Macross

Who knows, these were the words from those who met some of the fifty that came into the keys last month risking all to get to the US.

SambaChula

Of course, Macross, those who are discontented are not going to say anything good about the country, just like those 'herancas' in Miami who lost their lifestyle. Although these folks have stayed in Cuba up to now, they are now trying anything to get to the fabled US before their special immigration option is cancelled for good.
Generally it seems that if life was improved by the revolution, those Cubans are working hard within the system to do even better. But it takes hard work and some acumen, which not all have (as anywhere). If someone was accustomed to a privileged lifestyle, logically they might resent the system that divided things more equally.

But there are also those who are taking full advantage of the opportunities to make money in the tourist sector. Their houses are quite nice. They are eating well. They are helping relatives to open businesses and become entrepreneurs too. And also helping out relatives who are not as well placed to enter the business sector as yet. So that is where your tourist dollars are going.

Inakauaidavidababy

surich

you might consider reposting this querie on the caribbean and cruise forums to broaden your base.

SambaChula

This is the Cruise Critic dedicated forum for Cuba:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1009
with discussions of specific cruises.

HappyTrvlr

Why not take a land tour to Cuba instead of a cruise?You would have more exposure to their culture and their current circumstances.

surich

Thanks for all your help. Definitely thinking Cuba over Bermuda. Thinking a land stay rather than a cruise would be better to explore the country.

Macross

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/wo...rism.html?_r=0

Ackislander

Pretty damning.

SambaChula

Yeah, Macross, like I said, it makes for a sensational headline to sell papers. Go see for yourself what conditions really are and what people you meet really say, so you don't have to take someone else's word for it.

Macross

My husband was stationed in KW during the Mariel boatlift, has a lot of sympathy for the people still and we talked to people that have gone recently. We go to KW often and hear the stories. Over on TA they are talking about it and said just don't expect four star or three star hotels and expect bouts of food poisoning. You are going into a 2nd world country.

Thank you Ackislander, I think Trump will stop it all anyway if he listens to little Marco.

SambaChula

Here again is a negative, third hand, point of view that is likely not very accurate, and seems to be supporting a particular political point of view.

The food is indeed nothing to write home about, IMHO, but there is no reason to worry about food poisoning in the restaurants an independent traveler would usually eat at. (but food poisoning is a major topic of concern, for example, at AIs in Cancun, if TA is to be believed) Even most street stall type places are fine. Look for the lines of local Cubans; they would not come back if they themselves got sick.

Why would one stay in a hotel, isolated from the people and the Cuban experience, seeing it through the windows of a tour bus and the voice of a guide, when you can stay with a Cuban family and get to know their life and thoughts first hand?

The Cuban people in Cuba want to get to know us regular US folks, and are happy to interact with us.
Hopefully, sanity will reign over continued thoughts of vengeance by 'herancas' and ambitious politicians looking for a way up.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Isn't 50 years of a policy that hadn't worked enough to teach that lesson?

If you only want to go to so-called "first world" countries, you'd have to stick to a few in Europe, because the rest of the world just doesn't conform.

SambaChula

If you insist on consulting TA regarding Cuba, do read and credit the posts of HKarina, beardocubauk, HfxJohn, bellagio, and Bob_Michaels, all of whom actually know what they are talking about, through repeated trips and long time spent in Cuba.

tower

Perhaps, our experience in 2003 was a bit more rewarding, though unusual. Through a travel agent friend, we were able to get an official letter announcing we would be bringing in 50 pounds of scarce meds for the beleaguered, small (1500)Jewish community. We handled everything...lodgings, 10 days of unrestricted visits to almost anything we wished, a driver/guide whenever we needed him.

We even qualified for passage aboard a charter flight (Taca) specifically for returning Cubans on annual official family visits....non-stop LA to Havana. (R/T $300)

We were connected with a "posh" hotel frequented by Cuban tobacco planters and exporters. Indescribable!(all cigar-smoking and brokering had to be done within a walk-in humidor! Additionally, the hotel manager made us daily reservations at some of the better particulares in Havana and vicinity. We found them all to be quite good.

The recipient sinagoga held a "thank you" luncheon in our honor....lots of hugs and kisses. Wife was invited to a Havana Ballet performance and our driver took me to a "major league" baseball game...tix $2. We strolled many neighborhoods and never felt unsafe day or night. The local Cubans were gracious and most welcoming everywhere we went. I gave my Spanish a workout and it worked well, as English also seemed quite common.

Give Cuba a chance.

SambaChula

You must have donated to the synagogue called El Patronato in Vedado (on Calle I) which runs a project to distribute donated medications.
Things seemed to have changed. When I went recently, the young woman who gave me a cursory look around the sanctuary could have cared less that I was from the US or about donations, and was very guarded about answering any questions whatsoever about the community.

tower

https://goo.gl/photos/xsDeC9sKJDbZoRXe8

This is considered the only
"working" synagogue. There is one other very orthodox shul near the main market in Habana Vieja.

SambaChula

Not true.
There is one in Centro that I visited (big sign on the main street for it, sanctuary entrance on the side street and largish school/office building on the corner) and several smaller ones.

The photo seems to be of El Patronato, but is such a small slice of the stairs to the sanctuary that it's hard to tell. The building is quite large and the door to the offices and meeting rooms would be to the left of what's shown in that photo, at basement level.

SambaChula

"This is considered the only "working" synagogue."
...if the definition of "working" is that they are open other than when classes or services are going on. (in which case, most US synagogues would not be considered "working" either.)

SambaChula

Returning to the topic of Cuba cruises, here is an industry article about them:
http://www.travelmarketreport.com/ar...ls-Cuba-Cruise

tower

no....the term "working"
was used freely during the refusenik days in the USSR...meaning services were available on Shabbat at least. At one time Moscow offered three "Working " synagogues including the Archipova street shul which had services available all through the Soviet regime. With the fall of the USSR the number rose dramatically. I was part of a group of volunteers that supplied prayer books in Russian and Hebrew during those days. Considered contraband, we devised several methods of getting them through much to the chagrin of the Soviets. Visiting refuseniks was so very rewarding and such care had to be taken not to compromise them. Some anxious moments.

The term "working" is not used in USA but it's a fact that the heavy majority US and Canadian synagogues DO offer at least Shabbat services on Friday night and Saturday morning. Minyans can be scarce at times in the much smaller establishments.

By the way, I have personally visited well over 100 synagogues world-wide and have spoken at several of them (Yiddish and English or with translators). I'll post below.

kja

@ tower -- what a great trip that must have been! Thanks for sharing your experiences and for the education, too.