[PostFactum]

Anyway It's great country, it's an important part of worlds culture. Only one thing is there that they have a authoritative political system, with democrathy they'll be better.

[herbie]

I'd love to go having heard nothing but good stories from friends who have.
Unfortunately the other half is a redhead who sunburns in bloody Terrace or Prince George and is more comfortable vacationing on some foggy Scottish moor!
So far this spring it's been as pissy as November in Vancouver, I'd love to hit a beach and see sunshine sometime!

[GreenTiger]

Thanos wrote:

Hammered is good. Hammered is always good. And, in Cuba's defense, at least they don't allow the sort of people exemplified by the cast of, ugh, "Jersey Shore" to wreck the whole place for everyone else.

That's the biggest problem with beachfronts in the United States and Mexico these days. You can literally smell the herpes when the wind kicks up strong enough.

Why the insults when I'm asking about a country? Or am I just better at at looking beyond prejudice than some other people?

[Khar]

Been there once or twice. We actually have taken cabs and such to the beaches or for a wander around the cities, and it's actually really interesting. I dunno who here has seen Departures, but it's a pretty good Canadian travel show, and what they saw of Cuba is pretty indicative of what Cubans are like.

It's pretty safe, really, although that's because if tyou harm a tourist the punishments are extreme in Cuba. It's not a rich nation by any means. What was sad before is true -- most of the time, travellers stay at their hotels, drink cocktails and wander the pristine tourist-only beaches and waters.

What I found most interesting is that the tips preferred there for maids and such are more the little luxuries, like hair accessories or toothbrushes. We had a lot of very happy maids who enjoyed seeing us come and go seemingly a lot more than the other neighbours as a result, but then again, I have a feeling not a lot of the tourists tip -- lots of people from East Europe visit and it's not much of a custom there.

We did the island tours of course with a group, which was alright. Unlike Jamaica, they seemed perfectly happy to take you through neighbourhoods, something I only experienced before in Mexico, and since I'd traveled around outside of the mandated groups you do get to see what the typical streets are like. We give up our first aid kit to a hospital and had brought a massive bag of school supplies for the kids at one of the schools. I don't know much about store prices -- stores seemed to be full and according to some of the other tourists, depending on where you went, even just down the street, prices varied wildly so you really had to shop for the best price. Of course, most of the time you could simply go to the bazaars which frequently appear around the tourist filled areas.

The currency you can use now has changed for tourists, though, it's become a bit harder for tourists to get onto the streets and involved in stuff as a result,I hear. Being able to simply pay in the peso or the American dollar was a luxury I guess many miss out on having. Now there's some sort of tourist peso.

[BartSimpson]

BeaverFever wrote:

I dont know that you'd be putting too much money into the pockets of the Castro family, that regime is actually known for NOT being a kleptocracy, relative that region.

Forbes magazine conservatively estimated Fidel Castro's wealth at around $900 million dollars and I recall they also got into a detail of all the fabulous mansions the Castro brothers own and maintain in Cuba and around the world.

But, of course, they came by all of that money honestly, I'm sure.

Kool-Aid, anyone?

[bootlegga]

I've never gone but that has less to do with politics and more to do with the history. If I'm going to spend $1000 or so on a week long vacation, it'll be to Cancun so I can see Chitzen Itza or some other Mayan ruins. Nope, my next vacation is going to be here (Belize);

http://www.costamayareef.com/

Cuba's got history, but it's not long enough for me to be interested. If I want to see something a couple hundred of years old, I'll go to the Maritimes (which I do plan in a couple of years).

I really could care less about sitting on a beach...

[Khar]

Personally, I go where I go for the coral reefs, but I have done a lot of travelling and have to say that Belize is an interesting and beautiful country... even underwater. Have fun!