinos/resorts....and welcomed by the present Cuban communists who have warned America
not to try to change their form of government. Americans can travel to communist-controlled Macau, the greatest gambling center in the world,
without even having to get a visa. Wouldn’t it be great if Guantanamo Bay became better known for its hotel-casino resorts than for its prison?
Yup, communism knows from experience that casino gambling is a great form of revenue.
I just hope the Cuban people will benefit from this ...and not just the unscrupled politicians in our government.
[Edited on 12-21-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Sweetwater
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I'm continuing to be impressed by the potential for progress that the USA can make with Cuba. Venezuela is in a precarious condition and we can now
have an intermediary influence into that by developing a real relationship with the people of Cuba.
At the level of politicians, I'm not convinced that progress will result but I believe that the more people mix and socialize with each other, the
more we get along, surprise, surprise.....we don't need protection from each other, do we.....
I see one major obstacle to this progress...the Baby Boomers lack of willingness to step aside and let the youth of this world go down their chosen
roads and make the future theirs.
Thanks for that retrospective Pampano, I've got no point of reference of personal experience since the only input I ever got was the demonization of
the island and it's people....
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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Marc
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Havana New Year 2000/2001
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