Been there

Planning a visit next year ... haven't got very far with it yet. Not sure how I want to approach it.

I went with my High School Concert Band, 63 Canadian Youth, 6 years ago now. It was a fantastic way to experience Cuba, as our trip was planned as a Cultural Adventure, so we would spend a day at a Fine Arts High School, play a concert for an Artist's Commune in the Sierra Maestra, hang out with the kids at the Music Conservatory, etc. We were so glad to be free of the resort experience, and the Cubans of Santiago had us convinced that we were better off spending our time elsewhere then Havana.

I'm very enthusiastic to make a trip to Baracoa the next time.

I was there in '98. Left from Florida in the small private boat of our friend's father, which is one of the easiest ways to do it from the US. Sometimes you can find folks who want crew or just company to sail with them if you go to some of the marinas in Florida. I believe there are even some websites for this.

Been there. Cayo Largo in 2004 and Varadero this year.

A good way to do it is to hook up with a canadian travel group. There are all kinds: political, resort-goers, cultural focused, etc.
Fly to Mexico or Dominican Republic. If you want to go legally, you may still be able to apply for a humanitarian Visa (bring some med supplies with you) - but Bush and gang may have voided that route by now. Have fun and Viva La Revolucion!

I was in Havana 2 years ago and am looking forward to going back someday. Such a vibrant culture, friendly people, and music EVERYWHERE! But it was also sad to see how the beautiful old buildings were crumbling with neglect, and how people had to do without many things because they were simply not available, and I couldn't help but wonder if things would have been different without the embargo, or if the government were not a dictatorship. On the other hand I could see how the standard of living for a large part of the population, although not the greatest, was so much better than in a place like the Philippines (where I was born), where too often you see a gated community or luxury condo, built for the privileged few, standing beside a shanty town where hundreds of people live in carboard boxes -- in Havana it seemed that everyone had at least a roof over their head -- and there were many elderly people who still had all their teeth! Also being a Canadian I benefit from having a government that mixes Capitalism with some degree of Socialism (we have socialized medicine, for example), and I wonder what kind of balance of these systems Cubans would use if they had more of a choice.

I don't know too much about politics; these are just my first impressions from a brief visit to a fascinating country full of culture and contradictions. I went to Cuba for some sunshine and music and left with a lot of questions. I don't know what to believe from the rhetoric coming from all sides of this situation. I joined this tribe because I'm curious to see how things unfold, and what people have to say about it...

Been there! Went to study Psychology during the Summer of 2004. Can't wait to go back!