The best one to ask is Taucher-Tom on this forum. He doesn't login every day, but it is him that has contact with the Cubans. He is from Germany, and also has no travel restrictions.Originally Posted by JTB
Although I have not dove in Cuba I thought I might ring in as a Canadian that has travelled there. My dive club is actualy there diving right now, so I might have more dive info in a few days when they return. I spent several weeks travelling Cuba and I have to say I foudn the country very beautiful, the people very nice, and it was very safe. I flew direct from Toronto to Havanna, and was surprised at the number of American's on the flight. I later learned that Air Canada runs the Toronto-Havana flight daily virtualy supported by American travellers. Canadians tend to fly charter companies into the resort towns. I sat with an American on the flight that frequented Cuba and said he really liked the place. I ran into American's while I was there travelling and they had no problems at all. If you try and change US dollars you will get hit hard because Cuba of course can't sell the US$ back to the US banks. My suggestion would be to by Canadian dollars ( not just because I am Canadian) because the US and CAN$ are about par, and you can switch CAN$ pretty easily in Cuba. Customs in Cuba will not stamp your passport, I had to beg them to stamp mine and explain that I was Canadian and that it was OK for me that I would not get in trouble, however being I cross in the US a lot a have gotten a few looks and questions from US Customs regarding my Cuba stamp when they notice it.
As I say, Cuba is a really nice country, there is no panhandling, bums, people bothering you. In fact I had one incident were an old man tried to take and empty beer can off my table at a patio and the police grabbed him and scurried him off while apologizing to me that he dare bother me. They are very protective of tourists.
They have an entirely separate system for tourists, you can travel by bus cheap but very nice buses generaly. I would not drive there myself. As mentioned you can see all the old American cars which is very cool. In front of the capital in Havana they line up the old cars, generaly those that work in the government have the nice ones that are all done up, most the other ones are in pretty rough shape.
The authentic Cuban cigars are very good, and the rum as well is quite tasty, and they go together very very well.
When I was there I stayed in famlies homes, Casa Particularies ( I can't spell very well) it was a great system, only about 25-40$ a night and they treat you like a king and for a few dollars more the woman of the house or servant will cook you all meals and pack you a lunch if you need it for the day.
I personally really like Cuba, and enjoy going back, and hope to go back soon to travel some more, but for me it is very common, I know several people that go throughout the winter here. There is so much history there and I enjoyed travelling and seeing it and learning, and I know some of this is very negative for my US friends, but I was able to see the areas that the Cuban revolution was big, I went to Bay of Pigs, I through the areas where the missle sites were found as part of the missle crisis. For me this was very interesting as I am very interested in cold war era history.
Along with that is of course all the old Spanish history, and some of the small towns I stayed in were amazing with the old colonial buildings. The guys that I know that are diving there were talking about several wrecks, old wooden sailing ships that are sunk that can be dove, and apparently there is quite a bit left over from the pirating that was extensive there.
As for caves, I don't know, but based on the land scape I am sure there must be lots.
Anyhow I will not ramble on about it, and please understand I am just telling my experience, I am not attempting to advocate for anyone to break the law to travel there, that is a personal choice. I am just giving my experience having been there.
So I guess your Canadian passport wasn't enough of a clue?
Whoever said money can't buy love never bought a puppy.
Hey Sludge, ya leaving the country they didn't even look at our passports overly, more concerned with collecting the exit tax, and I almost got the feeling if you were english speaking and not leaving from a resort they assumed you were American. I acutaly did not run into any other Canadian's while I was there. I guess it is driven into them pretty hard do not stamp passports to attempt to protect the American's that travel there.
I have two US passports, it's legal to have at least two.
Ditto but it's still not legal to go without state department permission unless you can glom onto some research group like these folks. Or a religious org... maybe cave diving can be considered a religion?
I like this idea! Tim you could be our cave cult leader. Forrest could be the Idol we worship. Now all we have to do is think of a name.
If Ron Hubbard did it, why not. At least cave diving makes sense.I like this idea! Tim you could be our cave cult leader. Forrest could be the Idol we worship. Now all we have to do is think of a name.
The Karst Church of Aquatic Solace....
Alasdair
Just if you had a passport stamped by Cuba, you don't use that one to get back into the US is all.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks