Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
While most of the nation focused on the stimulus bill winding through Congress, nine representatives introduced a bill calling for an end to the 46-year-old ban on travel to Cuba.
The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 4 would allow American citizens unrestricted travel to Cuba for the first time since 1963.
Stealth bill would drop travel restrictions to Cuba. Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-flbcubatravel0210sbfeb10,0,4639522.story - broken link)
I'd definitely go if they passed it. My dad told me of many fun days in Havana. But that was back in the...70s or 80s? Something like that?
Anyways, exciting news! Let's hope it passes!
I have a friend (American) who finagled his way over there a couple years ago.
He said the poverty was staggering, and this is a guy who has traveled all over the place and seen quite a bit of the world.
When/if I go there I absolutely have to get a white suit and a straw hat. I won't smoke cigars though. I will strut around Havana in the height of Spanish Colonial fashion. It's gonna be cool.
I hear there are some backdoor ways of getting to Cuba, like going through Mexico. You just can't say you bought anything when you come back to the States and maybe they will grill you a little bit at customs. I don't know if it works every time though.
I have always found Cuba fascinating and wanted to visit! I saw a documentary several years ago that showcased a small group of Americans visiting with permission from both governments. What struck me the most was the ingenuity of the people of Cuba. They showed "government" stores and restaurants. These "stores" were bare-shelved and empty for the most part, and you had to use some sort of Cuban voucher to buy - the Americans could not. They paid a local man a few dollars to go in and buy some matches for them - for souvenir purposes - which probably cost him less than a nickel. On his own, the man then went back in, bought several match books and offered them to these tourists! I think they did buy them from him. As far as the restaurants, only the government ones were legal. They apparently had food that was not really very good. These tourists found out where to eat - people were running restaurants out of their homes - and the locals were lining up to get good food! Apparently the gov't must turn a blind eye to these - or some palms were getting greased with money!
Last edited by Katsmeeyow; 02-11-2009 at 01:10 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
joanne chesimard
