Cuba

[Susurrus]

...is where I'm off to tomorrow. Anything I should look out for? Been there once before. Any questions, tips etc welcome.

[tir1944]

Don't forget to write a report here once you get back home!

[rundontwalk]

Are you an American (if so how are you getting there)? Just wondering.

Have fun!

[Susurrus]

Are you an American (if so how are you getting there)? Just wondering.

Have fun!

Yup. I'm going with a local Episcopal church that brings supplies(things hard to get in Cuba, ie medicines, clothing, things like that) to a small village in Cuba. It's legal for groups like that to go. Athiest myself, but I don't mention that, and they don't preach.

[Grigori]

Yup. I'm going with a local Episcopal church that brings supplies(things hard to get in Cuba, ie medicines, clothing, things like that) to a small village in Cuba. It's legal for groups like that to go. Athiest myself, but I don't mention that, and they don't preach.

Don't mention to the natives that your country is the reason why they have little resources.

[Susurrus]

Don't mention to the natives that your country is the reason why they have little resources.

Yeah, let's not call Cubans that. And something tells me the whole revolution, embargo and Bay of Pigs might have tipped them off.

[R_P_A_S]

Are you an American (if so how are you getting there)? Just wondering.

Have fun!

Mexico, Bahamas and Canada.. Remember.. Cuba has nothing against Americans visiting.. Its America that does.

[Inner Peace]

Say Hello to Fidel For me

[Susurrus]

Mexico, Bahamas and Canada.. Remember.. Cuba has nothing against Americans visiting.. Its America that does.

No, you can also go direct from Miami(as I am) if you are going as a journalist, for science, for humanitarian reasons, for educational reasons, or with a religious organization.

[Susurrus]

Say Hello to Fidel For me

I actually did meet Raul Castro and Elian Gonzales last time, so who knows?

[Nox]

Don't mention to the natives that your country is the reason why they have little resources.

I wonder if you realise that there are virtually no natives/mestizos in cuba?

[Susurrus]

I wonder if you realise that there are virtually no natives/mestizos in cuba?

I don't think he meant it like that...

[R_P_A_S]

No, you can also go direct from Miami(as I am) if you are going as a journalist, for science, for humanitarian reasons, for educational reasons, or with a religious organization.

Yeah.. But I was referring for an average person.

[Grigori]

I wonder if you realise that there are virtually no natives/mestizos in cuba?

First off, about 25% of Cubans are mestizo. Second you know what i meant, don't make this into something that it isn't. Thirdly, Soy de Boricua, Tengo el derecho a decirlo.

[Nox]

First off, about 25% of Cubans are mestizo. Second you know what i meant, don't make this into something that it isn't. Thirdly, Soy de Boricua, Tengo el derecho a decirlo.

That's wrong.

Cuba's population is made up of whites (around 60%), mulattos (around 25%) and blacks (around 15%).

The natives of Cuba were almost totally wiped out, and most of the survivors were sent elsewhere.

[CommieTroll]

Enjoy your trip, I hear it is a truly beautiful place, enjoy yourself comrade

[Grigori]

That's wrong.

Cuba's population is made up of whites (around 60%), mulattos (around 25%) and blacks (around 15%).

The natives of Cuba were almost totally wiped out, and most of the survivors were sent elsewhere.

Mestizo means a mix between the pure natives of pre- spanish Americas, europeans and black slaves. When concerning latin america, i tend to view the terms Mulatto and Mestizo as the same. Although i know this is not academically correct, i understand that Cuba was an island for thousands of years. The original "natives" of Cuba died, were exiled, or were assimilated thousands of years ago.

[OhYesIdid]

Who gives a shit how many cubans are mestizos, look at this


i actually did meet raul castro and elian gonzales last time, so who knows?

expound, susurrus, expound

EDIT: gosh darn webzone wont let me go all caps on your ass...

[Susurrus]

expound, susurrus, expound

The group I went with was staying at a hostel in a cathedral. It turned out that the day we were stayin there happened to be the 10-year anniversary of the return of Elian Gonzales, and that cathedral was the site of the welcoming event. Thus, 10 years later a private anniversary event was held with Elian and Raul in attendance. As we were staying right next to it, we got an invitation with the help of the archbishop's assistant. Here's a news report on the event:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/07/01/us-cuba-elian-idUSTRE66010D20100701

[mykittyhasaboner]

^^From that article:


(Reuters) - Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban castaway boy who became the object of an international custody battle a decade ago in Miami, said on Wednesday he was happy he ended up back in Cuba (http://www.reuters.com/places/cuba).
But, in his first public comments in several years, he also said he has no hard feelings toward the Miami relatives who fought to keep him there, on grounds that he would have a better life in the United States.
Where did he say that? i can't stand this kind of crap.



Susurrus:
i really want to go to Cuba and do more than just spend money like some tourist. How would i find/join a group that does the kind of thing your local church does?

[Pretty Flaco]

smoke some nice cigars while you can, because you can't get them into the US :(

[Susurrus]

Susurrus:
i really want to go to Cuba and do more than just spend money like some tourist. How would i find/join a group that does the kind of thing your local church does?

http://www.venceremosbrigade.net/

They go and do farm and construction work. Active since the 60s.


Oh, and that article is either twisting a quote or lying, that was completely unlike anything else said there. Here's a better article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1291117/Cuban-castaway-Elian-Gonzalez-Raul-Castro-Havana.html

[Susurrus]

smoke some nice cigars while you can, because you can't get them into the US :(

Absolutely. The people I go with have found some in their luggage occasionally when they get back. ;)

[mykittyhasaboner]

smoke some nice cigars while you can, because you can't get them into the US :(

US customs is a joke. i've brought back about 20 cigars and 20 cigarillos and two bottles of Havana Club on one occasion.

i even showed the customs officer the clear duty free bag with one bottle of rum in it and he didn't care.

Then again, i've never been on a return flight from Cuba so it might be different.


http://www.venceremosbrigade.net/

They go and do farm and construction work. Active since the 60s.

Awesome. i'm definitely going to look into this.


Oh, and that article is either twisting a quote or lying, that was completely unlike anything else said there. Here's a better article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1291117/Cuban-castaway-Elian-Gonzalez-Raul-Castro-Havana.htmli figured. i mean, these people should take a look at Little Havana before they lie and propagate nonsense.


Absolutely. The people I go with have found some in their luggage occasionally when they get back. ;)

i could smoke Montecristo's or Romeo y Julieta's all day. :)

[Rusty Shackleford]

Pastors for Peace im guessing?

[Susurrus]

Pastors for Peace im guessing?

Nope. The local church just has a sister church in Sibanicu, Cuba, which they visit and bring supplies to their town. No organization other than the Episcopal church.

[Aloysius]

I once had to do a travel brochure for a social studies class. As a recently-converted commie, I chose Cuba and filled the whole pamphlet with slogans expounding on Cuba's natural beauty and stable government.

My teacher (who was clearly born in the mid '40s and thus brainwashed by American media of the last 70 years) took off like 10 points for inaccurate info.
That was probably one of the proudest moments of my life.


Anyway, good luck with your trip, and stay safe.