I have been fascinated with Havana since my high school days, eons ago. Every three years one of my best friend's parents holidayed in Havana. Those were the days before Fidel. Although I am sure they did not avail themselves of the gambling and other vices, they still went back several times???
My experiences:
Around l980 I took my first trip to Cuba. I flew into Havana, but went directly to my hotel on the beach in Varadero. There were no all inclusives then. The Soviet presence was everywhere, even at the outdoor bar in the evenings. The band played Cuban music, but Midnight in Moscow found its way into the programme every hour or so. The beach was off limits at night. There were tanks there pointed at the U.S. At the airport there seemed to be only Canadians and Russians. There were no stores for tourists to shop in. There were no watersports, no day tours, and nothing to buy to bring home except rum and Fidel's book, History Will Absolve Me. I still treasure that book today.
My second trip around 1995 was to Playa Giron. It was a small all inclusive hotel right in the town, which is on the beach. This is where the Bay of Pigs invasion happened. The tiny museum is right in the town. From about 1980 to 1995-7, less than twenty years, but oh such a different Cuba. There was no longer Soviet money and times were tough. I know now that they call it the special period. The thing that upset me the most was the prostitution. The monthly rations were not enough to feed the family and many women (family women) 'hooked up' with male tourists for the week or two they were there. The men bought food and other goods that the families needed. The men had hard currency, which could be used in special stores. I talked with a number of Canadian men who seemed to be really nice fellows and each of them told me their story of their Cuban 'friend' and her family. It was so very sad.
I was upset.
Well I am going back on September 29th for ten days. This time I will stay only in Havana. I know what to expect now. There is a lot of prostitution. There has been another twenty years of hardship. But, Cubans can now have private businesses. There are a lot of Americans going to Cuba now. There is the Person to Person program and then there is the third country way. Fly from the U.S. to Canada or Mexico and then to Cuba. Cuba opened their embassy in the U.S. on July 20th. The U.S.will formally open theirs in Havana on August 14th. Changes are on the horizon.
I am planning to make this a cultural trip. I very much want to attend a performance of the Cuban National Ballet (fingers crossed). I want to learn more about the Afro Cuban religion. I will spend time with Cubans. I am not staying at a tourist hotel or resort.
However, I do intend to spend a few evening at the Nacional Hotel, drinking rum, smoking cigars, and imagining the rat pack sitting close by. Yes, I will!
Stay tuned.
My experiences:
Around l980 I took my first trip to Cuba. I flew into Havana, but went directly to my hotel on the beach in Varadero. There were no all inclusives then. The Soviet presence was everywhere, even at the outdoor bar in the evenings. The band played Cuban music, but Midnight in Moscow found its way into the programme every hour or so. The beach was off limits at night. There were tanks there pointed at the U.S. At the airport there seemed to be only Canadians and Russians. There were no stores for tourists to shop in. There were no watersports, no day tours, and nothing to buy to bring home except rum and Fidel's book, History Will Absolve Me. I still treasure that book today.
My second trip around 1995 was to Playa Giron. It was a small all inclusive hotel right in the town, which is on the beach. This is where the Bay of Pigs invasion happened. The tiny museum is right in the town. From about 1980 to 1995-7, less than twenty years, but oh such a different Cuba. There was no longer Soviet money and times were tough. I know now that they call it the special period. The thing that upset me the most was the prostitution. The monthly rations were not enough to feed the family and many women (family women) 'hooked up' with male tourists for the week or two they were there. The men bought food and other goods that the families needed. The men had hard currency, which could be used in special stores. I talked with a number of Canadian men who seemed to be really nice fellows and each of them told me their story of their Cuban 'friend' and her family. It was so very sad.
I was upset.
Well I am going back on September 29th for ten days. This time I will stay only in Havana. I know what to expect now. There is a lot of prostitution. There has been another twenty years of hardship. But, Cubans can now have private businesses. There are a lot of Americans going to Cuba now. There is the Person to Person program and then there is the third country way. Fly from the U.S. to Canada or Mexico and then to Cuba. Cuba opened their embassy in the U.S. on July 20th. The U.S.will formally open theirs in Havana on August 14th. Changes are on the horizon.
I am planning to make this a cultural trip. I very much want to attend a performance of the Cuban National Ballet (fingers crossed). I want to learn more about the Afro Cuban religion. I will spend time with Cubans. I am not staying at a tourist hotel or resort.
However, I do intend to spend a few evening at the Nacional Hotel, drinking rum, smoking cigars, and imagining the rat pack sitting close by. Yes, I will!
Stay tuned.
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