Cuba?

[sailor50]

Havana is very, very dirty - but beautiful at the same time. The cars burn off whatever fuel they can, which isn't fuel like we know it.

The architecture has European influence with a bit of old Roman decay. The country has been lost in time - which makes it so intriguing.

They put a date stamp on your passport - which doesn't mean anything - and they put a piece of paper inside which has your arrival and departure date for them. They expect you to hold that while you are visiting.

Dollars are welcome, be sure to check for reverse polarity on the docks, carry lots of electrical tape, tools, and your own water.

[ottos]

Here are a couple of articles I've collected. Judge for yourself. To be fair I've also heard other people talk about having a wonderful time there. But I don't think any US charter operation will have Cuba in their cruising grounds for some time to come.

The two faces of Cuba

Self-Suffiency

[killarney_sailor]

There is no way that a US-based charter company would let you take your boat there. My boat is Canadian-registered but has insurance from an American company. If I wanted to go to Cuba I would have to get temporary insurance from a European company. The bureaucracy is also a big problem - you need to clear and out of every port and anchorage you go to. Also they now require you to buy health insurance when you arrive - apparently visitors were using their fine healthcare system too much. We were going to visit Cuba on our way to Panama this fall but it was just too much of a hassle.

[kingcan]

Originally Posted by QuickMick

oh, you know why the Canadians do it Do&&ie style? So they can both watch the hockey game.... har t har
have a great trip, good luck

QuickMick, thanks for the reply.
Here's one for you:
Q; Do you know why American beer is like making love in a canoe?
A: It's f**ng close to water.

[kingcan]

Hi all. Thanks for the replies. We've both been to Cuba before: me as tourist, my OH as a backpacker. We know what the country is like but the info you've provided regarding entry issues on a boat as well as the difficulties of getting help if you're in trouble have been invaluable. I've made up our minds... now I just have to tell the other half that.

chall03 and ottos : awesome articles. Firsthand accounts are my fav. Thanks.