Travel to Cuba

Toffle · Feb 21, 2011

Ironically, I am just in the midst of planning a photo vacation to Cuba. (more emphasis on "vacation" in this case). I am reading this thread with interest.

Marcus S · Feb 21, 2011

My son has a friend who works for an international relieve organisation that provides aid to wherever disasters strike the planet. This young woman has seen many horrific scenes world wide.
She noticed that Cuba is present with medical aid at almost every disaster, while some of the largest countries in the world like China and the US are often not seen.

Hats off to this little country!

onnect17 · Feb 21, 2011

Vaughn said:
Actually Cuba never had nuclear weapons. Those in Cuba were owned, controlled and operated by the Soviet Union. I doubt very much that any Cuban leader/official or Cuban military officer could have ordered a missle launch. And the missles were there as a direct response to the USA installing nuclear weapons along the borders of the Soviet Union in Turkey.

I blame Florida (a safe target) for the travel ban to Cuba -- the Cuban business community there has a very strong voice. The embargo is something they very much support and demand.

AFAIK was Castro who authorized the Russians to bring the nukes. In fact, after Kennedy abandoned the CIA operation in progress at Bay of Pigs, Castro knew it was a matter of time before Kennedy pay the price.
Remember "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" ? Let's call the Russians.
Well, when the first Russian military officers landed in La Habana, they thought Castro just wanted to buy some arms.
Then they seized the opportunity and offer to install some nukes. Of course Castro said yes. By then Kennedy was getting heat from the Pentagon and step up surveillance.
Castro also was furious when he realized he was just used by the Russians (In some point he told Nikita he would not mind if Cuba was "erased" as a consequence of lunching any missile from Cuban soil)
Fortunately other attempts of using nuclear energy in Cuba were never completed. We all know about Pakistan, North Korea and Iran. Check Wikipedia for "Juragua Nuclear Power Plant" here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juragua_Nuclear_Power_Plant

Another interesting fact. Castro's son (Fidelito) was sent to the Soviet Union to study Nuclear Engineering and for years was the chief of the project. Ironic, right?

This site in central Cuba could be another point of interest for Steve to visit during the workshop (3 hours from La Habana)

Colin Corneau · Feb 21, 2011

I'm thinking of organizing a relief effort to help the poverty-stricken peoples of an isolated, hardscrabble region. These proud men and women have lived a unique way of life for many decades, even while being ignored by their own government. They took economic hardship and political disenfranchisement, and used their own unique culture (especially noteworthy is their music) to overcome adversity.

I'm speaking, of course, of New Orleans. Who's with me?

onnect17 · Feb 21, 2011

Colin Corneau said:
I'm thinking of organizing a relief effort to help the poverty-stricken peoples of an isolated, hardscrabble region. These proud men and women have lived a unique way of life for many decades, even while being ignored by their own government. They took economic hardship and political disenfranchisement, and used their own unique culture (especially noteworthy is their music) to overcome adversity.

I'm speaking, of course, of New Orleans. Who's with me?

Did you ever visit New Orleans?

They are welcoming drivers for the next hurricane season.

Looting experience could also help.

They want to keep everything the same way, even re-elected the same major.

Florida handles hurricanes every year, not big deal, not blaming.
Even the Cuban government evacuates the population using horses if needed.

Vaughn · Feb 21, 2011

jeroldharter said:
The story is just another example of the successes of communism.

The same government that caused the problem in the first place is proposing that the solution is more of itself. That is starting to sound like our country.

Of course, here in California we came up with a much better solution -- we turned the patients out onto the streets to fend for themselves. Capitalism (Social Darwinism) at its best.

Is it time for this to head to the Lounge yet? LOL!

onnect17 · Feb 21, 2011

A couple of links to books with photos of Cuba pre-revolution. Forgive me if it seems better than nowadays

http://www.amazon.com/Was-Cuba-Treasures-Fernandez-Collection/dp/0811860531/ref=pd_sim_b_4

and

http://www.amazon.com/Havana-Before...r_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298158573&sr=1-9#_

JBrunner · Feb 22, 2011

jeroldharter said:
I don't think that dictatorship, oppression, and abject poverty should be preserved elsewhere so that we might have a good travel destination for photography.

Exactly, thats why it needs to be expensive resorts and lots of strip malls. Get those poor people into the kitchen and out of sight. Ahh...Paradise.**

Colin Corneau · Feb 22, 2011

Well said, Mr. Brunner.

What makes the difference in Cuba is the people. You'll find interesting cities, history, nice beaches etc. in lots of places, but nowhere in the world are there people like Cuba has.

When I went on a family trip, my sister and I packed an extra suitcase and filled it with school supplies -- pencils, markers, paper, etc. We also packed lots of makeup etc. for the maid who worked on our room.
We made a special trip into the town (Varadero) and found an elementary school and asked if we could drop off some supplies. They were really nice, and gave us a tour of the school...I made some of my 4x5 portraits on that tour (my gallery has a shot of twin boys posing before an image of Che) and overall it was a great way to talk to real people, without politics.

I also made a point of getting addresses of people I photographed, and offered to send them prints. I got a letter back from the school principal, and the warmth and gratitude of that letter is one of my fondest memories of that time.

Every place has politics, but it's up to you as a photographer to make your own images. Cuba offers something unique...at least it still does, anyway.

onnect17 · Feb 22, 2011

Varadero 1969.

cowanw · Feb 22, 2011

onnect17;1142543Another interesting fact. Castro's son (Fidelito) was sent to the Soviet Union to study Nuclear Engineering and for years was the chief of the project. Ironic said:
Of course he was 13 at the time

onnect17 · Feb 22, 2011

cowanw said:
Of course he was 13 at the time

Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart.
He was 33 when the construction of the first reactor at Juragua began in 1983.
Most of his family on the mother side end up in Miami and two cousins -one was and one is- serving in the US Congress, BTW.
Check http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov

cowanw · Feb 22, 2011

By "the project" I thought you were refering to the subject of the rest of your post #28

Karl K · Feb 22, 2011

I'm afraid that I've arrived late to this party. Can somebody fill me in...is there a trip to Cuba being organized by an APUG member?

If so, kindly contact me because I'm very interested.

ann · Feb 22, 2011

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Karl K · Feb 25, 2011

Colin Corneau said:
Well said, Mr. Brunner.

Every place has politics, but it's up to you as a photographer to make your own images. Cuba offers something unique...at least it still does, anyway.[/QUOTE]

Excellent posts by Brunner and Corneau....many thanks.

I've been seriously planning a Cuba trip but the cost and paperwork are a bit off-putting for a US citizen. Most of the "humanitarian tours" are charging about $4000-$5000 for a week with airfare, hotel and some siteseeing.

Are there any less expensive alternatives for US citizens?

Eric Rose · Feb 25, 2011

Are there any less expensive alternatives for US citizens?

Yes. Go to Cancun and take a boat over to Cuba. The Cuban Immigration people do not stamp your passport so you should be ok. Of course once you publish your pics the right wingers will be all over you.

Eric Rose · Feb 25, 2011

Marcus S said:
My son has a friend who works for an international relieve organisation that provides aid to wherever disasters strike the planet. This young woman has seen many horrific scenes world wide.
She noticed that Cuba is present with medical aid at almost every disaster, while some of the largest countries in the world like China and the US are often not seen.

Hats off to this little country!

I was in Cuba when 9/11 took place. My company had very good relations with Fidel and as it happened I had about 20 Americans with me. Naturally my guests were horrified as we all were. Fidel put us up in his mountain villa so that we could all see the CNN coverage. What has never been reported by the US media is that is was Cuba that was the first to offer aid to the Americans in NY. Fidel phoned personally to offer his heart felt sympathies and anything else that might help. Naturally he was rebuffed. It would have been too much to swallow for the then current administration.

I have spent a lot of time in Cuba and love both the country and it's people. Does Cuba need reforms? Yes. Do they need to be Americanized? Absolutely not. They will evolve in their own time and in their own way. It would be best if outside nations would just stay out of it. But alas the lure of profits will ultimately win I am afraid.

cowanw · Feb 25, 2011

Many Cuban-Americans seem to come to Toronto for a holiday but seem to get waylaid off on another Cuba bound charter tour. Oddly they get lost at the Cuban airport and we don't see them again till return flight

onnect17 · Feb 25, 2011

Eric Rose said:
... Fidel put us up in his mountain villa so that we could all see the CNN coverage...

The regular Cubans are not allowed to watch any TV from outside. In fact, few years ago the government passed a resolution that could get you in jail for just having your antenna pointing northbound. Some people risk it trying to "steal" some signal broadcasted to nearby hotels in La Habana and the "antenna makers" could spend 2 years in prison.
Can’t imagine what kind of help Castro was offering. Never saw any rescue team in Cuba, not even a dog trained. Once in a while a structure falls apart in Habana Vieja, common after few days of rain. The Civil Defense, even with limited resources, works efficiently and proactive during hurricane season so not need for it.
If Fidel was so concerned with bombings and 9/11 he will not have all the hundreds of students from the middle east in universities located in the interior of the country (many listed in the most wanted list in Israel)

Karl K · Feb 25, 2011

Eric Rose said:
Are there any less expensive alternatives for US citizens?

Yes. Go to Cancun and take a boat over to Cuba. The Cuban Immigration people do not stamp your passport so you should be ok. Of course once you publish your pics the right wingers will be all over you.

OK, I fly from NYC to Cancun, then take a boat to Cuba, and you're saying that I don't need a "license" to get in?
Do I need to make hotel reservations after I arrive in Cancun? I can't make reservations for a Cuban hotel from the USA unless I go to one of the $4000-$5000 a week USA tour operators. They have told me that their costs are so high because they must work through a Cuban tour operator and even they can't make hotel reservations directly.
Oh, I wish I had a Canadian passport!

Eric Rose · Feb 25, 2011

you can make reservations through the Canadian arm of the Cuban tourism board. They are located in Toronto. let me be clear, you are not going legally as defined by your government if you go this way. however 1000's of American's do just that every year.

onnect17 · Feb 25, 2011

Wherever path you use to reach Cuba remember not to lie during re-entry when asked by the Customs Agent if visited a third country.

Also, I found some tips in this article (seem written by a Canadian) --> http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g147270-c140774/Cuba:Caribbean:Crimes.And.Scams.In.Cuba.html

Marcus S · Feb 27, 2011

Heads of western governments are allowed to lie without any repercussions whatsoever.
The US media has lost its watchdog status and sadly, many also lost their journalistic integrity.

jeroldharter · Feb 27, 2011

Vaughn said:
Of course, here in California we came up with a much better solution -- we turned the patients out onto the streets to fend for themselves. Capitalism (Social Darwinism) at its best.

Is it time for this to head to the Lounge yet? LOL!

I assume you are talking about de-institutionalization of psychiatric patients involuntarily committed to state hospitals? That had nothing to do with capitalism.

It was more of a civil rights issue. It was hugely successful for the California urban camping industry as it generated huge volumes of homeless, untreated schizophrenics. As a rule, they mingle well with homeless drug addicts and alcoholics. Take an evening stroll through city parks in any of the major California cities to get your fill of "civil rights" in action.

Travel to Cuba

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