Cuba this winter !!!

[Quad18star]

I can't wait to be laying on the sunny beaches of Cuba in a few months . :devil: We're going to be leaving either on February 14th or 15th with another 4 couples so far for 7 nights to Varadaro Cuba .

2 of my friends are getting married the weekend before and myself and the girlfriend are standing in their wedding , so they asked us to join them on the trip along with 2 other friends of ours and some of the brides family . I'm hoping it'll be a good time ( free booze and hot sun SHOULD be a good time :blah: ).

Anyone else planning any hot sun getaways for the winter months?

I'm kind of nervous since I've never been in a large plane before , I'm even more nervous about going through airport security with a rod in my leg . :grr: I KNOW I'm gunna set off the metal detectors. :ermm:

[troutman561]

Cuba.. hmm interesting lol... say helloe to castro for me....I dont think Americans are allowed to vacation there??? I may be wrong tho...

[Cr85rRida]

he is candian lol. idk if it has any diffrence though, have fun:bandit:

[Aceman]

I didn't realize Cuba was much of a tourist destination?? Maybe bring some blowup rafts to sell to the locals at a huge markup.:p

As for your leg, a lot of people are sporting rods and screws and going through airports. Your best bet is probably to wear shorts so when you set off the detectors and they wand you they'll clearly see it's a metal object in your leg. Otherwise, you might have to take your pants off. Shorts would just be easier and less embarrassing.

[250R-Dee]

I wish I could visit Cuba! I have seen pics of the resorts and they are gorgeous.

Wear loose clothing when you go through the airports. A few years back I had a funny experience in a Japanese airport after returning from the US and Mexico. I was recovering from my second knee surgery so I had an obvious limp that was made worse by the 12 hour plane ride. I was thinking they had found the stash of Tequila in my luggage (5 bottles of 10+ year Anejos, (5) Blancos that couldn't be bought outside of mexico plus a couple bottles of flavored Tequila for the people who didn't like the sting of "normal" Tequila). As it turns out the head customs inspector thought my funny walk was not natural so customs pulled me in for a "close inspection". I was wearing a baggy pair of Guess overalls so I rolled up my pants leg and showed the inspector my scars and pulled my Dunjoy knee brace out of it's carry bag just to re-inforce the issue. The look in his eyes told me he felt really bad so I showed him the scars on the other knee too. He was so embarrassed he ordered the customs crew to stpod the search , to my relief, and to escort us (me and my girl) to the Star Alliance VIP lounge. That was awesome!!

[Ralph]

You have nothing to worry about. Even if you set it off they will just run the thing by ur leg and the scars will tell the story.

And Chances are you're more likely to get killed on the way to the airport:D

[ZeroLogic]

Bring me back a couple cigars mayn.

[Quad18star]

250R-Dee ..... I'll make sure to snap a couple pictures .... from what I've been told and read , Varadaro Cuba has some of the nicest, if not the nicest beaches in the world . It's mostly all the nice white beach sands according to everything I've read .

I plan on bringing back as many cigars and bottles of rum that I am legally able to .:devil:

I'm going to see if my doctor can issue me a card stating that I have metal in my leg . The last thing I want is a strip down search at the airport . :(

[Mean250r]

america doesnt have any flights goin to cuba. i dont think we are allowed to go

I went to cancun and i became friends with one of the locals, he ships me cuban cigars. :bandit:

[Dinner]

I loved Cuba, went to Cayo Coco and Manzillo. North side(Cayo Coco) had the best beach and water i have been to.(I have been to Playa Del Carmen Mexico, Caya Coco Cuba, Manzillo Cuba, and Puetro Plata Dominican Republic.) I'm sure you will have a very good time!

[SGA]

Before Castro took over during the revolution and sided with the russians, Cuba was a very popular vacation spot for americans.



From www.onwar.com
Heres how it went:

Castro's Revolution in Cuba 1956-1959
[also The Cuban Revolution...]

A general amnesty for political prisoners in May 1955 freed rebel leader Fidel Castro (1926-) and his followers from prison in Cuba; they promptly left for Mexico to reorganize their plans to overthow the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar (1901-73), whose regime was marked by blatant corruption, police oppression, and embezzlement. In 1956, Castro and 81 followers returned to eastern Cuba in a yacht loaded with arms and ammunition; many of these "invaders" were slain or captured by Batista's forces (Castro was erroneously presumed dead), but the rest found refuge in the rugged Sierra Maestra mountain range in Oriente province. For the next two years Castro's rebels carried out a successful guerrilla campaign from their mountain stronghold, from which neither the army nor the police could dislodge them. Castro's ranks grew to several hundred as sympathizers joined the guerrilla bands, which intermittently raided military installations and destroyed property. In 1957, the rebels kidnapped 10 American civilians and 28 sailors, but released them without harm when the US government and press angrily protested. Opposition to Batista's tyranny increased throughout Cuba, and admiration for the bearded revolutionaries who defied him grew apace. After calling for "total war" against Batista's regime, Castro took the offensive and moved out of the mountains in the fall of 1958. The rebels captured Santa Clara, the capital of Las Villas province, on December 31, 1958. Two day s before, Major Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-67), Castro's comrade-in-arms, had gained a coup by capturing an armored train loaded with weapons at Santa Clara. Realizing that all support for his government had eroded, Batista fled with his family to the Dominican Republic on January 1, 1959, taking the loot he had accumulated and leaving the Cuban government in the hands of a three-man military junta. Two days later Castro led the first of his motley columns into Havana, Cuba's capital, where they were hailed enthusiastically by the people. The army made no attempt to stop the rebel forces; indeed, most of the military was on their side and welcomed them. A provisional government was quickly formed with Castro as premier; gradually Cuba was transformed into a communist state supported by the Soviet Union.

[ilpadrino113]

Americans can go to cuba they just can't go there from america. no planes or boats leave from america to go to cuba. I know people that went up to canada and flew down. The country is beutiful and some of the best beeches in he world. I know you'll have fun.