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playa2
Posts: 34922
Alba Posts: 15
Joined: 5/15/2003
Member: #407
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I'm American and I visited Cuba quite a few years ago (I believe 1997 or 98.
Actually, just by chance I arrived during the 40th anniversary of ... THE REVOLUTION. (always in capital letters). Only they kept everyone herded on the huge porch of our hotel – so we could HEAR Fidel speak .,.. but we couldn’t see him – nor could we leave the hotel!
HUGE SECURITY concerns. (This is because the US government has been trying to get him for years …) Long story.
I had a great time and met some journalists etc at our hotel in Santiago De Cuba ... that told us some real 'stories' about Fidel – he’s a piece of work.
I was sooo blown away by that country - the minute I came home I wrote this kind of short story about my trip. I wrote about the poverty and the way the people live etc... Most of my American friends didn't know what to say.
That was one of the most fascinating countries I've ever visited and I've visited … more than my share ... I can tell you. Many more than my share!
Simply fascinating.
The people are friendly yes, but there's a lot of prostitution... which really disturbed me because it's kind if like Thailand ... the women are desperate.
The people don’t have any ill feeling toward Americans. Now this was 1998 – so it may have changed. I don’t think so. The people understand the ‘pis****” contest between the US and their country. Lots of people worshiped Fidel .. but then lots of people feared him … I’d say in equal measure.
Lot's of very strange things happened too ... almost like there's some sort of malevolence about the place. I've only had that experience twice before in two other countries.
I talked to people that had lost people on that Cuban boat lift .. umm at some point Fidel let any one that wanted to leave Cuba … leave .. but it was sort of … a disaster. This was many years ago.
Our hotels were like stepping back in time. ALL the phones, furniture etc are FROZEN IN TIME. Everything is from the 50’s so it’s amazing to see. All the imported products like butter etc .. come from Europe. All this and it’s only 90 minutes off the coast of Florida!
You must ride the 'camels'. These HUGE pink buses that curve in the center when you go around corners. We took a plane from Havana to Santiago – right? Well it was a Russian bomber type plane that they converter! That plane roared and juggled the entire two hours!
You must see the capital building in Havana. You know why? Because it’s an exact replica of the US capital building in Washington DC! You know why, because the same architect built BOTH buildings.
Only thing is …the building is crumbling and falling down just as many, many of the old homes in Cuba. These houses are almost beautiful in their decreiptness, So it’s kind of surreal ... like you are in a Planet of the Apes clip …. Wondering what could have happen to the US Capital building. A TRIP! The way it looks .. soo run down.
You must see the museum in Havana! Virtually nothing about Cuba’s history is documented/displayed before THE REVOLUION! You’ll see pictures of Che (my hero) and lots of US propaganda. I must say .. that was almost one of my most memorable Museum experiences ever. Again – SURREAL.
Cuba has been so abused for sooooooo many years. My heart really went out to the culture/people. The place is beautiful .. but … everyone wants the place!
They have this HUGE Cuban coalition in the States that can’t wait for Fidel to die .. so they can swoop in and TAKE IT BACK! Honey when that day comes … it’s gonna be something else!
Anyway, I could write a book about those 10 days.
How to get there?
Well, here’s where the other shoe drops. You know, it is illegal for Americans to visit Cuba right? Many people don’t believe this – but it’s absolutely true. If you visit and spend 1 dollar .. that’s called ‘trading with the enemy’ and you can be arrested for treason.
But you know what? They only trade in US dollars! So you can't use your CC because then the US would know and you have to carry around all your cash. The local people do use local currency .. but it's not worth much.
Yes we were very scared trying to enter .. but we wanted to SEE!
Of course, certain US (humanitarian) groups etc are allowed to visit – bit that’s another story.
Now, lot’s of Americans visit and the US government knows – we saw lots of movie star pictures in the hotel lobby. They just aren’t willing to run around trying to round up American tourists. )
How to manage it?
You need to fly into Cuba from another country. We flew from Atlanta to The Bahamas – spent a few days on the beach, they took a flight from The Bahamas to Cuba. All you do is buy a visa to enter Cuba when you buy your ticket in The Bahamas. Then, when you go through customs in Cuba, DON’T let them stamp your passport.
Have them stamp your VISA.
The guy at my customs booth made a joke about knowing that he had to stamp my visa – not my passport because (he made the cut throat gesture) if not … when I am re-entering the States – they will SEE my Cuba stamp … and then I’d be found out.
Actually, even if you slip through US customs, as long as you have THAT passport, whenever you travel into the States – you run the risk of discovery.
If you are living here, just fly out on a Dutch flight – they won’t know any different but again, don’t let them stamp your passport.
I guess the bay of pigs wasn't too nice
OPERATION NORTHWOODS. “Justification for U.S. Military Intervention in Cuba” was provided by the JCS to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on March 13, 1962, as the key component of Northwoods. Written in response to a request from the Chief of the Cuba Project, Col. Edward Lansdale, the Top Secret memorandum describes U.S. plans to covertly engineer various pretexts that would justify a U.S. invasion of Cuba. These proposals - part of a secret anti-Castro program known as Operation Mongoose - included staging the assassinations of Cubans living in the United States, developing a fake “Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities and even in Washington,” including “sink[ing] a boatload of Cuban refugees (real or simulated),” faking a Cuban airforce attack on a civilian jetliner, and concocting a “Remember the Maine” incident by blowing up a U.S. ship in Cuban waters and then blaming the incident on Cuban sabotage. Bamford himself writes that Operation Northwoods “may be the most corrupt plan ever created by the U.S. government
JAMES DOLAN on Isiah : He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team.
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