Tourists flocking to Cuba 'before the Americans come'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Tourists flocking to Cuba 'before the Americans come'
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ and PETER ORSI, Associated Press | March 22, 2015 | Updated: March 22, 2015 11:45pm

HAVANA (AP) — Bookings to Cuba jumped 57 percent for one New York tour operator in the weeks after Washington said it would renew ties with Havana. In February, they were up 187 percent; and so far this month, nearly 250 percent.

The boom is just one sign that the rush is on to see Cuba now — before, as many predict, McDonald's claims a spot in Old Havana and Starbucks moves in on Cubita, the island's premium coffee brand.

The sense that detente will unleash an invasion of Yankee tourists and change the unique character of one of the world's last remaining bastions of communism is shared by many travelers flocking here.

"Cuba has a very authentic atmosphere which you see nowhere else in the world," Gay Ben Aharon of Israel said while walking through Revolution Square. "I wanted to see it before the American world ... but also the modern Western world comes here."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Tourists-flocking-to-Cuba-before-the-Americans-6151982.php

[marym625]

1. an old boyfriend of mine was an award winning photojournalist

Last edited Mon Mar 23, 2015, 06:52 AM - Edit history (1)

He took pictures of after the war and the children in wars. He absolutely loved Cuba. He said that was where he wanted to retire. He had a few great shots of the man that the old man and the sea was based on.

My best memory of Marty is when he talked about Cuba. He was at a place in his heart and mind that nothing else brought him to.

Marty in Havana with the Old Man from the sea, holding a picture of himself with Hemingway

[Judi Lynn]

5. Deeply interesting image with the Old Man. What a story! Thanks. n/t

[marym625]

7. Thank you for indulging me

I can't think about Cuba without thinking about him. I think, had he lived, he would have been upset about American companies moving into Cuba. Would have been one of the first down there to visit before it becomes the new in place to go.

[project_bluebook]

2. Yep, they want to see Cuba

before the prices quadruple after the wall street banksters get their dirty hands in everyone's pockets, like in the USA.

[geek tragedy]

4. So, the embargo should not be lifted? nt

[Judi Lynn]

6. Project Bluebook didn't say that, did he?

Don't you just hate it when people try to stuff words in other people's mouths in order to stir up a scuffle with them?

Less than elegant.

[geek tragedy]

8. The concern is that investment from the US

will ruin Cuba. Which was what the embargo prevents.

Similarly, the concern in the article is that American tourists will ruin Cuba by merely visiting the island and spending money there.

Which is what the embargo prevents.

So it seems unclear whether the correct position is (a) the embargo is oppressing Cuba and should end immediately; or (b) the embargo has been good for Cuba because it has kept American investors and tourists from ruining the place with their poisonous presence.

[project_bluebook]

19. Yes, I have been for an end to the embargo for decades

and the freedom of travel and markets were my main reasons. As the US becomes more of a fascist state were big money and corporate greed runs our lives, it is a shame that we are seen, and for that reason, as a bad influence on emerging economies like Cuba. I hope Cuba has economic safeguards in place to keep the wall street thuggery out.

[geek tragedy]

20. I suspect if they have been able to keep the predatory capitalists from Europe, China,

Japan and Russia out, they'll be able to handle Wall Street.

Thus far, they've done a better job than Nicaragua has.

[flamingdem]

21. Hi Geek, what happened in Nicaragua?

I haven't been there since the 80s. Is there a lot of US investment?

[geek tragedy]

24. No, the Chinese are building a canal there.

Construction commenced before the environmental impact study was completed. China gets all the revenue the canal generates, and Nicaragua gets all of the environmental degradation it generates.

Viva Ortega!

[flamingdem]

28. Ugh. What a bummer

It's such a small country and can't afford such a mistake.

[Judi Lynn]

38. Nicaragua is going to be exploited, and China will make all the profit? Is that how it goes?

I've never heard it explained that way.

Sounds like a Fox in-depth summary.

Speaking of environment impact studies, you're lucky to be such a proponent for a country which reveres and respects the sacredness of our one and only planet. God bless our guardians of the earth, the oil and extractive industries.

[geek tragedy]

39. You think Chinese capitalists are above exploiting Nicaragua?

And you've never heard of the potential environmental degradation that would result from building a canal?

Really?

The Chinese have been perfectly content to degrade their own environment on a massive scale. They most assuredly do not care about protecting Lake Nicaragua.

[Judi Lynn]

62. Tell it to the Koch Brothers, or any other Republican. They can console you. Drill, baby, drill. n/t

[geek tragedy]

65. Because one can't oppose both forms

of environmental degradation?

[Judi Lynn]

67. It's my total believe it's the president of Nicaragua, a leftist the US tried to destroy

you really hate.

Knowing that, I'm not deeply interested in your views on what some spinners have written will happen in Nicaragua. Did your ancestors pitch fits when they learned someone was constructing the Panama Canal?

[geek tragedy]

68. You would be absolutely wrong.

Have you been to Nicaragua, or Panama, or Costa Rica, or Honduras?

Have you read about the Nicaragua canal, from people who care about the environment as opposed to those who just suck up to regional governments? How about advocates for the indigenous peoples? (The Sandinistas had a poor record in that department too, not that you would know about that, such stories don't run in your tiny menagerie of approved sources)

Whether it be Canadian mining companies, Spanish hotel conglomerates, or yes Chinese industrialists, there are no shortage of outside greedy bastards more than eager to despoil central America's natural areas to line their own pockets.

P.S. Ortega is a raging misogynist who thinks women's uteruses are the property of the Catholic Church. Unlike you, such traits bother me when they are present in governments that are hostile to the US (Ortega, Putin) just as much as when they occur in US allies.

You are trapped in the belief that everyone who fails to worship Ortega et al must be right wing heretics.

Ortega, by the way, is a merry little capitalist these days.

I would urge you to not engage in a faith-based approach to politics.

[Judi Lynn]

70. First time any poster ever called me an Ortega worshipper. Amazing!

I probably wouldn't recognize him if he walked up and kicked me in the butt. Oh, but he probably wouldn't, knowing I'm an "Ortega worshipper."

Takes all kinds.

By the way, countries throughout the Americas ALL have problems with abortion, your own U.S. of A., included. All the pieces of #### fascist Republicans have major problems, apparently spending most of their time with their slimy heads jammed up as many women's skirts as they can, trying to see if there's anything in there they can harass or try to dominate.

[geek tragedy]

74. Nicaragua's entire government is more extreme than the worst Republican in the US congress

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/27/nicaragua-blanket-ban-abortions-rape

Nicaragua's ban on all abortions, even when a woman's life is at risk, is compelling incest and rape victims to give birth and contributing to an increase in maternal deaths, according to a report from Amnesty International.

Delegates from the human rights charity, who recently visited the predominantly Catholic country, say young girls subjected to sexual violence by family or friends are forced to give birth even when they are carrying their own brothers and sisters.

The report also says the law has led to a recorded rise in pregnant teenagers committing suicide by consuming poison.

Official figures show 33 girls and women died in pregnancy in the past year, compared to 20 in the previous year, it says. But the numbers are feared to be greater as the government itself has acknowleged incidents of maternal deaths are under-recorded.

Abortion was a key issue for the 2006 presidential election, won by former Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega. The former revolutionary, who once supported abortion rights, mobilised his supporters behind a campaign for a blanket ban on terminations, which was signed into law just before he took office.

Previous to that, "therapeutic" abortions were allowed in certain circumstances where continuation of the pregnancy was life-threatening.

The new penal code, introduced in July last year, enshrined the criminalisation of abortion, regardless of circumstance, with prison sentences for women who undergo abortions, and the medical staff who help them.

It also introduced criminal sanctions for doctors and nurses who treat a pregnant woman or girl for illnesses such as cancer, malaria, HIV/Aids or cardiac emergencies if such treatment could cause injury to or lead to the death of the embryo or foetus.

"There is only one way to describe what we have seen in Nicaragua ‑ sheer horror," Kate Gilmore, Amnesty International's executive deputy secretary general, told a press conference in Mexico City. "Children are being compelled to bear children. Pregnant women are being denied essential life saving medical care."

Go ahead, minimize that.

Just like you pretend that their canal would be just wonderful for the environment, because that's what the 'anti-imperialist' propaganda outfits tell you.


http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2015/0324/Why-the-Nicaragua-canal-poses-new-challenge-to-Ortega-s-power-video

http://www.nature.com/news/conservation-nicaragua-canal-could-wreak-environmental-ruin-1.14721

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/sep/30/nicaragua-canal-forest-displace-people

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nicaragua-faces-questions-over-new-canal-after-protest-deaths-links-to-china-and-fears-over-environmental-impact-9945100.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hazel-guardado/nicaraguas-proposed-inter_b_6083274.html

[geek tragedy]

76. By the way, Nica's government are also homophobic pigs

Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Brunei, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, China, Comoros, North Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe voted for the Russian proposal.

The Russia proposal being to strip GLBT UN employees of benefits for their partners.

Quite illustrious company they keep in that regard--a who's who of the most evil governments on the planet.

Note that the Sandinistas were the only government in the Western Hemisphere to vote for this.

Even Cuba and Jamaica refused to line up behind Moscow.

I'm sure you will explain how this was really anti-imperialism.

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/03/24/bid-to-block-spousal-benefits-for-gay-u-n-employees-fails/

[Throd]

55. China is a role model for environmentalism or something?

[Judi Lynn]

64. I don't know. Don't think so. Thanks for asking, but I don't have your answer.

You won't find Houston is an environmental role model, either. Nor L.A.

[center]

[/center]

[Throd]

66. I remember Los Angeles in the 1970's.

I go there a few times a year and it is indeed better now.

[Judi Lynn]

69. Here's a photo from 2015:

[center]http://www.trbimg.com/img-51af863f/turbine/la-20130605-001/600/600x400

November 8, 2005



September 29, 2008

[/center]
A Disgusting Day to Breathe in L.A.
By Adrian Martinez | Thursday, February 05, 2015

(Update 2/6/2015: The governing board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) voted 10 -1, with two members absent, to approve the district's air plan. The vote came despite extensive testimony from community members who shared their personal stories of health woes due to particle pollution. The district's plan will now go to the state for approval and finally, EPA.

"The air district gave a little nod to us, but at the end of the day it was a weak plan and we'll need to hold their feet to the fire to fight for cleaner air," - Earthjustice attorney Adrian Martinez.)

The Los Angeles region is currently experiencing really dirty, filthy and downright disgusting air.

Large swaths of the San Fernando Valley, central Los Angeles and areas all the way down into communities in southeast Los Angeles County are breathing high levels of particulate pollution in what is classified by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) as an “unhealthy” air day, meaning everybody should be careful when breathing outside.

Be careful breathing. That’s a sad reality and many other parts of the region have air that has been marked “unhealthy for sensitive groups to breathe”, too.

More:
http://earthjustice.org/blog/2015-february/a-disgusting-day-to-breathe-in-l-a

[geek tragedy]

77. Maybe in 40 years Beijing's air will be that clean. nt

[former9thward]

44. When I was there (1995) all the hotels were Spanish or French.

So it seems they have let in some predatory capitalists.

[geek tragedy]

3. Seems like it's pretentious poseur tourists are the ones whining while the

people of Cuba are looking forward to a better future.

Outsiders may romanticize the "time-capsule" nation, but many on the island are ready for change.

Where foreigners see charming, historic architecture, bright 1950s-era American cars and vast stretches of white-sand beaches, locals see decaying buildings in need of repair, new vehicles priced beyond their reach and a lack of economic opportunity.

For many Cubans living in dilapidated, multigenerational tenements, change could be good. It may expand access to the Internet and the outside world, creating engagement that could bring brighter economic days and, practically speaking, make it easier to fix a leaky roof.

"We're very excited," said Yadiel Carmenate, a 26-year-old English major at the University of Matanzas who moonlights as a tour guide.

Of course, period architecture does not exist in any country where Americans visit.

Rogelio Gauvin, a tourist from Canada, predicts demand will continue to outpace capacity.

"I see a lot of construction, very nice restorations — that's very good," he said. "But there won't be enough hotels. There won't be enough restaurants. There won't be enough services to accommodate the Americans who will come like rats on a ship."

He sounds like a real charmer.

[flamingdem]

23. To me I have sympathy all around

and by the way just returned from there.

Cubans uniformly want US investment and increased tourism. They need it badly. The clock is running and those old cars and buildings won't last forever.

There is quite a bit of Chinese and Brazilian investment.

I don't think anything will be quick. There are lots of hurdles and US companies will not like the restrictions imposed on them..

Thus my sympathy for the Canadians who have helped the Cubans financially with their tourism -- which is mostly limited to all inclusive resorts - thus their cultural impact is limited.

For better or for worse, or even because really the US government dictates that US citizens must "engage with the Cuban people" and not go on vacation -- Americans are EVERYWHERE in Havana. Quite different from before.

I don't like it either. For one thing it means that lodging is hard to come by. That doesn't mean I'm not happy for the Cuban people that the economy is benefitting.

Truth is though most of the benefit goes to the US based travel agencies who charge exorbitant prices for package tours.

There's no easy way to improve things there but tourism is for now one of the best ways, later perhaps agriculture, tech, biotech.

[Blue_Tires]

34. +1

[joshcryer]

35. Yep.

Cuban cigars will no longer be sought after either.

[RobinA]

41. I Get The Attraction

of the "time-capsule" nation, but it is kind of self serving at this point. The actual inhabitants don't make out well in a situation like that. Not to mention the fact the the time capsule notion ignores the fact that Cuba is not exactly a nation untouched by filthy American lucre. Those antique cars got there somehow. Havana was once the place to go and it always was going to be the place to go again once the embargo went away, which is/was always inevitable.

And yes, I DO get the attraction; as someone who indulged in a bit of a tantrum after driving for 24 hours and arriving in Wisconsin to find myself surrounded by the same Wal*Mart, Applebys and Lowe's that are ten minutes from my house.

[appalachiablue]

53. Their wishes will be granted, far beyond their imaginations better believe it. I've seen a good bit

of the Caribbean before and after foreign investment, like what the Bahamas Paradise Island became way back. And St. Lucia. Wonder if Bermuda is loaded with Starbucks and McD's, hope not.

[IronLionZion]

9. I have a feeling the cubans will tell starbucks to go to hell

since they have their own established coffee culture. But I say let the Cuban people decide what they want. Many of them might like to have tourist money creating jobs.

Many elitists claim they like the old world charm of some places and there might be some good intentions to that but they also secretly like flying home to enjoy their luxurious easy lifestyles while feeling superior to the poor third world countries who make and grow everything with cheap labor. Elitists want others to be poor with limited opportunities and no choices. Its about control.

Being western means being blissfully unaware that when a family can afford only one piece of fish each day, they have to triage it to see who needs the protein and nutrients the most, usually if a child or grandparent happens to be sick at the time.

Oh yes, the flip flops and bicycles and 50s era cars are so charming.

[flamingdem]

26. I think ultimately most tourists are charmed by the Cubans themselves

They help people let their guard down and have a good time. The majority see the poverty.

By the way Cubans are pretty good at resolving their situation so it's not as dire as it was in the early 90s. In fact there is a problem with obesity in Cuba.

[closeupready]

10. "They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot."

As true today as it will be tomorrow, in Cuba.

[swilton]

16. This is what I fear

[BumRushDaShow]

17. You can't post that without Joni

[closeupready]

18. Yes, thanks for the head's up, of course.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. :-D

[azmom]

51. And, they call it progress. Ugh

[Alkene]

11. Walt Disney Cuban Resort cruise:

Where "Pirates of the Caribbean" is more than just a ride.

Port of departure, Guantánamo Bay.

[MynameisBlarney]

12. I highly doubt that American tourists are going to ruin

Cuba's charm.
If you've been to Miami, you can see they are very proud of their cultural identity. They transformed South Florida, not the other way around.
I honestly do not believe that an influx of Yankee tourists are going to change that.

[bigworld]

13. The problem with most American tourists

is that they expect everything to be like it is at home... Red Lobster, Starbucks, McDonalds, 7-11.

Most Canadians (and others) realize that Cuba is not a first world country, and don't go there expecting as much.

Cuba (outside the all-inclusive resorts) is not an easy vacation if you expect all the comforts of home.

[geek tragedy]

22. That's a rather gross generalization.

Americans who go to Costa Rica, and Belize, and Panama, and Honduras, travel there instead of Florida for a reason. Why would that be different for those who would go to Cuba?

Don't most Canadians use all-inclusives in Cuba and other warm weather reputation? That's kind of their reputation in that part of the world.

[bigworld]

29. Good point.

Tourists who go to Costa Rica or Honduras, though, are of a different breed than those who go to the all-inclusives on Jamaica or the Dominican Republic. I guess it all depends on which way the Cuban authorities choose to guide that big tourist bus.

[geek tragedy]

31. it will be an interesting case study

big developments are the way to bring in the most money, and the fastest. They're also easier for the government to deal with and regulate--easier to deal with one big developer with 500 rooms than 25 small business owners with 20 rooms each. Or 50 small business owners with 10 rooms each.

But going small would keep the money local and distributed rather than funneled overseas or concentrated. And provide more stability. But, it would be less manageable for a government that likes to manage everything.

[a la izquierda]

73. I was just in Costa Rica...

The Americans there...meh. Like some Americans I've encountered everywhere else. Loud and obnoxious. Just like everyone else (Europeans included).

[geek tragedy]

75. Jaco or Tamarindo? nt

[a la izquierda]

80. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. nt

[geek tragedy]

81. Surprising. The Caribe is supposed to draw

off-the-beaten path types. But I guess anywhere there's bars, there's assholes. Which is why we avoid staying in towns while there.

[Adrahil]

47. In the Carribbean....

Most American tourists never leave the tourist district.... their all-inclusive resorts and the business district that caters to tourist wants.

Havana already has an area more geared towards tourists than natives. They even have a special currency intended primarily for use by tourists (the Convertible Peso), rather than natives (because the economies are on vastly different scales). I expect with the influx of Americans, it will just get bigger.

[appalachiablue]

83. Those kind of US tourists should stay at home, save the travel cost. One of the first things

we found on our first trip to Jamaica in the 80s was a little local bakery with fresh cocoa bread in a small shopping ctr. in Mo Bay. Delish. Went every morning, also to a jerk chicken stand down the road which you had to wait for sometimes but worth it. The nearby beach, Doctor's Cave was delightful with lovely old almond trees for shade. Amazing trip. In the morning, early, like 8am I would see the same 3-4 grim men sitting in a little diner on stools wolfing down ham and eggs. I wondered about that esp. in the tropics. They were in their 30s and 40s, casual in shorts, socks and sandals. Don't know if US or Canadian or if there on business. They didn't seem to be on vacation.

[riverbendviewgal]

14. cuba has the most beautiful beaches

I have been on BC, California, Mexico east and west sides, the entire Florida coasts, the entire US east Coast and PEI , Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, England, Scotland and Ireland. My friend has been to Hawaii and says the Mexican Mayan Riveria beaches are like Hawaii's. I been there 3 times. Cuba has Cayo Santa Clara. AWesome. I will be going there now. I went Florida again this winter. I Realize now that Cuba has better weather and beaches.

The Cuban people wonderful. I love Cuba.

[LeftinOH]

15. You don't want McDonald's or Starbucks there?.. don't open franchises

there. Someone has to own the francised business; if the local authorities don't allow it, it won't happen. American tourists aren't going to ruin anything - it's presumptuous and offensive to assume that they are.

And before anyone bemoans the possibility that Havana might become another Cancun, Mexico ...bear in mind that modern Cancun was built specifically for the tourist trade.

[flamingdem]

27. The Cuba government controls 51% of foreign businesses

as far as I know.

The franchise idea is interesting since it would be Cuban ownership, I guess, but give it another 5 years before it's in place.

[tridim]

82. I found the article offensive as well.

The article makes it sound like Americans are all the same and all like the Koch Brothers. Pathetic and so wrong.

[quadrature]

30. attn: Cubans ...say hello to megaslums ...

Tourism = Poverty

[FrodosPet]

33. They already have megaslums

Cuba needs to train some of their surplus of doctors to be carpenters, roofers, bricklayers, plumbers, and electricians.

[seveneyes]

32. Stereotyping American tourists is no better than

getting mugged in the shadows of paradise.

[DeSwiss]

36. K&R

- Never forget.

[tabasco]

37. Who can blame 'em?

My fellow countrymen are a bunch of rude, obnoxious boobs.

[geek tragedy]

40. Lazy stereotypes benefit no one. nt

[Throd]

43. They benefit the stereotyper, separating them from the common knuckledraggers.

Who wants boorish Americans disturbing the human zoo of noble savages?

[tabasco]

57. Pretty accurate

Good job.

[Codeine]

78. Damn. You said it better than I ever could.

Good on ya.

[tabasco]

56. Deal with it in your own special way. n/t

[RobinA]

42. Oh Please!

I have traveled extensively in the US and find rude bothersome tourists of all makes and models. One particular nationality mowing down everyone in their path to get to the very edge of the Grand Canyon. Another woman on the Blue Ridge braying in her native language scaring wildlife for miles. Yet another bus tour stepping on the people in front of them to purchase sandwiches at a deli counter. Three separate countries from different corners of the globe. I don't find Americans any more or less rude than anybody else.

I do get tired of this notion, usually among Amercans, that Americans are always the worst of everything. On my trip to the Southwest, Americans were decidedly NOT the tourists to stear clear of, and in fact, were somewhat in the miniority as school was still in session.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

54. Nothing like being on a train going through the Alps

and being mowed over by a bunch of tourists with their cameras. I very much like these people from that island nation, but - wow - it's just hard not to stereotype certain traits. LOL I thought I was going to get shoved to the ground so they could get better pictures.

And, yeah, I travelled with an "ugly American couple," though not by choice. Thankfully, most of us weren't like that. Most people are decent. Every nationality I've ever met, in fact, I've certainly liked the vast majority of folks I've met.

[tabasco]

58. Tough

Deal with it.

[appalachiablue]

84. What was the woman braying? You should write satire and comedy, so descriptive, I can

barely stop laughing!

[Adrahil]

48. Well, I've certainly seen my share of "ugly Americans" abroad....

But also plenty of perfectly kind and polite American tourists. Also, I've seen plenty of incredibly rude foreign tourists - Brazilians and French to my recollection, but that was my personal experience.

[Codeine]

79. yep -- when we were in London, the loudest, most obnoxious people in the British Museum

were French. I never heard a raised voice with an American accent. Maybe I just got lucky?

[closeupready]

45. I agree re: some Americans. There is a new reality show coming in April - three guys from Utah

and a GoPro camera, all white guys with jobs in their 20's - they trek all over the globe to places where no other people are - thus likely spoiling a pristine natural environment. I can't even imagine how awful this show is going to be, but maybe I'll be wrong.

This is the type of American who defaces and destroys historical landmarks like the Coliseum, natural rock formations in Goblin Valley, graffitis Yosemite and Yellowstone, litters mountain ranges with their garbage and feces ...

[Adrahil]

49. Yup... Americans invented graffiti! Or not:

[former9thward]

46. Please visit Cuban if you can. Wonderful people.

Cuban tobacco field workers ran out of the field to have their photo taken when I was there.





Sign opposite U.S. interests office ( in the Swiss Embassy) denouncing U.S. imperialism

[Judi Lynn]

59. Love the photo of the tobacco workers. They look so cheerful, too!

I've only heard great things about Cuban nationals from travelers. So interesting.

They've put signs around the Interests Section because the US officials in there started running a 9 feet tall "news" crawl around the top of the Swiss embassy with constant pro-US gibberish on it.

[center]

[/center]
That's when Cubans decided to erect some signs of their own, facing the US Interests Section, situated within the Swiss embassy.

[center]

Dubya, and a Cuban airline bomber, mass murderer, Luis Posada Carriles,
who is still walking around a free man in Miami, Florida. Bush refused to
allow him to be extradicted to Cuba, or to Venezuela, where he was also
wanted, for escaping from a Venezuelan prison in the 1970's, (with bribe
money from the Cuban American National foundation, CANF, to the officials
at the prison).





These signs were also there for a while.[/center]

[former9thward]

60. Yes, the picture I took was in 1995.

They have clearly done some construction there. The top picture has a bunch of flag poles to the right. None of that existed where I was there.

[Judi Lynn]

71. Yes, that came after Bush's Interests Section started running anti-Cuban government messages

around the building with its giant 9' letters, day in, day out.

I don't think that would go over very well here, if a country this government doesn't like started sending messages out to the U.S. public, around the clock slamming the US government!

Creepy!

[derby378]

50. Whenever I visit a Korean-style bathhouse, I always demand that they feed me pizza...

...and if you believed that last line, PSYCH!! I tried some authentic Korean food there and thoroughly enjoyed it.

If I ever visit Cuba, I don't want an Americanized version of Cuba - I want to experience the food, the sights, the people, the music, the sand, the surf, everything as it really is.

[Judi Lynn]

72. I think you've passed the sanity test! I hope they don't lose their unique national identity. n/t

[Colorado Vince]

61. haaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Judi Lynn]

63. Back atcha, from Havana!

[center][/center]