Cuba is in the news now, and since so many people have asked me what it was like to travel to Cuba, I thought this journal could be a chance to share the experience Bob and I had in the past.
It was possible to travel to Cuba during the Obama administration, when, as long as you had a connection to a humanitarian or cultural organization, you could travel from the US to Cuba. Because Bob and I were very involved with historic Charleston preservation and its history and its architecture, we were able to travel to Cuba based upon our interests and involvement.
Today travel to Cuba would be unlikely as an American, as our government has just indicted 94-year-old Raul Castro in a conspiracy and murder charge, based on events in 1996. Given the extent of the embargo, and the current suffering in the country, it probably would be painful to be there.
But in 2013, Bob and I were able to spend ten days in Cuba. I am happy to remember the beauty and culture of the country, and the kindness of its people.
We arranged our travel with National Geographic Society. We had tried to travel in 2011 and 2012 but had been on waiting lists. Then in 2012 we received this message from National Geographic Expeditions:
Because you are someone who has expressed interest in traveling to Cuba with National Geographic Expeditions, we are thrilled to announce new dates for our popular program Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture. Join us on an extraordinary journey that focuses on immersive encounters with Cuba’s people, from the colorful neighborhoods of Havana to the colonial boulevards of Cienfuegos, and discover this fast-changing island nation through their eyes.