six days in grand cayman by obregon

7/31/2019 SIX Days in Grand Cayman by Obregon

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Six days in Grand Cayman

By O. Obregon


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Imagine that you are a passport control officer in Miami. Imagine that a man wearing a Cayman Islandsshirt walks to the passport counter and presents a form stating that he had left the USA on 2 March 2011,entered the Cayman Islands on the same day and then returned to the US on 8 March. But wait: there isa stamp indicating that he left Grand Cayman airport on 2 March and entered the Cayman Islands again

on 7 March. The question comes: Where were you between 2 and 7 March?

Well, the passport control officer could have asked him that question, but the officer says, Welcomeback to the USA.

Huh? And that's how many people avoid prosecution.

Obispo Street in Old Havana


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the Hemingway display at Ambos Mundos (both worlds) hotel on Obispo Street.


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The shrine to Ernest at Ambos Mundos Hotel on Obispo Street.http://www.hotelambosmundos-cuba.com/

Though the figure of Ernest Hemingway is immediately and almost invariablyinvoked in any description of the hotel, the Ambos Mundos' most attractiveattribute is doubtless its magnificent location: steps away from the Plaza de Armas,

the restored, 1920s establishment stands at one of the liveliest intersections in theOld Town, close to just about all of the most interesting sites of Havana's colonialcentre.

Hemingway, who stayed and wrote most of For Whom the Bell Tolls here during the1930s (his room, 511, is today a much-frequented museum), is not the onlyfamous writer or luminary the hotel welcomed in times past: Federico Garca Lorcais rumoured to have made a stop here, and Cuban filmmaker Toms Gutierrez Alea(director of Strawberry and Chocolate) was among the young intellectuals whoparticipated in the festivities once held in its roof garden.

Address: Calle Obispo No. 153 esq. a Mercaderes. Ciudad de LaHabana
http://www.hotelambosmundos-cuba.com/http://www.hotelambosmundos-cuba.com/


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Look at the delightful light in the afternoon.


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Hotel Florida on Obispo Street.


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Hotel rates at Hotel Florida


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The afternoon light


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A group of visitors from Venezuela (red shirts)

View of Obispo Street, running ro the left. Floridita bar is on the top of Obispo street.


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You can stay in a casa particular where you get a room and breakfast.


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Near the Floridita bar and the Cupola..


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View from El Morro(You can take a tunnel to get under the harbor)


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Some examples of Cuban Cars...

Finca (Ernest Hemingway's house south of Havana)


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let's have some sugar cane juice with a splash of lemon and coconut juice.

=======


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The guest house


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Hemingway's writing room


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The story about the lizard: it put up a valiant fight against a cat.


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The Pilar


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======


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Street views

It's a boutique


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Street food


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Jose Marti tower a five-pointed star...

The rest of this publication shows you how I got in and encourages you to do what you can toparticipate in this remarkable place.

If you can go, think about collecting materials that you can't use and sending it to

Lucius Walker (he has passed on)[email protected] for more information.

======

This device is what helps people turn a TV into a computer screen...
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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============

Talking points

1. It's not the Soviet bloc. I was not prepared by my visits to Russia in 1975 and to Hungary in1976. A policeman in Cuba is not interested in the antics of the typical tourist.

I kept asking my driver and guide, Is it okay for me to take a photo? Don't take a photo of a policeofficer and don't take videos in a hidden way instead, take photos openly.

2. More than a tourist trip. It's an immersion in another time. It's not just another place. We whovisit from the world of the Internet can bring in digital books, things that are needed here. Searchthe internet for not just tourists list items needed and you'll find a list of items that you can

bring: www.cubatreks.com/donatetocuba.php

3. They don't have the relentless media campaigns of cologne, cigarettes, movies, TV shows, andFacebook. I was in a blissful six days of non-connectivity. A visitor named Sam (who regularlyvisits Cuba) says he goes for ten days between visits to his email account. It is like going back intime. Do you remember what it was like not to have text messages coming to your phone in yourpocket or purse? Do you remember when it took a week to hear back from someone after yousent a letter? That's Cuba. You are in la Gran Calma the great calm.

4. The post office? no. The only way for packages to get from Miami to Cuba is by a packet service.


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A person goes to a Miami office and pays $35 per pound. That covers the cost of bringing the pound intothe country, getting a fee set by the govenrment, and then paying for the package to go to the person. Sothat's why it's so important to bring almost nothing in your suitcase. And definitely bring a laptopcomputer and leave it behind. It will be 4 or 5 pounds and it costs $200 in a tecjhnology fee if a cubanresident brings in a computer (a technology tax). So be a nice person, buy a computer, and bring it in andgive it to the new friend that you will make (see number 7. below.)

5. Are we eating? The question was an admonition. Hey, stop talking about what we'replanning to do later today. It's lunch time. Let's eat.

6. Bring a flash USB drive with dozens of videos and ebooks. A typical pen drive costs $12 for 4or 8 GB and you can visit the Universtiy of Havana. Walk up to a student and give the pen driveto the kid.

7. Bring the tools of your industry. Come to Cuba prepared to give a free workshop. Share whatyou know because many people don't have access to the Internet, so they want to know what youknow. If you can, bring a laptop and meet with a faculty person in the university. Offer thelaptop and offer to return to give a workshop. The faculty of languages can use you to helpstudents practice listening to a lecture in English. The Department of Commerce and Tourismcan use your expertise to update their textbooks, which are from the 1990s.

8. It costs $2.50 for someone in the USA to call you. For every minute to talk. So when you hire adriver, make sure the person has a mobile phone. You can RECEIVE a phone call at no charge inCuba.. but there's no texting. The benefit of the high cost of mobile phone use is that there isgreat quiet. People are not shouting to the air (talking on the phone in public). They are talkingwith friends, not gesturing to an invisible person. If you are lucky, you will feel strange whenyou return to the USA when you want to text someone in the USA, you'll put down the phoneand think, I think I'll go visit my friend. That's what Cuba does to you. The Gran Calma willchange how you interact. And you can practice while you are in Havana.

9. Sam's Two Rules about Social Interaction: It's all about building a society. Socializing is anongoing matter.a) There are many reasons to host a gathering. when walking in a small town outside Havana, Samnoticed that many TV sets were set on the same channel. The open windows of the homes along thestreet let the sound of the TVs float into the neighborhood. As he walked down the street, he couldfollow the broadcast. When he stopped outside a home to get a glimpse of what was on the screen,within a minute someone in the home came out to invite him to come in and watch the program. Withinten minutes, fifteen neighbors had showed up, bringing drinks. Sam walked to a local snack shop andbrought back some rum and his evening stroll had turned into a party.

b) A market is not just a market. A simple transaction turns into something more. A visit to the localmarket is not just a place to get fruits and vegetables. You're expected to talk, to bring something morethan money to the exchange. It's a poor transaction if you walk into a market to get eggs and bananasand then you leave with just eggs and bananas. You need to talk.

Don't do this with a flower vendor:

I'll take a bunch of yellow flowers. Those will be fine. How much are they?Vendor: 1 CUC

Here you are.


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Do this instead:

Hello. It's a beautiful day.Vendor: Oh yes. Where are you from?Florida.

Vendor: You have nice weather there, too. Where are you staying?In a casa particular, two blocks away. Do you know where I can find eggs? I want to make a fabulousbreakfast for my wife.Vendor: That's very nice. She is a lucky person. You can go over there, under the sign. Oswaldo hasexcellent chickens. You can get some excellent eggs.Thank you. Oh, and you have really nice flowers. Where do they come from?Vendor: My grandmother grows these yellow flowers and my sister let's me cut these flowers from a treein her back yard. You have an excellent shirt. Where did you get it?From Key West in USA. It was a gift from my wife.Vendor: Ah, you are a lucky man to have a wife with such good taste in colors.Yes, I agree. That is why I need flowers to go with the eggs I'm going to cook for her.

Vendor: Why don't you get the eggs and then buy some bread from Jose, over there, next to the red pole,and then come to my house. I live around the corner. I can show you some perfect bananas that I forgotto bring here.That is very nice of you. What is your training?Vendor: I am an engineer. I also have a casa particular. Perhaps you can come to see it and recommendit to your friends?That will be a pleasure.Vendor: So, here is my address. Please come at 4 p.m. And bring your eggs. We can cook a nice mealtogether.

According to Sam, this is not an exaggeration. You will find yourself missing this extended relationship

building if you go to the market with the limited mindset that it is just a market. Every place in Cubais a place to meet and conseguir (get).

You need time when you go shopping because you have to talk and talk to get the information. You don'tjust buy and sell. You exchange information and at some point there will be some selling. You won't getthese interactions if you go to a resort.

10. Stay in a casa particular. However, when you leave the country and when you enter, tell officialsthat you are staying at a hotel (because the government has partnerships with foreigners and wantstourists to stay in hotels.)

If you stay with friends, do not report this information to the customs people when you enter or exit at theAirport. I stayed with friends will get more questions. It's beter to say, I stayed at Nancy's casaparticular. Hmmm, it's near Obispo street. I don't remember the address.

11. The cost of mobile phone use affects how people communicate. Why send a text? Why not justwalk over to the othr person's house?


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12. Travel in the country takes a long time. Enjoy the time. 18 hours by bus to go from Guantanamoto havana. My friend's father left at 6 pm and arrived at noon the next day.

The train's service has deteriorated since 1989.

Airplanes should not be flying. Most of the airplanes should be retired. If you need to fly to

Guantanamo, then use a foreign airline.

13. The water needs to be boiled.

There are more photos, but this is a start...===============

This is a disorganized book with wonderful photos.

I'm throwing it together so you can enjoy the fun of seeing a town that many of us don't know well.

I thought there wasn't much up on youtube, but really, you can find pieces... if we take time to keepsearching.

I see now that many of the photos that appear here can be found on the Internet. You just need to knowwhat to look for. I'll past similar youtube links through the book to help you find those videos that I'vefound since returning from Havana.

I'm a marketing guy and an entrepreneur. I import foods and I have some experience with designinglabels, negotiating contracts and selling products to wholesalers.

I am also terrified of breaking rules. I don't want to have to write on a form I broke the law.

It's a felony to spend money in Cuba.

It's a felony to lie to border guards.

And I'll be honest: The next time I fly to Cuba, it will be with an invitation from a professor to come tospeak at a class. But I will have obtained that invitation because I flew to Mexico for six days.

There will be some who complain that this book is too disorganized and not worth the trouble of wadingthrough.


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Here's the main issue: Cuba makes it clear that you will NOT get a stamp in your passport if you arefrom the USA. No problem. The issue comes when the guy in passport control looks at your passportand sees the following:

a stamp indicating entry on 3 March

a stamp showingexit on 3 March

a stamp showing entry on 7 Marchanda stamp showing exit on 8 March'

and then you show this colleciton of stamps on 8 March to the passport control in USA. Uh, oh...

========

You can wait too long.

I was having dinner with a former lawyer who 40 years ago had been my French teacher for a summer.I decided to retire because I just wanted to travel. Some of my law partners told me that they were

really surprised that I was quiting. He paused and said, You can wait too long.

Like hundreds of thousands of people who are weary of cruising around Cuba, I said to myself, I'mgoing to Havana. I'm not going to wait too long.

Contents===========


Part 1Before the Trip

What is a general license?

What is a special license?

Isn't it easier to travel to Cuba?


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The phone call from WashingtonJust for fun, send an inquiry to the Office of Treasury for Foreign Assets

Begin our story at the end...The pounding heart

Warnings on websites: It's a felony

A helpful call: Nobody has been prosecuted

Who benefits from the current system?

Packing

One bag with foodone bag with books and electronics

Don't carry the laptop separately. Leave it in theitems to bring (according to various websites)razors, shampoo,

------Part 2 Getting there

The flight

Great views

Arriving

============

Getting home

What do you write in the blank?

Countries you have visited

===========

Now it's your turn....

Getting through customs in Cuba


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Where to stay

What to bring

If you don't know Jose RamosGetting around

Renting a car

Taking a bus

======== =============

===========


Part 1Before the Trip

learn about the licenses. Go to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control

https://cubatravel.ofac.treas.gov/guidelines.htm

What is a general license?

review the general license contained in the Regulations todetermine whether their travel-related transactions arecovered by a general license:

1) visiting close relatives who are nationals of Cuba or

visiting close relatives who are U.S. Governmentemployees assigned to the U.S. Interests Section inHavana, Cuba (See Section I below);2) official business travel by officials of the U.S.Government, foreign governments, or intergovernmentalorganizations of which the United States is a member


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(See Section II below);3) journalistic activities by persons regularly employedas journalists by a news reporting organization or bypersons regularly employed as supporting broadcast ortechnical personnel (See Section III below);4) professional research conducted by full-timeprofessionals in their professional areas, attendance atcertain professional meetings or conferences organizedby international professional organizations, orparticipation in certain telecommunications-relatedprofessional meetings (See Section IV below);

5) educational activities by faculty, staff, and students ofaccredited U.S. graduate and undergraduate degree-granting academic institutions (See Section V below);6) religious activities under the auspices of a religiousorganization located in the United States (See Section VIbelow);

7) the commercial marketing, sales negotiation,accompanied delivery, or servicing in Cuba oftelecommunications-related items that have beenauthorized for commercial export or re-export byemployees of, or an entity duly appointed to represent, atelecommunications services provider (See Section XIIbelow);

8) the commercial marketing, sales negotiation,accompanied delivery, or servicing in Cuba ofagricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devicesby employees of a producer or distributor or an entityduly appointed to represent a producer or distributor(See Section XII below).


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What is a special license?a specific license:

1) visiting a close relative who is neither a national ofCuba nor a U.S. Government employee assigned to theU.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba (See Section Ibelow);2) journalistic activities for a free-lance journalisticproject (See Section III below);

3) professional research and professional meetings thatdo not qualify for the general license (See Section IVbelow);4) academic educational activities not authorized by thegeneral license for accredited U.S. graduate orundergraduate degree-granting academic institutions(See Section V below);5) educational exchanges not involving academic studypursuant to a degree program and that take place underthe auspices of an organization that promotes people-to-people contact (See Section V below);6) academic seminars, conferences, and workshopsrelated to Cuba or global issues involving Cuba and

sponsored or co-sponsored by the travelers accreditedU.S. graduate or undergraduate academic institution(See Section V below);7) religious activities not authorized by the generallicense for religious organizations located in the United


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States (See Section VI below);8) athletic competitions by amateur or semi-professionalathletes or teams selected by the relevant U.S.federation (See Section VII below);9) participation in a public performance, clinic,workshop, other athletic or non-athletic competition, orexhibition in Cuba (See Section VII below);10) activities intended to provide support for the Cubanpeople (See Section VIII);

11) humanitarian projects in or related to Cuba designedto directly benefit the Cuban people (See Section IXbelow);12) activities by private foundations or research oreducational institutes that have an established interestin international relations to collect information related toCuba for noncommercial purposes (See Section X

below);13) activities related to the exportation, importation, ortransmission of information or informational materials(See Section XI below);14) the marketing, sales negotiation, accompanieddelivery, or servicing in Cuba of exports that appear

consistent with the export or re-export licensing policy ofthe Department of Commerce and that are notauthorized by a general license (See Section XII below);and15) the marketing, sales negotiation, accompanieddelivery, or servicing of medicine, medical supplies, or


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certain telecommunications equipment by a U.S.-ownedor -controlled firm in a third country to Cuba (SeeSection XII below).

https://cubatravel.ofac.treas.gov/guidelines.htm#_Toc1705

20411

Isn't it easier to travel to Cuba now?

The short answer is: yes, easier than 2003.

No, it's about the same since last year.

Here are some items to get you started. Skip ahead to Part 2 if you want to jump into the story.

http://www.liveincuba.com/news-about-cuba/35-a-few-thoughts-on-cuba

A few Thoughts on Cuba

Theres been a lot of talk about Cuba opening up for travel lately and the

prospect has travel agents justifiably excitedparticularly home-based

agents, many of whom focus on Caribbean destinations.

I recently met with Rob Hodel, owner of U.S.-based Tico Travel in Fort

Lauderdale with his brother Steve, who has been coordinating travel toCuba for 10 years now, and says the recent lifting of the three-year

restrictions on Cuban-Americans visiting Cuba means more changes are

coming.

Hodel said the new rules mean the slate on past trips made by Cuban-

Americans has been wiped clean and that, as a result, he expects travel to
http://www.liveincuba.com/news-about-cuba/35-a-few-thoughts-on-cubahttp://www.liveincuba.com/news-about-cuba/35-a-few-thoughts-on-cuba


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increase dramatically among that group, as well as others now allowed to

travel.

To that end, Hodels firm is revamping its website

www.destinationcuba.comand adding staff, anticipating a dramatic rise in

demand for services by Cuban-Americans and others now allowed to travel

to Cuba, such as those involved in agricultural sales, another area the U.S.

government gave the green light to by the presidents signing of the

Omnibus bill in mid-March.

And now, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which would allow U.S.

citizens to visit the country, raises many other questions for agents. After

our meeting, I received an e-mail from Hodel in which he shared his

thoughts:

In regards to the piece you just ran on the new legislation, it (the

legislation) raises as many issues as it attempts to address. The law would

remove travel restrictions but NOT the embargo. That means the Treasury

Department would still have the financial restrictions regarding Cuba in

place.

Some have asserted that while Americans may be free to travel they

would still have to use only authorized Travel Service Providers like Tico

Travel, in order to travel to Cuba or be in violation of the embargo. It also

does not lift the restrictions on things like credit-card use in Cuba, nor the

ability to purchase Cuban products and bring them back to U.S. (cigars

would still not legally be permitted to be brought home).

As a lawyer in a former life and having had 10 years dealing with the

Office of Foreign Assets Control I can assure you the regulations coming

out of any new legislation will be very strictly constructed to make the

ability to travel to Cuba as difficult as possible.

I am trying to get more of a clear picture of the details of the pending bill,

but at first blush it is very vague and broad in its language. It may just be


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an attempt to push the administration to act first in order to give the

individual members of Congress the political coverage to posture while

recognizing that the tide has turned and the opening of travel to Cuba is

inevitable.

Other agents piped in with their thoughts on AgentNation, our social

networking site for travel agents. Among their thoughts:

I think it will be the hot new destination once the change happens.

When I've spoken with Canadians who go there, they go on and on about

how great the service is at the resorts, and it's not any poorer than

anywhere else in the Caribbean. Certainly not any more authoritarian than

a lot of countries of the world that we have full rights to visit.

I think people in general are going to be curious about a place so close

to the States that has been off limits to them for more than a generation.

There will be some who refuse to go due to their principles, politics or

fears, but I think there will be an initial boom of tourists that will go strictly

to satisfy their curiosity. It will be up to the people of Cuba to keep the

tourists coming back. There are many Caribbean destinations with which

they will be competing for the return clientsthey will have to offer great

service, properties and value for the travel dollar to score the return

travelers.

I can't wait to see the restrictions lifted on visiting Cuba. I have long

been curious about the culture, the food, the people and especially the

music of Cuba. As far as communism goes, if that is the reason for the

restrictions, that is NOT a valid excuse. After all, we are practically married

to China, the ultimate communist country.

I dare to say that, if restrictions are lifted to travel to Cuba, many

Caribbean destinations will feel the impact offor all practical purposesa

brand-new destination, full of suspense of what's to be found after so

many years of isolation. Cuba will immediately receive an avalanche of

visitors, and I can't wait.


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We'll be watching this story closely going forward, and would love to hear

your thoughts on the issue. Join the discussion on Cuba on AgentNation

today.

http://www.liveincuba.com/news-about-cuba/48-us-house-may-pass-cuba-export-bill-in-april-peterson-says

U.S. House May Pass Cuba Export Bill in April, Peterson

Says

By Jonathan J. Levin

March 31 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. House of Representatives may pass a bill

next month that would ease restrictions on agricultural exports to Cuba and

lift a ban on travel to the island, the measures sponsor said.

Congressman Collin Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture

Committee, said he needs backing from one more lawmaker to assure the

panel will pass the legislation. He expects to secure that pledge after

Congresss Easter recess, and for the measure to get approval by the full

House.

Cuba used to be one of our big markets, Peterson, a Minnesota

Democrat, said in a telephone interview yesterday. The bill would help us

get those markets back.

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates the U.S. could supply

as much as two-thirds of Cubas agricultural imports, up from the current

30 percent, if restrictions are eased, Peterson said in a committee hearing

this month. The bill would end a requirement that payments from Cuba to

U.S. farmers go through a bank located in a third country and be made all


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in cash, steps that make trade more difficult.

The U.S. exported $528.5 million in food and agricultural products to Cuba

in 2009, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.

Petersons bill, known as the Travel Restriction Reform and Export

Enhancement Act, is the latest House legislation seeking to end a 47-year

prohibition on Americans traveling to Cuba. The Freedom to Travel to

Cuba Act, sponsored by William Delahunt, Democrat from Massachusetts,

would ease travel restrictions without changing rules about agricultural

exports.

Versions of both bills are under consideration in the Senate.

Travel Ban

I dont think well be able to get the agriculture changes by themselves,

Peterson said. Theres a lot of support for lifting the travel ban, and if you

put that together with the agriculture, I think we have enough votes to get

it through the House.

The bill may face more opposition in the Senate, he said.

President Barack Obama said March 24 that hes seeking a new era in

relations with Cuba even as he denounced deeply disturbing human

rights violations by its government. Obama hasnt told congressional

Democrats where he stands on ending the travel ban, according to

Peterson.

Obama last year eased restrictions on Cuban-Americans traveling to Cuba

and transferring money to relatives back home. The U.S. State Department

has also held talks in Havana with Cuban officials about restoring mail

service and cooperation on migration issues.


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The island nation can handle an influx of American tourists if the bill is

passed, Cubas Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said in a March 25

interview in Cancun, Mexico. He said the local tourism industry is

preparing, with at least 9 hotels scheduled to break ground by the end of

this year.

Tourism to Cuba increased 3.5 percent last year to 2.4 million visitors, with

900,000 travelers from Canada leading the way, Jose Manuel Bisbe,

commercial director for the Tourism Ministry, said in an interview last week

in Havana.

Cuban Tourism Ministry officials were in Cancun last week to meet with

U.S. tourism industry professionals.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Levin in Philadelphia at

[email protected]

The phone call from WashingtonJust for fun, send an inquiry to the Office of Treasury for Foreign Assets

Begin our story at the end...The pounding heart

I was walking toward the counter at 8 pm on 8 March, wondering, If he asks me to add at least onecountry to the list of countries where I've been, what do I do? I've had two people tell me to lie, two

websites have indicated that I should confess, the worst that can happen is that I'll be charged but there

will be no court case... I think I'm sweating...

Warnings on websites: It's a felony

If
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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A helpful call: Nobody has been prosecutedI called a guy who has posted recommendations like get a lawyer arranged ahead of time through thenational lawyers guild but when I reaced the guy by phone, he told me that if you are prosecuted,you will be the first. well, it takes just one...

Who benefits from the current system?a) the people who charge outrageous prices for charters flying direct from Miami to Havana. They likethe restrictions because anyone who has to reschedule a flight does not get money back on the seat... andthe abandoned seat is now available for sale to a waiting list. Great busines model: sell one seat to twopeople.

b) the current government

c) Anyone with a current hotel who will want to add more rooms in havana if it is already difficultto get in? The current govenrment REQUIRES you to say you stay somewhere, and they giveyou hassles if you say at my friend's house

d) cruise ships (if you can't go to Cuba, at leats you can go to somewhere in the Caribbean.). WeKNOW that people will choose Cuba over going to Bahamas. So Bahamas benefits when Cubahas travel restrictions.

PackingHere's a tip: pack as little as possible. I took three shirts and I left two of them behind. I took two pairsof trousers and left one behind. I'm going back. The rest of the space was for medicine, baby food andbooks.

One bag with food

one bag with books and electronics

Don't carry the laptop separately. Leave it in the bag. Why not? (well, it could be taken...)


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items to bring (according to various websites)razors, shampoo,

------Part 2 Getting there

The flightThe plane goes over la Gran Isla and you get great views.Great views

cool tree, eh?

Here are the choices for arriving...


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Arriving

Jose told me, Don't say that you are staying with a friend. It attracts attention. Just say you're staying ata hotel. Write Hotel Nacional

============

Part 3 Havana


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That's OBISPO street. On the lef is a large square, in the middle you can read Floridita where you willfind Hemingway's statue, and Obispo continues to the right up to the upper right corner.

Sam's Guide to Cuban Rules

There are two reasons why I compiled this book / compilation.a) to spur you to go before travel restrictions drop.b) to share with you Sam's rules.

Sam is an oil-well worker. Instead of working 9 or 10 months a year with two months vacation, he worksabout 4 months and takes 8 months of travel. and he keeps very low monthly costs.

=====

Part 4Getting home

What do you write in the blank?

Countries you have visited


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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hPjJo4H2rck/SjgcwdTMQEI/AAAAAAAABsk/E1lIA_g2nTE/s400/cuban+visa.gif

===========

Now it's your turn....

Getting through customs in Cuba

Remember to smile. Be honest. Smile some more. Habla un poco espanol...

Where to stayCasa particulares or how about the Hotels where Hemingway stayed?

http://www.cubaccommodation.com/
http://www.cubaccommodation.com/http://www.cubaccommodation.com/


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Ambos_Mundos_(Havana)

What to bring

Food, medicines, small usb pen drives (flash) filled with POSITIVE educational videos, no politicalitems.

If you don't know Jose RamosYou can meet some nice people... you'll find them if you just keep talking.

Getting around

Renting a carBetter if you rent with a driver. Why worry about hitting anything ? Lonely Planet has some goodinformation.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cuba/transport/getting-around

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1791372

http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/cuba-transportations.htm

Taking a bus

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cuba/havana/transport/getting-there-around
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cuba/transport/getting-aroundhttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1791372http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/cuba-transportations.htmhttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/cuba/havana/transport/getting-there-aroundhttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/cuba/transport/getting-aroundhttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1791372http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/cuba-transportations.htmhttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/cuba/havana/transport/getting-there-around


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References

The images of two movies kept running through my mind while I was in Cuba.

a) Frequency (2000)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186151/

An accidental cross-time radio link connects father and son across 30 years.The son tries to save his father's life, but then must fix the consequences.

There's a scene in the movie where the son tells his dad in 1970, Remember

yahoo.

Huh?

Just buy a stock called yahoo.

What?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186151/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186151/


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I had the feeling that I was carrying with me things from the future. Here, have a USB drive filled witheducational videos. I'm a fan of TED.com and there are transcripts of many discussions. I downloadedthe scripts of ten discussions, all translated into Spanish.


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b) Gattaca (1997) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/Here's a summary from IMCB.com:

A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to

pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.

In the not-too-distant future, a less-than-perfect man wants to travel to thestars. Society has categorized Vincent Freeman as less than suitable given

his genetic make-up and he has become one of the underclass of humans

that are only useful for menial jobs. To move ahead, he assumes the

identity of Jerome Morrow, a perfect genetic specimen who is a paraplegic

as a result of a car accident. With professional advice, Vincent learns to

deceive DNA and urine sample testing. Just when he is finally scheduled for

a space mission, his program director is killed and the police begin an

investigation, jeopardizing his secret. Written bygarykmcd
http://www.imdb.com/search/title?plot_author=garykmcd&view=simple&sort=alphahttp://www.imdb.com/search/title?plot_author=garykmcd&view=simple&sort=alpha


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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/plotsummary

Gattaca 1997
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/plotsummaryhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/plotsummary


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look for Hemingway statue at the back of the bar.

Any, all art

supplies

Musical

instruments

Guitar

strings

Reeds for

wind

instruments

Metronomes Pitch pipes

Tuning forks Sheet music Theatremake-up

Ballet

slippers

Baseball

bats, balls

and gloves

Footballs,

sport

helmets and

padding


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Bike tire

repair kits

Aspirin and

substitutes,

Band-Aids

Multiple

vitamins

and A, B, C,

D, E

Medical

gloves and

masks,

medical

thermometer

s

Condoms,

sanitary

napkins,

tampons

School

supplies, all

kinds

Toys for

children

Laptop

computers

no more

than four

years old,

memory

sticks

Spanish/Eng

lish

dictionaries

and phrase

books

High quality

summer

oriented used

clothing and

shoes

Sheets and

towels

Kitchen

gloves and

sponges

Many solidarity organizations provide humanitarian

donations to Cuba as an act of solidarity. The groupPastors for Peace conduct an annual Caravan toCuba, gathering donations from all over the U.S. andCanada to be transported via Mexico. Various othergroups and institutions conduct direct donation effortswith partners in Cuba such as the Ministry of Health
http://www.pastorsforpeace.org/http://www.pastorsforpeace.org/http://www.pastorsforpeace.org/


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(MINSAP), the Ministry of Educaton (MINED) and theInstituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos (ICAP).On an individual basis, travellers often take goodswhich they contribute to Cuban friends, health clinics,

schools or workers at the tourist areas. When carriedout with sensitivity, these donations are very muchappreciated. Travellers should be aware of newcustoms regulations meant to restrict the importationof goods for sale, and those goods which could bepurchased inside Cuba (thus supporting the domesticeconomy and the government's ability to provide

social services). There are several things to keep inmind when bringing items into Cuba as donations.According to the Cuban Customs office, tourists mayimport: ...with relief from the payment of duties andtaxes, import up to 10 kg of medicines in originalpackaging and readily identifiable. and Tourists arealso entitled to definitively import - apart from theirpersonal belongings - new or used articles with anoverall value of $250.00 (two hundred and fifty)Pesos. Up to an amount of $ 50.00 (fifty) Pesos, thesaid items shall not be subject to the payment ofCustoms taxes. The remaining value - up to theestablished limit of $250.00 (two hundred and fifty) -shall be subject to the payment of Customs taxesequal to 100% (one hundred percent) of their value. It

is highly recommended that you closely examine theinformation available at Cuba-Advice.com to see howyour plans may be affected.

http://www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/Documents/cubanfriends.shtml
http://www.cuba-advice.com/http://www.cuba-advice.com/http://www.cuba-advice.com/


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=======

There are efforts to bring materials into Cuba

Friendshipment XIX (July 2008)

This caravan included the second hip-hop exchange and 5 donated school buses

that were decorated in honor of the 5 Cuban heroes who are still unjustly

imprisoned in US jails for defending their homeland against Miami-based terrorist

groups. US customs seized 32 boxes of computer equipment, but when these were

released on the return of the caravan to the US, caravanistas immediately carried

all the boxes back into Mexico for onward transportation to Cuba.

Friendshipment XX (July 2009)

130 caravanistas traveled to Cuba with 132 tons of aid including 10 vehicles. A

significant part of the aid consisted ofconstruction tools, and supplies including

roofing materials to support the reconstruction effort after the 3 hurricanes that hit

Cuba in the fall of 2008.

Friendshipment XXI (July 2010)

This caravan dedicated to the children of Cuba delivered 9 school buses. While inCuba the caravan celebrated the 80th birthday of IFCO's executive director the Rev

Lucius Walker, Jr.

http://www.ifconews.org/node/350

========

Not Just Tourists

http://www.cubatreks.com/donatetocuba.php

Several Canadian airlines offer excess luggage fee waivers to travelers carrying

humanitarian aid to Cuba. These exceptions must be arranged in advance of

departure.Sunwing and Air Transat allow an extra 10 kg per passenger; Cubana
http://www.cubatreks.com/donatetocuba.phphttp://www.cubatreks.com/donatetocuba.php


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allows an extra 23 kg per passenger (but can arrange larger allowances); and

WestJet allows up to 54.5 kg total luggage weight per passenger on its charter

flights.Travelers should consult with their airline well in advance of departure

concerning specific humanitarian policies. It is necessary to obtain an excess

luggage permit in advance of departure as exceptions are subject to constant

change.Don't just show up at the airport and ask for an exception. It will not begranted.

Cubans warmly welcome

donations however small.

Everything you contribute is an

overture of friendship and a

progressive act against the U.S.blockade that deprives Cubans of

basic items we in North America

take for granted.We strongly

advise against handing out

donations or money to individuals

you meet on the street. In areas

frequented by tourists,

professional scammers attempt to

fleece foreign guests with scripted

sob stories that win them cash or

items they then sell on the black

market, both resulting in

hundreds of dollars every week.

Working Cubans earn 15 to 20

dollars per month. When you give

your donations or cash

contributions to a handful of

street hustlers, you deprive the

vast majority of Cuban families

and communities who could most

benefit from your generosity.


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Giving to new island friends or

helping out Cubans you know

from past trips is a most

wonderful overture. Go for it!

How to make yourheartfelt donations really

countOrganized donations to

island NGOs facilitated by the

Canadian network Not Just

Tourists (NJT) are distributed

equitably to Cubans most in need

beyond the tourist centers.NJT

groups are not-for-profit volunteer

projects that collect surplus

medicines, medical supplies and

other items for use in Cuba. These

materials are donated by

individuals, organizations and

businesses. Canadians traveling to

Cuba deliver these much-needed

supplies to hospitals, clinics and

other institutions at their island

destination.NJT can help you plan

and coordinate your donations.

NJT groups are always in need of

donations, volunteers and storage

space to more effectively conduct

their vital work in support of theCuban people. In addition to

donating and delivering supplies

to Cuba, consider getting involved

with an NJT group near you, or

launching a chapter in your city. If


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you are a US reader, please

consider a monetary donation to

help with operational costs of an

NJT chapter of your choice.

Looking north from El Morro (the fort at the entrance of Havana harbor)


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Thank you for reading so far.

I hope you won't wait too long...