 My Amigos Time for Cubans and Americans to kiss and make up! What happened more than 50 years ago just let it go, why live in the past. You both have great countries with great people and it’s the people that you are both holding back and hurting. Dictating who they can and can’t see, that is NOT what the land of the free means. It’s always nice to meet Americans in Cuba, it’s too bad that they have to sneak in through Canada and anytime I fly over there from Cancun, Mexico most of the people on the flights are American. Cuba is only 90 miles away from Key West, Florida and they seem to be worlds apart. Cuba is still in the 50’s with their cars (NOT STUCK) and just starting to get caught up to the rest of the world in regards to selling properties to foreigners. Cubans are starting into the free market of starting and having their own businesses. What I like most is I feel so safe there, I could walk into a stranger’s home and give children and grownups candy on the streets without them thinking you’re out there to pick them up. Where else in the world can you do that? For the family I met from Florida last week that are Cuban-Americans I wanted to let you know that it may be cheaper for you to fly to Canada and take a charter/ all-inclusive to Cuba than it is flying from Miami and getting a hotel on your own. I went to the front desk to see how much they would charge me if I came in as a walk in and wow it was way too much. If you are interested just contact me back and I will help you on how to do it. Check out Florida to Cuba  My first day kite surfing Wow! I finely did the kite surfing course and it looks a lot easier than what it is. Its fun to watch how they kite surf but it takes lots of practice. The course that I took is seven hours long. You start your first three hours on the beach before you even get into the water and hope it is windy enough to board. I put in 5 hours so far and when I go back the owner Carlos will give me the other two hours plus extra hours. Carlos and I talked about working together on getting his business going in kite surfing and tours and we were chatting about giving tours around Cuba and staying in stranger’s homes (casa particular). I will get the people and Carlos and I will show people how great and safe Cuba really is. We stayed in a 4 1/2 star resort. My American friend Leah now living in Canada and running her own successful business and my friend Rex both wanted to relax at the resort more than going out on the streets and touring. That's o.k. with me as it was nice to just relax myself. We did rent a scooter one day and rode to Matanzas which is about an hour and a half ride and as soon as we got into town a guy named Carlos was there waiting for people like us (tourists). He likes people going to his town so that he can take them around and show it off proudly. He asked if he could take us around and after I took off my helmet he remembered me from a few times before that I have been there. He sits on the bottom of the hill (town) on his peddle bike to greet people and yes he hung out with us and we took him for lunch. He also took me to his friends place again to get cigars and we tipped him for his services, love to help these people out. He does have a young family with his wife and daughter.  My Favorite thing to do.. My favorite thing that I like to do in Cuba is to go into a city or small town and find the Centro park, they all have one, people (strangers) will approach me and ask if I need anything and if they can help. They may ask if I am looking for a place to stay, show me around their town or do I need cigars, looking for a wife (lol) or if I want to meet their sister. The thing I'm glad they don't ask if I'm looking for drugs (not there) I hope. What I like to do is take them out for dinner, lunch or just an ice cream, it does not matter if it is a girl a guy a couple even families may approach me or I may approach them, I just like to sit around and chat with them and love to see them smile, especially when I have candies or a gifts for the children and adults. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!  1949 Caillac taxi A note from Rex, What else can I say that hasn't already been said?!?! The resort was great! The price was FANTASTIC! Sun, sand and an unlimited amount of libations! I was truly a happy traveler. I was asked recently what the most memorable part of the trip was and after a little thought my reply was this; I drank with a priest, swam with fish I had never seen before, listened to song birds sing their melodies in the middle of the night and rented a scooter to drive to a town that made me feel like I was in a MOVIE! Thank you to Leah and Pete for a fantastic experience! We don’t have a choice of where we are born or who are parents are, but we should have a choice of whom we become. I am so lucky and fortunate that I don’t have a Government that will dictate of where I can go and who I can see in my world. Pete www.travelcheapwithpete.com b.c.c. all my Cuban and American friends c.c. Fidel & Raul Castro c.c. Barack Obama I received this email seven months later, is this really coming from President Obama? Dear Peter: Thank you for sharing your perspective on American foreign policy towards Cuba. I appreciate hearing from you. The promotion of democracy and human rights in Cuba is in our national interest and is a key component of our Nation’s foreign policy. Measures that decrease dependency of the Cuban people on the Castro regime and promote contacts between Cuban Americans and their relatives in Cuba are means to encourage positive change in Cuba. My Administration has taken steps to reach out to the Cuban people. Cuban Americans should be able to visit and assist loved ones in Cuba, and that is why I have eased restrictions on family visits and remittances. Cuban-American visitors are our country’s best ambassadors for promoting freedom in Cuba. To increase interaction and the flow of information directly to the Cuban people, I have authorized opening telecommunications links between Cuba and the United States and allowing for the export of donated personal communications devices. We have also helped the Cuban people by expanding the list of humanitarian items that Americans can send to Cuba, as well asexpanding the scope of eligible gift parcel donors and donees. I believe these initiatives benefit our Nation and help support the Cuban people’s desire to determine freely their country’s future. For more information on this and other important policy issues, I encourage you to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Foreign-Policy. Again, thank you for writing. Sincerely, Barack Obama From my blog on 2/14/2013 Time for Cubans and Americans to kiss and make up! This Week at the White House Five Years After Lehman: Taking Stock of Where We Are § Republicans in Congress Are Playing Reckless Political Games with our Economy § Weekly Address: Congress Must Act Now to Pass a Budget and Raise the Debt Ceiling § West Wing Week 9/20/2013: Every Moment of Every Day § Photo of the Day
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