Just got back from sunny Cuba!

**Red Ketchup** · 04-22-2006, 03:55 PM

Just spent some time in Cayo Santa Maria (a sand bar island in north east Cuba) and I can only describe the place in one word.... WOW!

I've traveled a lot and good god those were the nicest beaches I have EVER seen! Snorkeling in the reefs was wicked awesome. Hotel resort was nice too, first time I've been in an "all inclusive" where the staff actually gives a darn about me.

You American who are forbidden to go there by your government really don't know what you're missing out on.

Mostly Canadian tourists and lots of Europeans too (I heard a lot of Italian and met folks from Spain, France, England and a ton of Scandinavians) and surprisingly south americans! (lots of Brazilians, Chileans and Venezualans)

I got a nice tan and had an awesome time, now I can't wait to go back!

Oh and you can't beat cuban rhum at $3 a litre!

Red
(with his "batteries" recharged!)

**QuieTSToRM33** · 04-22-2006, 03:57 PM

good to hear u had fun ....... but i wouldnt go to Cuba ...... personal preference ........... lots of other beautiful places in the Caribbean to choose from

**DamnYouMSN** · 04-22-2006, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Red Ketchup

Just spent some time in Cayo Santa Maria (a sand bar island in north east Cuba) and I can only describe the place in one word.... WOW!

I've traveled a lot and good god those were the nicest beaches I have EVER seen! Snorkeling in the reefs was wicked awesome. Hotel resort was nice too, first time I've been in an "all inclusive" where the staff actually gives a darn about me.

You American who are forbidden to go there by your government really don't know what you're missing out on.

Mostly Canadian tourists and lots of Europeans too (I heard a lot of Italian and met folks from Spain, France, England and a ton of Scandinavians) and surprisingly south americans! (lots of Brazilians, Chileans and Venezualans)

I got a nice tan and had an awesome time, now I can't wait to go back!

Oh and you can't beat cuban rhum at $3 a litre!

Red
(with his "batteries" recharged!)

they don't really give a shit about you....they just want your money. i'm pretty sure i know what i'm missing out on. good idea go give your money to that communist bastard

**DamnYouMSN** · 04-22-2006, 04:35 PM

http://www.therealcuba.com/two_cubas.htm

what a great country isn't it? these pictures aren't even exaggerating.

**Red Ketchup** · 04-22-2006, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by DamnYouMSN

they don't really give a shit about you....they just want your money.

Thats probably true, but at least they make the effort to act and work like they care, in most of the other carribean resorts I've been to they don't care and don't bother to hide it.

good idea go give your money to that communist bastard

As if cuba was any worse that any of the other carribean banana republics

... or America's latest best friend... China... you know the biggest communist dictatorship on the planet where all your money and jobs are going? Please... lets not go there... I see a pot calling a kettle black.

Red

**305GUY** · 04-22-2006, 04:49 PM

i never realized the tourist part of Cuba was THAT nice?!? thats crazy..

**Red Ketchup** · 04-22-2006, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by DamnYouMSN

what a great country isn't it? these pictures aren't even exaggerating.

Ok, now show me the same comparaisons for almost any other carribean country where tourists go... you won't see much difference.

How about in America, show me the pictures between the rich Miami areas and ghettos and slums... how about LA, Detroit, Philly?

Red

**~fuelforfire~** · 04-22-2006, 04:51 PM

Hey man that place is sweet eh, ive been there many times, hit me with a pm sometime man ill tell you about some of the shit that went on down there

**DamnYouMSN** · 04-22-2006, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Red Ketchup

Ok, now show me the same comparaisons for almost any other carribean country where tourists go... you won't see much difference.

How about in America, show me the pictures between the rich Miami areas and ghettos and slums... how about LA, Detroit, Philly?

Red

very true but those "ghetto" places IS everywhere in cuba. maybe i should'nt have taken it so personal and i apologize for that. but not many people know the truth about cuba.

**DamnYouMSN** · 04-22-2006, 04:56 PM

cuban people aren't even allowed to enter those tourist places.

**~fuelforfire~** · 04-22-2006, 04:57 PM

cuba isnt very different from any other country, when its nice its nice, when its bad its bad, thats about it.

**DamnYouMSN** · 04-22-2006, 04:57 PM

it's never nice unless you're a tourist

**~fuelforfire~** · 04-22-2006, 04:59 PM

its just cuz your american that you think that

**Red Ketchup** · 04-22-2006, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by DamnYouMSN

very true but those "ghetto" places IS everywhere in cuba. maybe i should'nt have taken it so personal and i apologize for that. but not many people know the truth about cuba.

Don't worry about it bro, I certainly do not agree with the regime in Cuba (just as I don't agree with the regime in many other communist countries or dictatorships around the planet).

I did see a bit of the country side as our airport was over an hour away from the resort, and it is indeed quite poor, but honestly I found it to be in a lot better shape than I expected (lets say I've seen a lot worse).

Another thing that surprised me a lot was that at the resort, the employees ate in the same restaurants and when off duty they drank and danced at the same clubs and parties as the tourists. I had never seen that before. Obviously non-employees were not allowed on the grounds of the resort (just like every other resort around the world), but the employees did use all the facilities including the gym and beach while off duty.

I did chat with an off duty employee on the beach and he openly admitted he wasn't too hot with the regime, but said things changed a lot in the last few years since tourism is the country's main business. With so much outside influence things are changing there.

Red

**Ufa** · 04-22-2006, 05:30 PM

I know Americans that went there. You have to go from a foreign destination. The loved it. There was a special on 20/20 looked nice.

There's been a political thing that started about the time of the
'Bay of Pigs'.

***BajanBastard*** · 04-22-2006, 06:06 PM

Glad to hear you had a good time.

Commie bastard

**Carlos_E** · 04-22-2006, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Red Ketchup

Just spent some time in Cayo Santa Maria (a sand bar island in north east Cuba) and I can only describe the place in one word.... WOW!

I've traveled a lot and good god those were the nicest beaches I have EVER seen! Snorkeling in the reefs was wicked awesome. Hotel resort was nice too, first time I've been in an "all inclusive" where the staff actually gives a darn about me.

You American who are forbidden to go there by your government really don't know what you're missing out on.

Mostly Canadian tourists and lots of Europeans too (I heard a lot of Italian and met folks from Spain, France, England and a ton of Scandinavians) and surprisingly south americans! (lots of Brazilians, Chileans and Venezualans)

I got a nice tan and had an awesome time, now I can't wait to go back!

Oh and you can't beat cuban rhum at $3 a litre!

Red
(with his "batteries" recharged!)

Damn. I can't believe everyone is hating on your vacation.

Glad you had a great time. I have a friend who goes there. He's an American doctor and he says he travels there for work. *Not true* He goes for the same reason you went. For the great beaches and he has a *thing* for Cubans.

Did you take picts?