Dear Comrade!

When my good friend Michael asked me if I was interested in taking a trip with him to Cuba I immedialy agreed. At first I was worried though, worried about the poverty and possible crime I might have to deal with in a nation which has been blockaded so long. But my leftist side got the better of me and I overcame my fears, within a month I was on my way to Havana, Cuba.

Michael is part of a Methodist church group in Cuba which despite what our government says about Castro’s repressive regime, operates fine in Cuba with plenty of members. I was able to go threw the church group saying I had religous reasons. I worked. When I got there however I have to admit I broke a few American laws because I spent as much money as I pleased on Cuban goods and restraunts. Oh well.

Upon approaching the Island I could see beutifull beaches and preserved forests along the cost. I actually thought that the costline was prettier then the bahamas costline. But that is just my opinion. I could even see from my non-cuban airline plane(It is illegal for americans going to Cuba to use a cuban-airline plane, yet another stupid rule I discovered when I wanted to make a trip to Cuba) the beutifull spanish colonial architechure from afar. I was hoping to see the famous Fortress of Havana from the airplane, I wasn’t able to see it till later, we probably passed by it while I was eating the complementary pretzles.

The landing was okay, I got threw customs with relatively little hastle on the Cuban side, but quiet a lot on the American side. I went with Michael who had been before and knew his way around and it was a quick and painless process. Having only a few duffle bags and being very cheap both of us we actually decided to find the public bus. It took us less then five minutes to find the public bus, during which time I stumbled behind my traveling companion trying to take in everything around me, and wishing I had carried less in my duffle bag. When we did get the public bus it seemed rather outdated on the outside. The bus was unbelievably cheap, apparantly made so that all Cuban workers can afford to get around the city. I think it was somewhere around 5 cents, american. Despite this the bus similar to the streets was very clean, much cleaner then the buses I take around Manhatten. The bus was basically mixed, few whites and a few blacks, my first sign that we weren’t in some country where there were different forms of transporation for each race or group. We arrived, Michael jerked me off my seat and we headed out. We walked less then a block and found a modern building with the methodist name on the door and entered. My new lodging for the next few weeks. Lodging there was good, I wanted to stay in one of the new hotels....but I was also afraid at the time that I would be breaking some American law by doing so, so I didn’t.

I did my best and replied that yes we were Americans, and I asked him how he knew. He then pointed at my tee-shirt which was actually a New York yankees baseball shirt. I laughed and so did he, then he told me to enjoy Havana that it was a beutifull city. I said goodbye and we continued our little excursion. He was the first of many examples I would see of friendly cuban citizens of all races chatting and working together. There wasn’t an abundence of cars on the road blocking up traffic, plenty of room for pedestrians to feel safe. The cars that were on the road however made me feel like I had been transported back to "leave it to beaver", I mean they were almost all very old American cars. Old chevies and fords from the 50’s mostly it seemed, very nice, mostly well kept. I thought it was a very pretty touch to the atmostphere of Havana.

We arrived at the Museum later in the afternoon, I found it a terrific museum actually. It was loaded with historical things, weopens, pictures, even a tank from the revolution. It was a great museum with plenty of fun stuff. For the more scholarly individual it has a load of old documents and essays from the revolution and Cuba’s history. Even a room dedicated to my idol, Che. It was great. I didn’t get to see the whole museum unfortunatly, we were in a rush to see as much of Havana as possible in only four days. I made a vow to myself that when I returned I would do so allowing myself a good month to see the city.

We spent the night barhopping which was fun. Getting very drunk and mingling with the Cuban ladies. It was a fun. We went to a salsa club and discovered that us Americans have no rythem whatsoever. We were going to go to a few other music clubs until one of Michael’s buddies who was staying with us at the Methodist church also starting vomiting right there in the middle of the street. So we had to go home, but it was fun anyways. All the time I felt very safe for some reason. I didn’t see any crime the entire time I was there, and amazinly unlike my trip to Dominican Republic I did not run into a single person begging for money.

Food could have been better I guess. We ate one time in a state-run restraunt, where workers could eat plenty of food for almost nothing. The food was okay with little selection. There were private restraunts also were the food was still very cheap but much tastier none the less. I shopped a bit in some "dollar stores" where I could use my dollars to get anything I wanted basically, but the "non-dollar" stores also accepted dollars very gratefully. I guess dollars are in need overthere.

Old Havana was great. The colonial architecture still remained in most parts, with pretty balconies overlooking the street and romantic-like buildings. I dont’ remember the specific name of the Cathedral of Havana, I remember that it was built by jesuits or something and that I feel it compared with any or most of the cathedrals of Latin America and possibly Europe. The Fortress of Havana was in Old Havana as well. With a good history behind it and a breathtaking view. I didn’t get time to see anyother historical sites, those two sites were very important Cuban tourist sites I think so I am at least proud of myself for having visited them.

I know I already mentioned it, but the nightlife was fantastic. Plenty of bars and clubs with any kind of caribean or American music you could imagine. Just thought I’d mention it, because I would go back just for the nightlife. There were also theatres and ballat’s for the more sophisticated traveler. Neither of which I went to because unfortunatly I am not the sophisticated traveler. I do however love watersports and any sport for that matter. Michael’s friend Tony had a sailing license (you’ll need that to go sailing over there) and we bummed a ride on his boat. beautifull tropical fish, clear waters, it was all great. And of course nice filling beer. That was another of our day excursions, we sailed along the costline, taking glimspe of how beutifull it truly was. And as I said before I think the Cuban costline and beaches are nicer then those of the Bahamas. But once again, that is my opinion.