Cuba and the US

[jorian]

But general travel still prohibited: Cuba opens up more to U.S. travellers, trade starting tomorrow - World - CBC News

Gotta start somewhere. The solution lies in change not in the status quo.

[sc_rufctr]

A friend posted this on Facebook. He's a pro photographer and has spent a lot of time in Cuba.

The Cuba as we know it will soon no longer exist. Although old cars and cigar-smoking women are also in the future the streetscape, however only as scenery for nostalgia-hungry and payment-happy tourists.
The revolution has turned into resignation after 56 years. Havana is falling apart faster than it can be obtained. The State desperately needs foreign exchange and,
pushed by the freedom of travel of Americans, is now something quite new development but currently no one knows in Cuba what it is. (Translated from German)

[fintstone]

Hopefully we will not prop up the the Castro regime (as has been done for decades) and will allow it to finally collapse...so something new and better can emerge.

[sc_rufctr]

An interesting development and I must admit I'd love to go but...

From the article.

"With pure tourism still officially banned, Congress must approve a US-Cuba accord
and new air-service agreements must be negotiated before commercial airlines can offer flights."

Travel company starts offering direct flight from JFK to Cuba | New York Post

[sc_rufctr]

[sc_rufctr]

Has anyone been yet?

It's looking good for the new year. I'll be taking some leave

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Hopefully we will not prop up the the Castro regime (as has been done for decades) and will allow it to finally collapse...so something new and better can emerge.

Unlikely with who is in the White House.

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.

Correct, as already stated , there is no shortage of tourist from other countries, Canada being being the largest trading partner & the European countries that have been spending money there for decades, notice that the Cuban people have not benefited, why would anything change?? A friend what there the beginning of the year, and stated that there is 2 Cubas, the one the tourist see and the one where people actually live in.

As to why the embargo has been going on Fintstone correctly answered that, American property seized, Americans never compensated for their losses.

Have Cuban friends, who still (legally) travel once a year to Cuba, and they don't see anything changing till the Government changes. A fair amount of Americans do visit Cuba, via Mexica, the Caymans, and a few other places. I almost went last year myself

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Has anyone been yet?

It's looking good for the new year. I'll be taking some leave

My wife and I were there just before Christmas 2 yrs ago. There are very inexpensive all inclusive tours out of Toronto. A week with taxes, air, transfers ,hotel with meals and drinks was less than $750 Cdn per person .Much cheaper than what is being offered from mainland US now. Visit Toronto and throw in a week in Havana (3-4hrs away). There is one hotel about 15 mi out of Havana on the beach with a twice daily downtown free shuttle. (Only 3 star but clean). Better hotels in town aren,t all inclusive and not on the beach.
The other tourist area is Veradero with newer better hotels on the beach but no shuttle into Havana ( which is what we wanted to see ).

[johnsjmc]

As to why the embargo has been going on Fintstone correctly answered that, American property seized, Americans never compensated for their losses.

My wife,s family is still waiting to be compensated for their farmland in the Bronx which was seized after the American revolution , when they stayed loyal to the crown and moved north to British North America (eventually Canada). They were not collaberators or insurgents but they were just simple farmers, displaced by a revolution. Seems very similar but we,re not holding our breath waiting for a check.