re: My trip to Cuba (Final update, link to album of all pictures added)

I went back in 2008 on a chamber of commerce visit. I'm thinking about going back again. Questions on how things have changed/what things cost now:

- There were quite a few of the classic cars back then, I'd say almost 30% of cars on the streets. Is that still the case?

- Is a meal still about $3-4?

- Are cigars still about $4-5?

- Can you still grab a shared ride city to city?

- The Hershey train was very very spotty, is it still pretty bad?

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Do yall have Cubans?

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There are Cubans at every duty free store. If you're not travelling, ask a friend who is international to bring some in. Embargo now allows Cuban products up to I think $1,000

So...you are going to donate to a commie, a-hole dictator, while most people in Cuba have nothing? You are just as bad as that a-hole Castro

I do not purchase anything from a commie country. So you think going to Cuba spending money while poor people are suffering is right???
If the government of Cuba took care of its poor it would be different. I have friends who has family were in prison for years. I hav friends who family were killed, whose family lived in poverty. Do you think people who visit will go see these people, give them money directly?
No I am not a hypocrite just someone who feels sorry for those in need while a dictator lives in luxury. Occasionally I smoke a cigar, have never smoked a Cuban, cigars from other South American Countries are better anyway

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I do not purchase anything from a commie country.

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Yes you do. China and Vietnam. Liar.

Jackalop

I am not a liar, I buy USA, may pay more but my

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Do you have friends who have family who suffered in Cuba.? I do

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Well my great-grandfather was a dentist in Havana and escaped with my great-grandmother and grandmother to the United States, so no. I don't have friends who have family, I have family.

What I'm arguing with you about is the fact that you say you don't give money to a communist country, which is next to, if not entirely impossible. The phone/tablet/computer you are using to access Tigerdroppings is almost guaranteed to have come from China, or at the least components of that device did. Your clothes, shoes, car, materials used to build your home, if you've eaten at fast food restaurants...most of that stuff likely came from China.

So if you don't want to give money to Cuba for personal reasons, that's absolutely your prerogative. But saying you don't give money to "commies" is just factually incorrect.

Although for the record, tourism directly gives money to the people of Cuba as well. I stayed in an AirBnB in Havana, paying the owners of the apartment directly in cash. I asked them for recommendations of local places to eat and drink, and anyone who ever served us or drove us in a cab got tipped.

Claiming someone that goes to Cuba as a tourist is as bad as Fidel Castro himself is beyond ridiculous.

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I am not a liar, I buy USA, may pay more but my

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Calling BS. No American household is all American. And I am willing to bet not a single American household lacks chinese goods. And much of your seafood comes from Vietnam.

There are still reasonable meals, etc.. but not at the tourist places. Fell free to call me I have a lot of friends that go.

Eat at the "paladares" not at the hotels .. cigars is pot luck, but I can connect you. My partner had a cigar factory in Cuba.

You can have clean and nice places to stay for $ 35 - $ 50 per night.

I will be going in July 2018 (end of) First time in 55 years. I need to see my uncle before he passes.
For those going... just do not be taken BY THE BEAUTY AND THE PROPAGANDA...look inside the city for the poverty so you understand socialism in Cuba.

Everything is about presenting an image of success while most suffer. $25 month average income.

Hope to have some pictures ready (posted) next week.
Made a quick trip to Havana, just got back.
July 27th ... will post ASAP