On To Cuba

That probably is true but all of our advance information is that the internet in the hotels is very slow, expensive, and unreliable. Since much of Cuba is frozen in the 50's so why not totally return to the 50s. Wish I could get an accurate reading on whether or not Cuba cigars are legal for purchase. I am reading yes and no and maybe up to a $100.

Buen viaje, Frank! The downslope winds in the Front Range yesterday were a welcome change from the sub-zero temps last week - hopefully you won't need a parka in Cuba.

I wonder if the cigar situation is the same as the now-legal marijuana in Colorado - it can be smoked there but not taken out to US states where it's not legal?

Say "hi" to Fidel and Raúl!

I am hearing that you can bring back $100 worth of cigars. Maybe we can find out at the orientation meeting on Sunday. I am not a cigar smoker but my younger son's bosses are. And he wants to bribe them a bit.

Ah, Frank, you lucky duck. Who would have thought the former homeless would go to Cuba.

vaya con Dios

looking forward to a trip report

It is because we were homeless and saved all that money plus our gov't subsidy.

Frank,

I've thought several times about making a trip to Cuba, but haven't done that yet. According to the Canadian government travel website, they will confiscate my iPhone as soon as I arrive there simply because it has GPS capability, so they'll have to do without my tourist dollars until they change that ridiculous policy. Also, I'm not the type to sit on the beach in one of the all-inclusive resorts and bake in the sun for two weeks, so I'll have to do a bit more research on things to do there.

A few points of interest from the Cuban Embassy website.....

"If you are to leave Cuba taking with you more than 23 cigars, then the official purchase invoice and the original box with the new holographic seal should be submitted to the customs official. In failing to comply with such requirement, the product will be confiscated by the Cuban customs.
The passports of United States citizens are not stamped when they enter our country."

I'll be eager to hear your impressions when you return.

About 10 years ago my husband and I went to Cuba and did not go to one of those boring resorts. We spent the time in Havana, first at a B&B for a few days, (a legal one, by the way) and then with Canadian friends who had been posted to Cuba. All this to say that Canadians travelling to Cuba, and there are many, never had to settle for sitting on a beach if they only knew it.

Frank's radar was right on - $100 in Cuban cigars or alcohol will be permitted back in the US.

Frank, I'm fascinated about your trip. And more than a little envious. For 6 months I've tried to rally friends to go. I can't imagine not wanting to go. I'm probably going to do it alone. I imagine that a lot of crummy companies have just gotten their licenses to tour, but I would love details on the prices. I am looking forward to your return! Sarah B.

Phil,

Your comments are rather acerbic and not an accurate reflection of my views.

Regarding the GPS issue in Cuba, this from the Government of Canada official website.....

"All electronic devices with Global Positioning System technology, including cellular telephones, are illegal and may be confiscated upon entry to Cuba."

The key word here is "MAY", which means that not everyone will have their phone confiscated. This is a minor issue and certainly not the only reason I haven't travelled to Cuba yet. I'm still thinking about it, as I'm sure there will be some great photo op's there (especially in Havana), but it probably won't be this year for a variety of reasons.

"seeing how you seem to be overly-fixated on that iPhone of yours, if it's not worrying about tourists stealing it, it's now worrying about governments confiscating it - you should maybe consider not taking it on your travels period."

I'm definitely not "overly-fixated" on my iPhone so that's a rather poor interpretation of my comments.

Ken, nil illigitimus carborundum.

Norma,

Thanks for the comment - LOL!

We are back. It was the most demanding, exhausting, eye-opening trip we have ever under gone. We are recoving on a beach in Fort Lauderdale waiting for a cruise on Saturday.
It will take a while to get all my thoughts together in an orderly manner.

On Thusday the restrictions on cigars and rum were lifted. Had to be one of the first to return to the U.S. with legal Cuban cigars.

More later.

CANNOT wait to hear all about it! Guess I'll have to...enjoy your cruise!

Frank,

Welcome back! I will also be awaiting your Trip Report, which I'm sure will be an interesting read.

Enjoy your cruise.

Bon Voyage!!!

We were throughly searched both going in and out of Cuba. We were carrying new iPhones but nothing was said about the phones. Leaving Cuba I was singled out for "special attention" that was just a hair short of a strip search including a full body scan. Fairly polite about it. He just kept saying, "No problem. Computer. Just random." In general, the Cubans were very friendly and VERY EAGER for normalized relations. It is a very sorry situation that the U.S. must take some responsibility for causing. Not all but a good chunk. Many of the advance warnings we received did not materialize. One surprise was begging on the street for soap and shampoo outside of the hotels. We saw a side of Cuba most tourist cannot or will not be able to see. We visited a grade school, a boarding school, fine arts school, university, hospital, rural clinic, food distribution center (no food), a housing development (re-location center), an organic farm, etc.. Had an afternoon session was an economic prof and senior member of the Ministery for Economy Development. Veeeeerrrrrrryyyyy interesting!!! Most discussions were open and honest but there were lines that were not crossed. And that was just the beginning. This definitely was not a sightseeing tour.

The report will be very long.

Don't delay your visit to Cuba because of this "GPS cellphone" issue. We just returned from 3 weeks in Cuba - our third visit - and there was no issue whatsoever about such devices. In fact, tourists are walking around all over the cities and towns we visited using their smartphones and tablets as their cameras.