Cuba's 'revolutionary' tourists pick fruit

from the Caribbean as of Monday July 10, 2006

Cuba's 'revolutionary' tourists pick fruit
Monday, July 10, 2006

by Esteban Israel

CAIMITO, Cuba (Reuters): They do not come to Cuba for the beaches and tropical mystique that draw more than 2 million other visitors each year.

Instead they come to spend their vacations working in the countryside under a blazing sun, eating rice and beans and sharing a room without air-conditioning or toilet with seven others.
(snip)

Revolutionary tourism began in 1969 when 500 Americans came to cut sugar cane. Some 55,000 from every continent have passed through the country since.

Around 50 US citizens of the "Venceremos Brigade" arrived this week, challenging a U.S. travel ban imposed as a result of a decades-old U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.
(snip/...)

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000022/002296.htm

eating rice and beans and sharing ..with seven others

Nope will not go there :rofl:

The article neglected to mention the chicken, plantains, mangos, seafood, and more along with the rice and beans. Delicious. MMmmmmmm.

I have done just such work in Cuba during the late 70's. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Some of the hardest and hottest work ever. But the camaraderie was more rewarding than gold. The evening meals and food and drink and song and dance was the most heartwarming and rewarding experience. Farm life is damned hard work, but the Cubans made it enjoyable because you look so forward to the evenings of fun and frivolities.

If I was younger I would do it again in a New York minute.

Sounds as if you've had some experiences which would be GUARANTEED to build life-long friends.

This is very impressive, believe me. The idea of volunteering honest hard work done for no money for the common good is probably confusing to some people! Way to go! :hi:

The person who benefited the most was me. I developed a love for Cuba and the Cuban friends and family I have. I admit that I am a biased pro Cuba (not pro Castro) DUer. My wife (now deceased) was a beautiful Cuban woman. I met her in Cuba when I was a young man. We used to go to Cuba to visit her family all the time. I can't go easily now because of Bush's insane new travel regulations. They are my family also, and I can't go there to see them. My heart breaks over this. We stay in touch by phone and email, but to not be able to see them and hug them - to just spend time reminiscing the love of our lives and sharing our love - is devastating.


Viva Cuba!
Abajo Bush!

ties had been. Looks as if I missed reading your post(s) referring to this time in your life altogether.

It's a very deep subject, very personal. I trust your views on Cuba even more after learning this. Amazing.

I hope it won't be long until we get an administration which deals with Cuba in a more lifelike way, and constructs an intelligent relationship with the island, and you get to have that reunion with your loved ones.

As you recall, the majority of Americans have favored normalization (without invasion, without regime change) with Cuba for years and years.

personal details, Mika.

Cuba-US 17th Caravan Gets to Havana

Havana, Jul 9 (Prensa Latina) The 17th Cuba-US Friendship Caravan arrived in Havana coming from Tampico, Mexico, defying the US blockade against Cuba.

Headed by Reverend Lucius Walker, the 97 members of the 17th Caravan were received by Sergio Corrieri, president of the Cuban Institute for Friendhip with the Peoples (ICAP) and Caridad Diego, head of the Office for Religious Affairs of the Cuban Communist Party´s Central Commitee.

Walker said they felt just like home, and that all the members made it to Havana without any problem. "This time we got to the border point early, and the authorities decided not to detain us just like they did in 2005," he said.

Cuban Reverend Raul Suarez, Director of Cuba´s Martin Luther King Center was also at the receiving ceremony, together with other Cuban religious leaders.
(snip/)

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Cuba-watching DU'ers will remember DU'er roody's remarks recently:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2365605#2365634

Looks like they made it! That's not always the case. Good news! Woo hoooooooo! :woohoo: