Cuba

[AtW]

I've been in and out of Cuba loads of time. I've been in and out of the US even more. I've never had any trouble.

You commie regime supporter!

[Paddy]

Went Varidao via Havana with BA. Good flight.

Varidao is purely for tourists but that is fine. Food was very good and Varidao has the best beaches in the Caribbean.

I hired a car and drove to Havana. It is the norm to give lifts to hitchhikers (you will get used to that).

In Havana I parked the car in the street and a traffic warden walked up and opened the door for me. He said it is OK to park there all day and it is job to look after the cars. (Just like London )

Havana is falling down but there is renovation work going on. It is a really nice and friendly city.

Note: There are two currencies working in parallel. The Peso a local currency; worth almost nothing and the “Convertible Peso” that is kept level with the USD. Prices for tourists are much higher than for locals but this is one of the few ways the country makes money. Check you change to make sure that you either get USD or convertible Pesos in your change.

Cuba is one of most laid back and free place to wander around. If is very secure and safe unlike the USA.

Highly recommend car hire and seen the island. Most Cubans are very well educated and friendly. If you take any unwanted items such as clothes, gadgets etc, the locals will appreciate it.

[AtW]

Cuba is one of most laid back and free place to wander around. If is very secure and safe unlike the USA.

Only if you are a western (non USA) tourist.

Most Cubans are very well educated and friendly.

It's those that you get to see it.

I wish you Paddy were born in USSR to experience this tulip first hand, but then again I think that if you were then you'd do pretty well by being a commie lover and thus a traitor of human race

[Paddy]

Only if you are a western (non USA) tourist.



It's those that you get to see it.

I wish you Paddy were born in USSR to experience this tulip first hand, but then again I think that if you were then you'd do pretty well by being a commie lover and thus a traitor of human race

You have not got a fuc3ing clue AtW, now p1ss off!

[HairyArsedBloke]

If you take any unwanted items such as clothes, gadgets etc, the locals will appreciate it.

Yes, good idea. Even leaving your soap behind is appreciated. Better still, take an extra bar of nice soap or whatever and give it fresh to the chambermaid.

[AtW]

leaving your soap behind is appreciated.

Yes, and you know why?

That's because in a commie country there is no deficit of ropes.

[PRC1964]

Not sure if it's still the case but it used to be true that a return to Madrid and returns from Madrid to Havana were much cheaper than any UK to Cuba deal.

[chef]

I wish you Paddy were born in USSR to experience this tulip first hand, but then again I think that if you were then you'd do pretty well by being a commie lover and thus a traitor of human race

you're very bitter of communism aren't you my Ruskie comrade?

[shaunbhoy]

You have not got a fuc3ing clue AtW, now p1ss off!

WPS

Button it alexei. You havana clue what you are on about.

IGMC

[cailin maith]

Ohhhh you will love it - it's really amazing!

Havana is fantastic. The Malecon is great.

My fave bit was the American Interests Building, they can't have an embassy. It's a big building (newish) sticks out like a sore thumb. It has a massive space around it like a car park with lots of chairs and when the Cubans want to protest at the Americans, they sit in the car park and shout at the building Revolution Sq is emotional - or maybe I was just hormonal that day.

We also stayed in Varadero - very touristy but the town is good fun. Never had any problems at all. Lots of people travel round and love it. As someone else says, picking up hitch hikers is all part of the fun.

It's a good few years since I went, but if anyoe wants to go, you should do it before Fidel dies (although, I'm not convinced he isn't already!) as when he goes I can see it all changing.