American tourists at home in Cuba

[babylonsister]

Yea, what travel ban? No one told me...


American tourists at home in Cuba

Cuban art show

Javier Galeano / Associated Press

Residents and tourists in Havana walk among metal elephants, part of the Cuban Biennale, an international art show held every three years (despite its name) and featuring a big show by U.S.-based artists, called Chelsea Visits Havana.

There's not much feeling of taboo left in traveling to the island. Obama is expected to open the door wider.

By Tracy Wilkinson
April 12, 2009

Reporting from Havana -- The St. Patrick’s Day parade was a little late, but the Cuban bagpipers and the blond transvestite in green satin made up for it in spirit as they sashayed down O'Reilly Street to observe Cuba's historic connections to Ireland. (Apparently, even Che Guevara was part Irish.)

A marching flute band played the song from "The Bridge on the River Kwai," and a Miss Cuba Ireland was crowned.

Odd things happen when Americans come to Havana.

A video of the parade is on display at the first major exhibition of U.S. artists in Cuba in a quarter of a century, part of what organizers are calling a social experiment in connecting Cubans and Americans.

"Art is a great bridge, the way to start a conversation," said Alberto Magnan, a New York gallery owner who is in Havana to oversee the exhibit.

Havana is crawling with Americans these days.

Young tourists stalk the rum-laced bars and plan a night out dancing. Art patrons hurry off to inspect the U.S. artists exhibition. Cuban-born Americans, loaded with gifts, visit family members in a home left behind long ago.

What travel ban?

"What are all these people doing here?" Jay Seldin, a fine-art photographer from Montclair, N.J., wondered as he sat in the lobby of a fancy hotel on the edge of Old Havana. "You don't feel like it's taboo."

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-cuba-americans12-2009apr12,0,2038666.story

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

1. I have done it twice,

Once through Canada and once through Mexico - and you have to be pretty fucking stupid to get caught. One of my old professors knows a family down there who offers use of a really nice apartment in exchange for electronics and designer clothing. Bring some Playstation 2 games and they will throw in a car.

[babylonsister]

2. I can't wait to go. I wanted to beat the rush, but I see I'm too late.

I think I'll wait until we get the all-clear, which I hope is soon.
Lucky you!

[SoCalDem]

4. I may go back too , one day.. I was a baby when I was there before

It would be fun to visit the archives & see if I could find my grandparents' house , farm & business..

[babylonsister]

12. You have relatives from Cuba? How fun!

Well, now maybe. Not so much if you couldn't visit them. :(

[LynnTheDem]

5. You must go, and preferably before America takes over. It is so

beautiful and the people are so warm & friendly.

See it before the big hotel chains et al move in, if at all possible!

[babylonsister]

6. That's exactly why I want to go soon. I want to see the 'old' Cuba

before we help ruin it.

[LynnTheDem]

7. Just in case you get some free time...!

http://www.cuba-all-inclusive-resorts.com/cuba-all-inclusive-resorts.html

[babylonsister]

8. Thanks for the link.

Can you tell me if there are regular decent hotels there, too. We usually prefer to get a room and then eat out at different places to experience wherever we are.

[LynnTheDem]

9. Oh yeah there are some very decent hotels.

Iberostar Daiquiri, in Cayo Guillermo is beachfront and gorgeous! (4-star) But it's all-inclusive so meals included. You can still eat elsewhere, of course.

Here's some pics
http://family.webshots.com/album/332581328bWJUqK

There are several 5-star hotels/resorts, ie http://www.royalhideawayensenachos.com/ but I'm assuming you're interested more in "hanging with the locals" decent?


Gimme a min to check out recommended non-inclusive hotels!

[babylonsister]

10. Yes, 'hanging with the locals' decent.

5-star, not so much! :D Thanks for the pics; I'm going to check them out.

[LynnTheDem]

11. Link to more info...

http://www.knowingcuba.com/


Every time we go to Cuba I imagine how most Americans probably imagine Cuba; dirty, dingy, all in black & white like an old movie...

Whooo boy are they wrong!

Some pretty pics!

http://images.google.ca/images?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&rlz=1T4GZEZ_en-GBCA285CA286&q=Cuba%20hotels&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

[babylonsister]

13. Excellent! Thank you again, and I'm bookmarking this thread for

hopefully near future reference! The beaches look outstanding!

[LynnTheDem]

3. Cuba is one of the top tourist destination spots for Canadians & Brits.

One of the remarks I hear most often about that is how thankful they (Brits & Canadians) are for the lack of American tourists.

I'm sure we'll see McDonalds in Cuba in our lifetimes though.

[XOKCowboy]

14. I met a lot of divers in Belize who go there... Love it

One of my friends also went to the Caymans and hopped a plane from there. No passport involved. Just two little slips of paper at Customs. Of course he also used only cash and had a great time. It's about time this farcical travel ban and embargo is overturned.

[Oregone]

15. A lot of those Americans could also be mistaken Canadians

Seems like a ton of people we know around here vacation in Cuba often. Its a popular destination