I have always had a fascination with
Cuba. Since I was in high school, I have dreamed about visiting the one place
Americans were forbidden to visit (there are probably more, but in my mind, it
was just Cuba). Over the years I read
books about Cuba, listened to the Buena Vista Social Club, and admired Che
Guevara’s handsome face on all those hipster T-shirts. But it wasn’t until recently that I decided
it was time to actually pay a visit.
Last year, I had a boss who was born in
Cuba. He was one of the kindest, most open people I have ever met. We worked closely together and I loved
listening to his accent and watching his expressions. He left to take another
job, and my workplace hasn’t been the same since. He got me thinking about Cuba
again – quite a bit.
Then, last December, President
Obama announced he was easing restrictions on travel to Cuba. What do the changes mean? America will re-open its embassy there within
a few years. Cuba will start accepting
American credit cards next year. Americans still have to fall into one of the
12 categories of people approved to travel there (journalists, religious
leaders, filmmakers, etc.), but no longer have to apply to the US Government in
advance to get a license. Now travelers just self-identify as falling into an
approved category, and go.
While restrictions are loosening, there is still a bit of a forbidden
fruit appeal. You still can’t fly directly from the
US (unless you take an expensive charter plane) or book a hotel from a US-based
website. But if you are crafty, you can buy a flight to Mexico, then a flight to
Cuba on a Mexican airline. You can use AirBNB to rent rooms in people’s homes,
or European booking sites to reserve hotel rooms.
Thee number of American visitors to
Cuba is increasing by the day. Once the embassy opens and credit cards work
there – can McDonalds, Starbucks and Marriott be far behind? Probably not.
Travel experts are predicting that Cuba will look completely different in 5
years – once American businesses are allowed in.
Because of my renewed interest, and my
desire to visit Cuba BEFORE McDonalds gets there – I decided now is the
time. After tons of research and effort,
I am booked and ready to drink some mojitos while soaking in some Cuban music
and sunshine. Unfortunately, Madelyn won't be accompanying me on this trip. Fortunately, my Spanish-speaking boyfriend will be. (Well, his Spanish is limited, but better than mine at least. My Spanish comes out in French.) In late December, we will
visit Havana, Varadero, and Trinidad. I will be covering my adventures for this
blog and a few others kind enough to let me guest write about my trip.
In the coming weeks, I will be writing
about what went down between the United States and Cuba, and why the United
States banned its citizens from going there back before I was born. I will share how to book a trip like mine (it
isn’t easy!) and what is legal/illegal when visiting Cuba these days. And of course, I will blog about the trip in detail after my return. (There's no wi-fi and iPhones don't work in Cuba - GASP!)
I hope
you will join along on this journey, because it’s going to be the trip of a
lifetime!
xoxo
