Cuba

one island, two worlds 2010-01-17 - 2010-02-25

Cuba is smelt before it is seen. An incredible aroma of sweet sandalwood penetrates the ocean well before the cry of land-ho! Arriving for sunrise Havana in the eighteenth hour at sea, an air of mist and mystery clung to the palms. My first visit to a communist country, with plain no idea what to expect but the country is organised in such a way that ensures tourists live parallel lives, leaving with about as much domestic knowledge as when they arrived.

With a gigantic reef sweeping up from a continental shelf (it is not uncommon to travel 50 yards forwards and watch the depth sounder ping up from 3,000 to 25 feet or less) housing an abundance of ray, lobster and numerous little pretty fish and stunning mountains and towns the place is a photographers dream. Diving or snorkelling the reef in the east, untouched by anything except hurricanes you are likely to be the first person there to visit it, and the locals are only beaten by the Burmese in my experience of genuine friendliness (those that don't look at you suspiciously). Beneath this exterior though, the police state, food issues and general running of the country have Cubans (and some Americans) seething. The universal hatred of el Commandante and Co. has lead to an exodus so large it has sway in the U.S. Senate and gets Customs and Border officials hopping mad upon your return.

Although entirely convinced Señor Castro is in fact dead (no thanks to the C.I.A) the country is still closed to Americans by virtue of the Embargo (although they are allowed to go, they cannot spend any money) the grip the 'government' has on the country, and the pseudo-communism still pertain. How much this will hold true after the gates are more fully opened to America is anybody's guess.

Having hoped to sneak off to Haiti the sad fact of "no tengo dinero" quelled that and much other fun it is possible to have whilst here.

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from the nikon

of the rants: Land of the Free

America is in an unfortunate situation. Everything is designed for the lowest common denominator (which is pretty low) so everything is easy, yet nobody seems to want to find out why or how all these things happen. As long as you can pay the man and squawk about what it is you've just done/seen/eaten/bought they seem content. One thing is for sure, past the mundane, very few Americans have a decent sense of humour, which makes you wonder how such great films and shows come out of the States.I have often wondered why everything you are asked has ""today"" appended. I also wonder why everyone greets you with the same drawl and apparent happiness. I use apparent only because ...»

of the jaunts: Cruising with Parents

In response to a Cruising Today article, I would like to offer a differing opinion. Although it should be noted that two months before hand the true freedom of Asia was being thoroughly abused.

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