Out With Fidel, In With Travel?

Cuba is one of my top-five dream destinations, and there's no denying that the off-limits mystique is part of the allure. That and the fact that, as the LA Times article shows, so many travel writers (including Pico Iyer, my favorite) have written so beautifully about the island. But I'll just cross my fingers that things change and wait until then to go; I suffer from this paranoia that I'd find myself in some stupid situation and everyone in America would just say, "told you so," and leave me there.

Two years ago, I did a church-related work trip in Cuba. It is the only way now, I believe, that an American can get an approved visa into the country. I was reminising on it today, as a friend is going tomorrow and I was able to send some presents down with her. Even more than the lovely scenery - tall palms, coral reefs, nostalgic cars - it was the people that impacted me. It is a country of intense contrasts - education vs. lack of freedom, incredible resources, but only for a select few. Tourist money versus money for residents. In the small towns where we were, you can't buy spaghetti noodles or new clothes with regular Cuban money, only with tourist money. Ration cards are available for food, but a single person is allowed 5 eggs per month. But, in spite of the lack I saw, the people embraced us and offered us their heart as well as their meager possessions. A woman I met gave me one of the three shirts she owned because I said it looked pretty. Our hosts fed us the best they could buy on the risky black market, while they insisted on eating rice and beans so we could eat as much as we wanted. I am forever humbled by the people I met in Cuba. I also can't say enough about the music. We were blown away by musicians playing instruments we would throw away here in the States. If I was a musician, I'd consider study in Cuba a MUST.