IS A TRIP TO CUBA IN YOUR FUTURE?

Have you ever wondered whether you would be able to travel to Cuba in your lifetime?  Or why you might want to?

Cuba has been a forbidden destination for most U.S. Citizens since 1961, although Canadians, Western Europeans and other nationalities have been allowed to visit Cuba in controlled tourist areas beginning in 1997 as a way to help the Cuban economy after Russian aid declined.

During the past 10 years, a very limited number of American tour companies have been permitted to take U.S. citizens on restricted cultural exchange visits to Cuba.  But, finally in 2012, more American tourists can enter through this previously closed door.  More tour companies are being allowed to take small groups of cultural visitors, not just study groups, to Cuba.  The itineraries are still controlled, but there is also free time where visitors are permitted to walk around on their own and talk with the Cubans.

Unless you lived through the intense cold war drama in 1962, when Russia placed nuclear missiles in Cuba and aimed them at the United States, it is hard to imagine that we were so close to World War III.  It was a frightening time, as the stand-off seemed destined for global catastrophe.

When Fidel Castro turned Cuba into his vision of Communism, he was able to maintain his economy and control with massive amounts of aid from the Soviet Union until it fell apart and could no longer support Cuba.

What would make this an inviting place to visit?  From most reports, Cuba is still largely undeveloped for large scale tourism, as we see in the rest of the Caribbean.  This unspoiled, non-commercialized atmosphere might be exactly why you would want to visit there now before massive change makes it no longer unique in our hemisphere.

Since only small groups are permitted, there will not be hordes of American visitors this year.  I must admit that I am excited and intrigued about seeing a country so geographically close to us which has been forbidden for so long and can hardly wait to go there at the end of September.

As the door to Cuba is slowly opening, do you want to see inside?  If you are interested in learning more about how you can visit Cuba, please click here.

I would love to hear your comments about traveling to Cuba.