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Off to Havana...Adios, muchachos
Posted by Contessa Vanessa on Feb 7, 2010 9:46:22 PM
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Feb 8, 2010 10:27 PM
dmv616
says:
dmv616
says:
I'm so jealous(in a good way), I happen to be from Cuba and haven't been back since I left many years ago. Can't wait to hear about your trip, how good the mojito was at the bodeguita del medio. Also, Espero que no tomes tanto Habana Club. Darien
Feb 18, 2010 8:01 AM
Contessa Vanessa
says
in response to dmv616:
Contessa Vanessa
says
in response to dmv616:
Hi Dmv616,
As a Cuban American, when did you leave? Why?
Was it hard to get a permanent exit visa/ Do you still have famliy in Cuba? I don't think they can easily visit you, but can you go back to visit whenever you want to.
I am old enough to remember the revolution 51 years ago. but this was the first time I was in a controlled, supressed. Communist country, and as a visitor for a week, I have no clue as to the politics of the country. I do know that the mojitos are great. and the people warm and friendly..
Feb 18, 2010 10:01 PM
dmv616
says
in response to Contessa Vanessa:
dmv616
says
in response to Contessa Vanessa:
I left in 1993 and it was by pure accident. You probably had a chance to visit the Morro Castle in the bay or see it from the Malecon which is the long boardwalk next to the coast. Well I happened to be on a ferry boat coming from the other side of the bay and heading back to Habana. The ferry boat was highjacked and rerouted 90 miles to the north. We spend about 2 days in the ocean before we ran out of diesel. At some point the Cuban Navy chased and caught up to us. They tried to engage us and under different circunstances I truly believe they would have fired at us and possibly put us in the bottom of the ocean. luckily whoever planned the whole thing did it while some human rights group was in the island. You could just imagine the bad PR such incident would've generated. The organization Brothers to the rescue made contact with our boat and flew over us until the US coast Guard came to the rescue. They provided great support and helped push the Cuban Navy back. I was 14 and knew I had no future going back to the Island. I said bye to my Dad (He returned to Cuba) and was transported to Key West by the CG. I still have family there and haven't seen them since. Unfortunetly due to my job I'm not allowed to visit but maybe one day I will.
Feb 18, 2010 10:38 PM
dmv616
says
in response to Contessa Vanessa:
dmv616
says
in response to Contessa Vanessa:
As far as politics the Govt. is very manipulative. And, althought things have changed since 1993 when things were alot stricter I believe overall it is still the same. They have plenty of watch dogs and their job is to keep visitors and their $$$ away from the general population and going straight to the Gov't pocket. Cubans can't speak openly or negative about their govt, the revolution that hapened half a century ago, and leaders. unless they are willing to rot in prison and make their family's life a living ****. There's 2 sides to the island. The one you experienced as a visitor and the other which the Gov't does not want you to see. Cubans will always find a way to remain warm and friendly as you described it, no matter what. Did you get a chance to see old havana?
Feb 19, 2010 6:42 PM
Contessa Vanessa
says
in response to dmv616:
Contessa Vanessa
says
in response to dmv616:
Yes, I got to see Old Havana and Cienfuego, both of which now look like Disneyland. UNESCO funded restoration, and all structures are pastel, and beautiful... But, everything looks fake real and as sonn as one leaves SanFranciso Square , housing is deplorable.--everywhere.
People seem to standiong on a long lines for everything The supermarket had a butcher counter, but no butcher as meat is rationed. The only meat i saw was chicken wings and hot dogs in a freezer. Mostly there were canned goods, from Mexico or Canada.
I have tried to be gentle re my reporting of my trip to Cuba. Being a tourist for a week in a controlled, supressed country doesn't make me a political expert, but it was loud and clear how low the standard of living is.
It might interest you to know that I passed a real estate office and wondered what that could be for as the govt owns all property. The govt is selling and renting condos in Miramar, as vacation homes, hopefully to south Americans, possibly Europeans. . Too early to know if it will be successful.
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Marlene,
Have fun! Can't wait to hear about this trip! Be safe..
Amanda