agree,SC..that gave my late wife and me a proud feeling we were able to help somewhat.

@kja...thank you. Hope you get a shot at Cuba soon

tower:

I was so surprised how far up the list Boston was, as I live in a very very very Jewish suburb

You may be speaking of Brookline or Newton. I was born in Quincy a very very non Jewish town back in them days before you were born.... very proud historic town of first generation ethnics, Finnish, Irish, Jewish and Italian enclaves. Left Quincy to enlist in the US Army at 17. Californian since.

Tower, you have been to over 80 countries, correct?

Right....but I'm armchair now.

Interesting that Fodors removed your list of synagogues, tower.

I wonder if they felt it a security risk in these times.

BTW you missed the one in Kingston, Jamaica..it is still "working".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...ews_in_Jamaica

>>Interesting that Fodors removed your list of synagogues, tower.<<

I think it was because of the ongoing spat SC wants to keep re-opening was totally off topic.

The new administration seems to want to tamp down these personal attacks - it really is too bad the OP didn't take the advice to re-post on the correct forum so at least people who concentrate on Caribbean topics would have seen it and maybe it wouldn't have run off in a ditch like it did.

just my 2¢

jan...your 2 cents is always welcome. What in hell she was so angry, insulting and bitter bout I just don't get.

Whoa, what happened? I was very interested in this as I am back and forth on going. The wet foot/dry foot going away this week might have been due to the mass exodus planned for this week from Cuba. So many tried leaving and were successful but many die trying. The coast guard was busy last week.

We all have our opinions and have to follow our conscience on going or not going at this time.

And while this too will undoubtedly get removed....

...we US residents often hear "My country. Love it or leave it.", with the implication that loyal Americans stay and try to make the best of things, even when conditions are not ideal, a positive thing.
But those who chose to love their country of Cuba, to stay and try to make a better life for their families within the country, are essentially being denigrated (in posts above), in contrast to those who fled and abandoned their 'patria'.
That is exactly why one should hear the story from the people in Cuba, not post third hand the political motivated explanations of conditions by those so discontented they chose to leave.
This was the most interesting facet of the trip (which I must say shocked me too sometimes, given the US "party line" we all grew up with), to hear Cubans talk about why they stayed and what they find admirable about their country.