Bill from Los Angeles wrote in to say that he took a flight legally
from L A to Havana to meet Dr Byron Barksdale and his Cuba Aids Group
in Cuba. All went – really well. The USA Customs officers treated me very
well and the Cuban people I met were most interested in talking with Americans.
There are many fine hotels to stay in at all price ranges and above all,
I felt very safe throughout my trip.
Havana is a must see before the embargo is lifted. I recommend
the trip to all your fine members. This prompted the Beetle to investigate.
Below is some more information from Byron about Cuba.
~~~~~~~~~~
Cuba, the “Pearl of the Antilles” and Havana,
“the Paris of the West” are becoming the destination site in
the Caribbean since the Papal visit several years ago. The Cuban government
has relied on tourism to fuel the Cuban economy after the collapse of
the USSR. In contrast to other Caribbean destinations, in Cuba, the traveller
can find local restaurants where beer is 50 cents US and hard drinks (rum
mojitos or daiquiris) can be purchased for $1.00.
The beaches in Varadero, Cayo Coco, and Cayo Largo are unspoiled and
the gentle slope of the shore allows easy swims and wading in crystal
clear waters. International arrivals are possible into Varadero, Havana,
Holguin, and Santiago de Cuba. USA citizens may travel to Cuba legally
through US Treasury Licenses for humanitarian purposes. An example is
humanitarian travel through Cuba AIDS Project, www.cubaaidsproject.com, which supports
Non Governmental Organizations (Monseratte Church, Caritas) in Cuba.
While in Cuba, travellers can find inexpensive lodging, which includes
breakfast ($10-$25/night) in local homes (casa particulars) and cheap,
but wholesome, meals at local family owned, private restaurants known
as paladars. If hotels are preferred, modestly priced rooms can be found
at Hotel Florida ($80/night) in Old Habana or Hotel Riviera ($75/night),
including breakfast, on the Seawall (El Malecon). Art, old books, literature
and music are available to enjoy and purchase in many “open air”
markets throughout Cuba.
The time to see Cuba is before the USA Embargo is lifted. Once the USA
Embargo is lifted, the innocence and mystery of Cuba will rapidly be overrun
by millions of USA tourists seeking business and recreational activities
in Cuba and Cuba may end up looking like South Miami Beach very quickly.
Until then, for Globetrotters, the Great Possibilities of Cuba can be
enjoyed for reasonable prices and uncluttered by too many USA tourists.
About the author: Byron L Barksdale grew up in South Florida and watched
ships sail back and forth to Cuba from West Palm Beach in the mid 1950s.
Currently, Byron is a pathologist in Nebraska serving small hospitals
and clinics in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. Only after he became a physician
could Byron find a legal humanitarian way to see and help the poor and
needy in Cuba through Cuba AIDS Project, www.cubaaidsproject.com HIV/AIDS
in Cuba is a public health concern for the USA since over 180,000 USA
citizens travel to Cuba each year and millions will go to Cuba after the
travel ban is lifted.
