Travel

CTyankee

(63,889 posts) Sat Dec 27, 2014, 11:49 AM Dec 2014

Anybody here planning a trip to Cuba?

Havana looks interesting. I was there as a child many years ago on the eve of Fidel Castro's revolution.

14 replies

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Anybody here planning a trip to Cuba? (Original Post) CTyankee Dec 2014 OP

I would love to go and would particularly like to go before it gets too cbayer Dec 2014 #1

The good and bad is I saw a spokesperson from TravelAdvisor on TV today CTyankee Dec 2014 #2

I think there are also lots of opportunities to stay in private homes cbayer Dec 2014 #3

But Cuba is a socialist country and Mexico isn't. Most of their economic woes have been CTyankee Dec 2014 #4

While true to an extent, I think that many of Mexico's economic woes have also cbayer Dec 2014 #5

Not exactly planning, yank, elleng Dec 2014 #6

Just FYI, ellen, I'm rethinking that little hop over the pond to London for the Tates... CTyankee Dec 2014 #9

Just saw Mr. Turner, elleng Jan 2015 #12

Good luck with the surgery. Let us all know here at DU how it went...thinking of you... CTyankee Jan 2015 #13

Thanks. Will surely let DUers know how things go/went. elleng Jan 2015 #14

Maybe in a few years, IF relation normalizations go well. . . DinahMoeHum Dec 2014 #7

now that's a trip! Sounds fabulous! CTyankee Dec 2014 #8

If you were there as a child, you are probably old enough for an Elderhostel trip Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2014 #10

I have been on five of their trips! I love Road Scholar! CTyankee Dec 2014 #11

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

1. I would love to go and would particularly like to go before it gets too

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 11:51 AM

Dec 2014

americanized.

Don't know much about traveling within the country but would love to do the research.

CTyankee

(63,889 posts)

2. The good and bad is I saw a spokesperson from TravelAdvisor on TV today

Reply to cbayer (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 11:56 AM

Dec 2014

saying that services/hotels there were super cheap...a good thing for tourists but I would sure hate to exploit the poor people there. However, if they have better lives as a result of our changed policy toward them, I am happy to go there and spend money. I still have travel money so I could easily get down there...and it's warm there now!

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

3. I think there are also lots of opportunities to stay in private homes

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 12:01 PM

Dec 2014

outside the cities, which could be very cool.

I suspect that the relationship with tourists is similar to that in Mexico. The tourists do help the communities but it is careful to be aware of what might be exploitative. I think the best experiences are getting out of the tourist areas and seeing other parts of the country where it is more genuine.

CTyankee

(63,889 posts)

4. But Cuba is a socialist country and Mexico isn't. Most of their economic woes have been

Reply to cbayer (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 12:04 PM

Dec 2014

imposed by US. It's sad, what we did...

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

5. While true to an extent, I think that many of Mexico's economic woes have also

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 12:06 PM

Dec 2014

been imposed by the US. The systems are different but the similarities are notable. Human labor is cheap, goods are not.

elleng

(130,732 posts)

6. Not exactly planning, yank,

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 12:14 PM

Dec 2014

kind of planning to plan. My folks went, once I think.

CTyankee

(63,889 posts)

9. Just FYI, ellen, I'm rethinking that little hop over the pond to London for the Tates...

Reply to elleng (Reply #6)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 02:50 PM

Dec 2014

My son in law's former boss goes over for new plays. So it's not so crazy after all. Might try for next fall, particularly if I go on my Spain trip in April (I'm now considering a couple that are reasonably priced).

Let me know if you might be interested in London!

elleng

(130,732 posts)

12. Just saw Mr. Turner,

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #9)

Fri Jan 2, 2015, 12:17 AM

Jan 2015

and AM interested in London, but grandkids are MOVING along, sitting up, walking, etc etc etc, and cataract surgery Monday, so while anything's possible, not guaranteeing ANYTHING, yank. Thanks for the heads-up.

CTyankee

(63,889 posts)

13. Good luck with the surgery. Let us all know here at DU how it went...thinking of you...

Reply to elleng (Reply #12)

Fri Jan 2, 2015, 10:22 AM

Jan 2015

I don't blame you for wanting to see those grandbabies grow...it's wonderful. And they so soon are teenagers and have totally different lives. Altho I must say I have developed a wonderful new relationship with my oldest grandchild who is 19. She's been through a lot with her ADHD and it has broken my heart to see her suffer. But now she is more mature and taking her meds and doing well in college. It's been a gift really...

elleng

(130,732 posts)

14. Thanks. Will surely let DUers know how things go/went.

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #13)

Fri Jan 2, 2015, 12:16 PM

Jan 2015

Happy to hear of relationship with your grandaughter, and that she's doing well.

DinahMoeHum

(21,774 posts)

7. Maybe in a few years, IF relation normalizations go well. . .

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 01:24 PM

Dec 2014

I'd love to travel between Key West, FL and Cuba, by schooner on an overnight or by seaplane, if someone organizes a charter plane service.

The main focus of my trip there would be the Key West and Cuba of Hemingway; his houses in both places, with a side trip to Cojimar, where his friend and Pilar first mate Gregorio Fuentes lived. Fuentes is said to be the inspiration for Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea.

CTyankee

(63,889 posts)

8. now that's a trip! Sounds fabulous!

Reply to DinahMoeHum (Reply #7)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 02:45 PM

Dec 2014

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,217 posts)

10. If you were there as a child, you are probably old enough for an Elderhostel trip

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 04:19 PM

Dec 2014

You can spend up to 16 days on one of their trips. Here's a link to it.

http://www.roadscholar.org/n/program/summary.aspx?id=1-5XUJB0

Having been before, I'd love to take this one if I could afford it.

CTyankee

(63,889 posts)

11. I have been on five of their trips! I love Road Scholar!

Reply to Lydia Leftcoast (Reply #10)

Sat Dec 27, 2014, 05:14 PM

Dec 2014

They offer tours that no other popular tour companies offer. One of these was a trip I took last March to towns in Tuscany where Piero della Francesca painted his frescoes. Since I am deeply into art history, this was just heaven for me.

Here it is http://www.roadscholar.org/n/program/summary.aspx?id=1-5KQM1W

I might take their trip to Southern Spain in April. I'm late to deciding this because the trip I wanted to take was with my daughter and granddaughter and plans got changed....

This looks good and the price is right http://www.roadscholar.org/n/program/summary.aspx?id=1-70M7NW

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