U.S. Vacations In Cuba Still Come With Hangovers From Trump's Sanctions

Above, Mitch Geriminsky and yours truly after arriving at Havana Port in 2019.

What's the current state of American tourism to Cuba?

Well, despite promises made by Joe Biden during the 2020 campaign, nothing has changed. The restrictions on tourism travel to Cuba remain in place.

On November 11, Reuters posted:

HAVANA, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Cuba opens its borders next week signaling new opportunity for pandemic-weary travelers and the island's tourism industry, but for U.S. citizens getting there requires jumping through hoops like never before, according to the heads of eight U.S. tour agencies.

U.S. President Donald Trump ended cruise ship dockings, reduced flights to Havana and eliminated them altogether to the outlying provinces. His administration declared most hotels, bus and other Cuban tour services off limits because they were owned by the military, and made financial transactions more difficult in general, measures that remain in place under President Joe Biden.

"U.S. obstacles are the most significant in our more than 22 years of doing business in Cuba," said Michael Zuccato, head of Cuba Travel Services.

Tensions between Washington and Havana are on the rise ahead of protests planned by dissidents on the island for Nov. 15, the same day Cuba reopens its borders to international visitors. 

Above, the image of Che Guevara looms over the Plaza
 de la Revolución in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was lucky to take a cruise ship visit to Havana, Cuba just before the restrictions were imposed. 

To read more, go here. 

Mass Protests In Cuba

Above, an image of Che Guevara looms at the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The biggest protests in decades are now happening in Cuba and the U.S. news media are largely ignoring it.

According to Fox News:

Thousands of Cuban protesters have taken to the streets demanding an end to the country's communist dictatorship. 

U.S. officials on both sides of the political aisle issued statements on social media expressing their support of the demonstrations and expressed solidarity with the people of Cuba. They also shared footage, where protestors can be heard chanting "we are not afraid."

According to Florida Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, Cuba's regime is shutting off internet on the island.

"The Castro dictatorship doesn’t want the world to see what’s happening," Salazar wrote. "Please SHARE & stand with these freedom fighters!"

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called out the mainstream media for refusing to provide extensive coverage on the unrest in Cuba. 

"Attention US media … in #Cuba they are rising up because socialism is (always a) disaster," Rubio tweeted. "Are you going to report on this so the world can hear their voices?" 

To read more, go here. 

September American Rifleman Arrives

Above, the September issue of American Rifleman.

Time is certainly flying by.

It seems that it wasn't long ago that the August issue of American Rifleman arrived in my mailbox.

Today, I went down to my mailbox at the Flying J and the September issue was waiting for me inside.

I did some reading of the issue, specifically, an article on Che Guevara titled, "The Guns of a Dead Revolutionary" (it was an interesting read) and an obituary of country music great and NRA backer Charlie Daniels.

So, if you NRA members haven't received yours already, it should arrive soon, which will make your quarantine day much more enjoyable.

De Blasio Makes Major Gaffe Quoting Che Guevara In Miami!

Above, an image of Che Guevara at Havana's Plaza de la Revolución with the offending quote. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's about 20 Democrats running for their party's presidential nomination, but that may soon change if different candidates make horrific gaffes.

The New York Post reported:

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday he did not buy Mayor Bill de Blasio’s claim that he didn’t realize he was quoting a Marxist Cuban revolutionary. 

Rubio was incredulous that the presidential hopeful appropriated one of Che Guevara’s most famous lines as he urged largely immigrant workers at Miami International Airport to unionize in protest of poor conditions and wages. 

“De Blasio studied Latin American politics in college, was a very active supporter of the Sandinistas in #Nicaragua & even honeymooned in #Cuba in violation of U.S. law,” Rubio tweeted about the mayor’s history with the socialist nation. 

Rubio then added sarcastically: “But he had NO IDEA he was quoting Che Guevara today. It was all just an incredible coincidence.” 

De Blasio, fresh off a combative performance in Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate, was attempting to give a dramatic speech when he uttered the Spanish phrase. 

“The eyes of the world are on this airport, the eyes of the world are on Miami-Dade,” de Blasio told the workers, before ending with, “Hasta la victoria, siempre.”

The mayor claimed he was clueless about the origin of the phrase after making the boneheaded comment.

Florida is the major home for Cubans who have fled the communist island.

Mayor de Blasio had to know about the offending quote, since it accompanies an image of Guevara at the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana. As Senator Rubio said, de Blasio honeymooned in Cuba. I don't buy his claim either.

To read more, go here.

Cruises To Cuba May Come To An End

Above, an image of Che Guevara overlooks the Plaza
de la Revolución in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A more recent article on restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba was posted by TravelPulse.

I had earlier posted a blog about an April 22 article by the New York Times. This one was posted three days ago and it seems more dire.

It begins with:

Recently announced Trump administration restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba could bring an unceremonious end to American cruise-line voyages and group travel to the Caribbean nation, said Engage Cuba president James Williams in a Thursday briefing with media. 

Elimination of the specific license for group people-to-people travel, now used by the wide majority of U.S. cruise passengers and organized tour groups, would also dramatically diminish American travel to Cuba, Williams said. Cuban cruise arrivals grew 48 percent year-over-year in 2018, according to Ministry of Tourism official Michel Bernal. 

“There’s been criticism from hard-liners [who say] this is not meaningful interaction with the Cuban people,” said Williams, “but tourism dressed up as a people-to-people exchange.” As a result, the Trump administration is seeking to “severely limit or totally eliminate” the category. 

If enacted, the restrictions would create “an immediate cost to current companies and a chilling environment” on potential businesses including tourism and hospitality firms, Williams said. The regulations would also have a “significant impact for U.S. travel and the U.S. travel industry, particularly the cruise lines,” he added.

According to Travel Weekly, the announcement of possible restrictions has caused a booking rush.

To read more, go here. 

Touring Havana, Cuba, Part One

Above, yours truly at the Plaza de la Revolución. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Last Thursday, the big highlight of our cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas took place when we arrived in Havana Harbor in Cuba.

Above, approaching Havana from Florida. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I was first approached about taking the trip (the price was great and never a factor) by Mitch Geriminsky, I hadn't given any thought to taking a cruise. I went on a cruise in 2000 with my mom and daughter to Alaska. Seeing Alaska was nice, but I found that being on a ship to be on the tedious side, especially since it was cold outside despite it being a summer month.

Above, the terminal where we were processed into Cuba in the foreground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Still, I was intrigued about a cruise to Cuba. Anyone can go to Alaska, Spain or anywhere else at anytime. But Cuba? I figured, "Why the hell not? I'm retired!" So I agreed to make the trip. (This may be one of the last cruises to Cuba according to recent news reports.)

Above, an old "rust bucket" of a ship in Havana Port. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We arrived in Havana Harbor (formally known as Havana Port) at about dawn. The harbor wasn't too busy. I noticed a ship not too far away that can be accurately described as a "rust bucket". The terminal buildings were either gutted of any exteriors or rundown.

Above, yours truly with Mitch Geriminsky in the terminal building. 

Before we could disembark the ship, Cuban authorities had to provide clearances. So we had plenty of time to have breakfast up in the Windjammer restaurant on the 11th deck.

Above, Havana's Sloppy Joe's Bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When it was getting closer for us to be able to disembark, we had to go to one of the main dining rooms to be organized into tour groups. Ours was #22. We signed up for Royal Caribbean's "Old Havana City Sightseeing". This was essentially a bus tour of Havana with stops at the Plaza de la Revolución, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, Colon Cemetery and shopping.

Above and below, some 1950s vintage American cars. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Once we left the ship and entered the terminal, we were surprised to see the interior in far better shape than the exterior. We were able to exchange dollars for Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) (this is the currency for foreigners). I figured $130 in Cuban Convertible Pesos should be sufficient to buy cigars and rum, so that's what I exchanged.

Above, the El Capitolio. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Immediately after our bus left the terminal, we saw the famous 1950s American automobiles that the Cubans still drive. They have employed a number of inventive ways to keep them running, including installing Russian engines in them.

We passed Havana's Sloppy Joe's Bar. We also saw one in Key West the day before.

Above, a bust of Abraham Lincoln in a Havana park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The driver took us around Havana. In one park in the city, there is a bust of President Abraham Lincoln. I guess Lincoln is still revered in Cuba. We also passed the El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building. It is modeled after the U.S. Capitol and currently undergoing renovation.

Above and below, apartment buildings. Photos by Armand Vaquer

One thing that stood out for me were how drab the buildings in the city are. They looked as though they hadn't been cleaned or painted for a long time. This includes private homes and apartments. Our guide said this has been the case since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, thereby cutting off the money spigot. Prior to this, Cuba was called the "Jewel of the Caribbean".

Above, the José Martí Memorial in the Plaza de la Revolución. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Our first stop was at the Plaza de la Revolución, where major gatherings of the Cuban government and celebrations take place. In the center is the José Martí Memorial, a national hero of Cuba. On an opposite end of the plaza are two government buildings. One has the image of Che Guevara, with the quotation "Hasta la Victoria Siempre" (Until the Everlasting Victory, Always) and the other has Camilo Cienfuegos (sometimes mistaken for Fidel Castro), with the quotation "Vas bien, Fidel" (You're doing fine, Fidel).

Above, Che Guevara. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Camilo Cienfuegos. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After about a half hour in the plaza, we re-boarded our bus and headed to the next stop, the Colon Cemetery (its official name, El Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón).

Above, elaborate tombs at El Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to Wikipedia:

El Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, was founded in 1876 in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba to replace the Espada Cemetery in the Barrio de San Lázaro.. Named for Christopher Columbus, the cemetery is noted for its many elaborately sculpted memorials.

Above, the Cuban flag at El Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The cemetery was interesting to see and the tombs were quite elaborate.

Above, Mitch Geriminsky at the Plaza de la Revolución. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the cemetery visit, we then headed to Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. That portion will be covered in a separate blog post. To view it, go here.