Cuba and the US

[yellowperil]

Pals again?? Good? Bad?

[dlockhart]

I don't want to trade with Cuba ( state ) I want to trade with Cubans. (persons) Free, and voluntary trade without either government being involved would be nice.

[Nostril Cheese]

Amen to that.

[Amail]

Very good, I think. Cuba will be transformed by tourism, the population could certainly use the money and lots of opportunity on both sides. High time this got sorted out.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Amail

Very good, I think. Cuba will be transformed by tourism, the population could certainly use the money and lots of opportunity on both sides. High time this got sorted out.

Absolutely....

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Amail

Very good, I think. Cuba will be transformed by tourism, the population could certainly use the money and lots of opportunity on both sides. High time this got sorted out.

Its been transformed by tourist from all over the world for decades. I remember my parent going there in the late 60's.

If the US travel restriction are lift, it will drive the price up, which will be good for them (and bad for us).

We (Canada) is Cuba biggest importer but I can see you guys taking over pretty fast as the relation mornalized.

It will be good for both side.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'm thinking a little getaway cabana in Havana with a porch overlooking some little plaza filled with dudes drinking coffee and smoking cigars and close to a few cabaret shows would be pretty cool. How much for a little condo there? Probably not much...

[imcarthur]

It's been a cheap paradise for Canadians & Europeans for years - although the food always sucks. Lovely reserved people.



See the beach in that picture? When full-blown US tourism hits, there will be a condo there & a horde of fat people - rather than just me - and that will be a shame in a way.

Ian

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'm thinking a little getaway cabana in Havana with a porch overlooking some little plaza filled with dudes drinking coffee and smoking cigars and close to a few cabaret shows would be pretty cool...

BTDT, one of the 2 most enjoyable gathering with the "enemy" as we were told by the Navy...

The other one was in Kiel Germany were we sat and drink with German sailors into the wee hours. Kiel was totally destroyed during the war but they had no ill felling toward us (Cdn).

I'm willing to bet that the same will happened to you when you visit.

[island911]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

It's been a cheap paradise for Canadians & Europeans for years - although the food always sucks. Lovely reserved people.



See the beach in that picture? When full-blown US tourism hits, there will be a condo there & a horde of fat people - rather than just me - and that will be a shame in a way.

Ian

Will it keep 'em Canucks off Hawaii?

So, Cuba has one resource -pretty beaches.
Now how is US royalty going to change how the Castros do business?

That is, it doesn't matter -to would be condo developers- that bamo sez, it's all cool, my communist brutha from anotha mutha.

Would you buy a bridge from Putin? ..a network server from Kim Jun un? .. a beach from Castro?

[motion]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

It's been a cheap paradise for Canadians & Europeans for years - although the food always sucks. Lovely reserved people.



See the beach in that picture? When full-blown US tourism hits, there will be a condo there & a horde of fat people - rather than just me - and that will be a shame in a way.

Ian

I feel sorry for Cuba... they'll probably change more in 5 years than they have in the last 100 years.

[island911]

Originally Posted by motion

I feel sorry for Cuba... they'll probably change more in 5 years than they have in the last 100 years.

Why?

Because the ROW couldn't supply the needs of Cuba?

I must be missing something. Did Cuba suddenly change? ...or is this just another attention grab EO from our prince of the media?

[motion]

Originally Posted by island911

Why?

Because the ROW couldn't supply the needs of Cuba?

I must be missing something. Did Cuba suddenly change? ...or is this just another attention grab EO from our prince of the media?

Because Americans have a unique way of screwing up nice things.

[imcarthur]

Let's keep this one out of Parf, OK Island? You already have a thread there to crap on.

The ROW have been long term investors. A lot of resorts are jointly owned by Spanish firms. I know that it is hard to fathom but in Cuba you can't use your debit card & VISA, MC & Amex are useless. The almighty US dollar is just green paper & not accepted. Canadian or Euro only. You can't even buy a can of Coke. Gas (from Venezuela) is limited & it is common for stations to be out of 'tourist' gas (local gas is mixed with diesel). Foodstuffs come from Europe or South America. Toyota, Suzuki & other Asian car makers are visible on the roads mixed with ancient trucks & old junky 50s iron.

When/if US investment arrives it will be preceded by a literal invasion of lawyers who will try to press the claims of the expats in Miami. But do any of us really give a crap that so & so used to own a nightclub in Havana 50 years ago & wants his money? They can go in the same bin that holds the British claims from India or the Palestinian claims from Israel etc. It's time to move on. The Bacardi family did.

As for the population, they have excellent schooling & great medical care & very little else. They will have their own expectations & that is what will ultimately result in real change.

Ian

[craigster59]

We're gonna see some phenomonal talent come into MLB that's for sure.

[yellowperil]

Cool watches and one cool dude. I think Fidel usually wore two Rolex watches, and I think I know how he got 'em.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by island911

Why?

Because the ROW couldn't supply the needs of Cuba?

I must be missing something. Did Cuba suddenly change? ...or is this just another attention grab EO from our prince of the media?

Because a tropical paradise just opened up, right off the coast of FL. There is going to be a massive influx of American investment and dollars. Have you heard the multitude of American businesses that have already issued press releases about how they can't wait to invest in Cuba? Not to mention the influx of American tourists, or those seeking to build a tropical vacation home that's just a short hop from the USA.

[fintstone]

I suspect that most of the predictions here will not come to pass any time soon. The President's ability to make these changes is very small. Baseball players have not been kept out of the US. Cuba has kept it's people imprisoned. The trade embargo (Federal law) cannot be lifted by the President (unless he breaks the law again). Folks here will be able to send a bit more money to their family there and the President can appoint an Ambassador. Folks that are allowed to travel there will be able to bring back $400 in goods ($100 in tobacco and alcohol). They will still be subject to being imprisoned for minor mistakes much as the fellow who was just released. All Cuban political prisoners were not released here (Obama 2.0) which were the requirement for relations with the US (Obama 1.0)...so the people there still get the shaft...in fact, there were really no concessions...so really; nothing has really changed between the two countries, yet.

I agree with the earlier posters that noted that European/Canadian vacationers/money have not changed Cuba...why would a few more Americans? The only thing those monies have done is prop up a brutal dictator for decades, rendering US sanctions ineffective and allowing the repression of the Cuban people. Sanctions were never intended to damage our friends, the Cubans (in fact, the opposite)...just their dictator and his Soviet (Russian) masters.

[island911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Because a tropical paradise just opened up, right off the coast of FL. There is going to be a massive influx of American investment and dollars. Have you heard the multitude of American businesses that have already issued press releases about how they can't wait to invest in Cuba? Not to mention the influx of American tourists, or those seeking to build a tropical vacation home that's just a short hop from the USA.

I have heard this thinking years before. --back when Fidel Castro was looking like he was going to croak.

My understanding is, the investment holdup is not the lack of American dollars, but rather (lack of) confidence in Cuba.

In other words, the rest of the world has plenty of money to invest in Cuba... But, if the regime in Cuba makes that investment stability questionable, then it does not happen.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by island911

I have heard this thinking years before. --back when Fidel Castro was looking like he was going to croak.

My understanding is, the investment holdup is not the lack of American dollars, but rather confidence in Cuba.

In other words, the rest of the world has plenty of money to invest in Cuba... But, if the regime in Cuba makes that investment stability questionable, then it does not happen.

Exactly! The dictatorship nationalized $1B in American assets in 1960. The same folks are still in charge. What would prevent them from doing so again?