Well, here is the Cuba trip! I hope you have some time to read this. Right now we are going to set aside a bit of money each money to go to Bonaire, I told my husband that is where I would like to go next. It will be worth it!

Our flight there was interesting, when we were over the Altantic cruising at 30,000 ft, the plane started to have trouble maintaining cabin pressure so we had to drop to 10,000 ft and find a place to land. Not fun. We did see whales in the ocean, which was neat. Anyway, the problems were fixed and we went on. We had no problems with customs and it was off on a 90min bus ride to the island.

When we got there, they had music and drinks and food waiting for us. We had no clue what to do (first time south), we found our villa and waited for our luggage to come. Once they came, we changed, walked to the beach and were awestruck by the colour of the water, just like the pictures, unbelievable and it did not look real. We got some beer (really good) and some more beer and then had the best bbq'd chicken ever! We hit the beach, snorkelled, rested and enjoyed beverages.
Dinner was buffet, and wow the choices! (We were feeling pretty good)! We had breakfast there too in the mornings!

Sunday was spent sunbathing, a little wogga , and after the beach we hit the pool bar and usually closed it. We went to the show that night and then the disco. Monday was very sluggish and was spent sleeping in the shade with lots of water.

We did some snorkeling off a reef (catamaran ride out) and we have lots of photos. Wow! The fish were beautiful. Alas, we did not do any diving. The hotel was not yet established for diving and offered it only Tues and Thurs. The hotel only took cash (we thought they would accept VISA - most do) and the nearest town was 90 min away. We tried to get some $ through reception but fell through. If we had the money, we would have had it for Thurs. But the winds were really bad, and so were the waves because of the wind, so therefore scuba was cancelled. Oh well, next time! What we saw snorkelling, we would have seen diving, only deeper.

The food was great but by the end of the week, we were full and sick of eating. Too much rich food! But Friday, we indulged in the food and beverages with another couple we met. We were dancing in the restaurant! Great fun! Getting up Sat morning for the flight was a little difficult.

Joel and I also participated in some activities - water polo and crazy games. We also played ping pong and fussball.

The people down there are amazing, friendly and always helpful. We left lots of clothes, make-up for the women and toiletries for them. WE tipped lots too (they do not have much down there). And they work alot! Their faces just brightened if you ask them about their children.

We bought our share of duty free $2.80 american for rum!

I did get burned, my foot was burned badly and will probably have some temporary scars. We I put sunscreen on, I missed a spot, and I paid for it.

I think if anyone from the USA would like to travel to Cuba, I think they require a special permit, I do not know. We also met someone who went to Bonaire and loved it! I hope this was OK!

Here are a couple of photos, I hope they are not too big when they come up. (not very good with cropping etc) Bluebeard even came for a visit!

Ooops, Sorry about that, I have some neat underwater shot that I will wait for my husband to play around with.

Hi Eileen,

Glad to hear you had a good time.

Tom

So Bluebeard followed you to Cuba! Intoxicating shot on the beach, Eileen! Yummy!

Let's face it.....nowhere in the Carribean is that bad! If you can't get to Bonaire, Cuba will do.
Thanks for the report,Eileen! margarite

Great Report. That's one place we have wanted to visit.

I SEE WHERE Y'ALL ARE FROM CANADA.
ARE AMERICANS ALLOWED TO GO TO CUBA YET????
I'VE READ WHERE US DIVERS WHO HAVE GONE TO CUBA, HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE GOV'T.

Can't go to Cuba yet. You still have to have a special permit/license from the US government to do it legally. Otherwise you risk a big fine.

To get around the permit you can go to Cancun or Cozumel then get to Cuba from there.

Thanks Everyone! I just read that citizens form the USA need a special permit to go to Cuba.

Theoretically you can get around the permit need by going elsewhere first (there are Canadian travel outfits that set up Cuba trips for US folks this way), but you're still liable for the fines if the US govt. learns you were in Cuba (like, if they find a Cuban passport stamp in your passport, for example).

Faith

U.S. immigration monitors common Cuban transit points (Bahamas in particular) for U.S. citizens traveling to/from Cuba. I wouldn't suggest taking the risk unless you have money set aside to pay the fines if you get caught.

Jake

I actually found a REEF certified gentleman who has a license from OFAC to conduct surveys in Cuba legally, you can even bring back $100.00 in cigars! The catch is the liveaboard sounds a bit spartan for my taste. Apparently they need a group of ten to do a land based REEF operation, but there is less diving that way. Anybody game? They say it's deductible.
Personally I wish a nice liveaboard would hook up with this guy or obtain the license from OFAC.
It seems that a liveaboard ought to be able to dive Cuba, staying within the law while diving the waters.

A friend of mine from Santa Barbara, Ca is an architect and he is lining up a trip to Cuba...says because of his field of expertise he can get the permit to go to Cuba...he loves to dive. I'm trying to talk him into going to Bonaire instead but he is being stubborn! LOL. CArole