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May - June 2000
Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Camaguey, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Varadero, Pinar del Rio & Vinales
Brett Voegele2005-11-14 12:17:28
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I didn't visit the two sites of which most American's have heard - Guantanamo Naval Base, because "you can't handle the truth" (obviously to be read in your best Jack Nicholson imitation), and the Bay of Pigs because it was a bit out of the way and expensive to reach. However, I did cover most of the rest of the island, but that's getting ahead of myself.
Observations
Flight from Panama City to Havana (obviously two more places named by Canadians - "Well, we need an 'H', aye? And a 'V', aye? And an 'N', aye?" Ok, so it's an old joke, but I couldn't refuse!) took 2 1/2 hours, and flew over some beautiful islands. I'll admit to having a grin from ear-to-ear upon landing in Havana, but that quickly faded as my backpack was thoroughly searched by the customs agents - item by item. Finally got settled in a hotel and then wandered around town. I was quickly joined by a young guy that wanted to show me around. I would later learn to expect this, as Cubans are looking for any way possible to earn a few dollars. Another thing I'd learn that first afternoon was that many guys on the streets would try to sell me boxes of cigars. On several occasions I was escorted through small alleys, up winding stairs, and into someone's darkly lit home to be offered cigars.....presumably "official" cigars, which had been stolen from the factory. Seems every guy in Cuba has a wife/friend/uncle, etc. who works in a cigar factory. Price was always ridiculously low - 25 Cohiba Esplendidos for anywhere from $20-50, while the going price for the same box in a legitimate shop or factory was $385. Person trying to make the sale would simply state that they needed the money and so were willing to part with the cigars at such a low price. While some of what they said was undoubtedly true, I also believe that most of the cigars were of less than top quality. There are
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See photographs from:
Cuba Gallery
Welcome to the Third World that your ancestrus and other relatives created from their huge selfishness and racism that still perdures in the superficial and even sillier comments of your "travel notes"
Last thing, I live in Canada with all the benefits of the First World and, I've seen way more women giving away their honour and almost everything not for some money to feed their families but for some bucks to buy "good stuff"
Guess what? Who's bitcher? I think you've already got it!!
You'd better stay in your "native paradise" or get some good deal to visit Heaven a make a decent remark after.
Good luck looser!!!
Regards from your CUBAN Nemesis
YOUR CUBAN NEMESIS, 2008-01-23 05:06:58