First time to Cuba
Aug 5th 2007, 8:09 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
First time to Cuba
We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
refundable tickets.
heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
refundable tickets.
Aug 6th 2007, 2:14 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: First time to Cuba
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
> heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
> Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
> There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
> phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
>
> We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
> kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
> of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
> refundable tickets.
>
A few years ago, I would have told you to take lots of dollars....don't know
what that situation is now since Fidel cut that back.
Take stuff that seems mundane to us: aspirin and other OTC medications,
lotions, cremes, etc. Soap, shampoo. Women's makeup items. Clothes. Kitchen
items. Anything else we rely on to make life easier, they don't have (or
have only a little). Take old clothes that you can leave behind. You've
never seen such a resourceful people... Anything you can bring, they will
put to good use.
Sarah
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
> heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
> Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
> There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
> phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
>
> We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
> kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
> of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
> refundable tickets.
>
A few years ago, I would have told you to take lots of dollars....don't know
what that situation is now since Fidel cut that back.
Take stuff that seems mundane to us: aspirin and other OTC medications,
lotions, cremes, etc. Soap, shampoo. Women's makeup items. Clothes. Kitchen
items. Anything else we rely on to make life easier, they don't have (or
have only a little). Take old clothes that you can leave behind. You've
never seen such a resourceful people... Anything you can bring, they will
put to good use.
Sarah
Aug 6th 2007, 8:19 pm
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1
Re: First time to Cuba
You don't mention when you will be leaving, so it's hard to suggest
what to read. Fidel Castro's famous court speech HISTORY WILL
ABSOLVE ME is one good place to start, as is the graphic book
CUBA FOR BEGINNERS by the Mexican artist Rius (basically it's
a comic book with intelligent political and historical observations.
I operate a news group in Yahoo which has been active for seven
years. You might find that informative. It's good politics, culture,
music, and more than one point of view:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
Best wishes and good luck on the trip!
Walter Lippmann
================================================== ===
We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
refundable tickets.
what to read. Fidel Castro's famous court speech HISTORY WILL
ABSOLVE ME is one good place to start, as is the graphic book
CUBA FOR BEGINNERS by the Mexican artist Rius (basically it's
a comic book with intelligent political and historical observations.
I operate a news group in Yahoo which has been active for seven
years. You might find that informative. It's good politics, culture,
music, and more than one point of view:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
Best wishes and good luck on the trip!
Walter Lippmann
================================================== ===
Originally Posted by [email protected]
We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
refundable tickets.
Aug 6th 2007, 9:28 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: First time to Cuba
Euro is the currency now, so you'll find prices more expensive.
Now don't fret, Cuba isn't LA downtown at night !!
Careful though with your expensive watches...
"Sarah Banick" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le message de
news:[email protected]. ..
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] ups.com...
>> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
>> heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
>> Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
>> There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
>> phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
>>
>> We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
>> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
>> kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
>> of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
>> refundable tickets.
>>
>
> A few years ago, I would have told you to take lots of dollars....don't
> know what that situation is now since Fidel cut that back.
>
> Take stuff that seems mundane to us: aspirin and other OTC medications,
> lotions, cremes, etc. Soap, shampoo. Women's makeup items. Clothes.
> Kitchen items. Anything else we rely on to make life easier, they don't
> have (or have only a little). Take old clothes that you can leave behind.
> You've never seen such a resourceful people... Anything you can bring,
> they will put to good use.
>
> Sarah
>
Now don't fret, Cuba isn't LA downtown at night !!
Careful though with your expensive watches...
"Sarah Banick" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le message de
news:[email protected]. ..
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] ups.com...
>> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
>> heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
>> Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
>> There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
>> phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
>>
>> We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
>> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
>> kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
>> of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
>> refundable tickets.
>>
>
> A few years ago, I would have told you to take lots of dollars....don't
> know what that situation is now since Fidel cut that back.
>
> Take stuff that seems mundane to us: aspirin and other OTC medications,
> lotions, cremes, etc. Soap, shampoo. Women's makeup items. Clothes.
> Kitchen items. Anything else we rely on to make life easier, they don't
> have (or have only a little). Take old clothes that you can leave behind.
> You've never seen such a resourceful people... Anything you can bring,
> they will put to good use.
>
> Sarah
>
Aug 7th 2007, 6:17 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: First time to Cuba
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
> heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
> Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
> There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
> phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
>
> We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
> kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
> of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
> refundable tickets.
>
You'll need a taxi from Holguin airport to the Viazul bus stop.
($10) The bus is rarely full. You CAN get a taxi from the airport to
Santiago for $70-$80, about 2+ hours.
US credit cards will not be accepted there. Euros r ok.
Ive seen all kinds of currency conversions on the net, they all
seem to be way off. You can get CUC pesos at the airport.
The cash rate is 1GBP = 1.778CUC. (as of 4 weeks ago)
Customs don't like tourists taking some electrical equipment.
DVD's, laptops. Cellphone system in Santiago is GSM 900, so
Im not sure a US phone will work in Santiago ? Coverage is
good but there's no GPRS. Internet access in Santiago, slow
dial-up though, quite expensive too as the data flow is via
satellite.
Siboney,(10 miles), has a public beach, nice place. Watch your
trainers & shades though.
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
> heretofore unknown immediate family. Our journey will take us north to
> Canada for a flight to Holguin (HOG), then by bus to Santiago de Cuba.
> There are two of us, neither speaks Spanish more than a few choice
> phrases. This is a first time to Cuba for both of us.
>
> We have a thousand questions from where does the bus stop in Holguin,
> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts and how much of that
> kind of thing are we allowed to bring into Cuba? Any suggestions short
> of "don't go" would be most welcome, we've already bought non-
> refundable tickets.
>
You'll need a taxi from Holguin airport to the Viazul bus stop.
($10) The bus is rarely full. You CAN get a taxi from the airport to
Santiago for $70-$80, about 2+ hours.
US credit cards will not be accepted there. Euros r ok.
Ive seen all kinds of currency conversions on the net, they all
seem to be way off. You can get CUC pesos at the airport.
The cash rate is 1GBP = 1.778CUC. (as of 4 weeks ago)
Customs don't like tourists taking some electrical equipment.
DVD's, laptops. Cellphone system in Santiago is GSM 900, so
Im not sure a US phone will work in Santiago ? Coverage is
good but there's no GPRS. Internet access in Santiago, slow
dial-up though, quite expensive too as the data flow is via
satellite.
Siboney,(10 miles), has a public beach, nice place. Watch your
trainers & shades though.
Aug 10th 2007, 4:14 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: First time to Cuba
> We are traveling from Montana to Santiago de Cuba, licensed to visit
> heretofore unknown immediate family.......
> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts
When I asked the gift question, the gentleman in question indicated politely
that anything was appreciated, but singled out over the counter remedies for
things like headache and stomache problems. As he put it, hard to
appreciate a new shirt if you're not feeling well and have nothing to take
for it. He also said it was nice to have something to give a child on their
birthday, and mentioned good quality chocolate as an example.
> heretofore unknown immediate family.......
> to what is a good thing to take along as gifts
When I asked the gift question, the gentleman in question indicated politely
that anything was appreciated, but singled out over the counter remedies for
things like headache and stomache problems. As he put it, hard to
appreciate a new shirt if you're not feeling well and have nothing to take
for it. He also said it was nice to have something to give a child on their
birthday, and mentioned good quality chocolate as an example.
