The End...

Watch the whole few minutes...you will be glad you did....
Cuba Linda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXcUvu7VSYo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Some Pre-Castro Cuban Facts...

Here's a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) report on Cuba circa 1957: "One feature of the Cuban social structure is a large middle class," it starts. "Cuban workers are more unionized (proportional to the population) than U.S. workers. The average wage for an 8-hour day in Cuba in 1957 is higher than for workers in Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany. Cuban labor receives 66.6 per cent of gross national income. In the U.S. the figure is 70 per cent, in Switzerland 64 per cent. 44 per cent of Cubans are covered by social legislation, a higher percentage than in the U.S."

In 1958 Cuba had a higher per-capita income than Austria and Japan. Cuban industrial workers had the eighth-highest wages in the world. In the 1950s Cuban stevedores earned more per hour than their counterparts in New Orleans and San Francisco. Cuba had established an eight-hour workday in 1933 – five years before FDR's New Dealers got around to it. Add to this a one-month paid vacation. The much-lauded (by liberals) social democracies of Western Europe didn't manage this till 30 years later.

Cuban women got three months of paid maternity leave. I repeat, this was in the 1930s. Cuba, a country 71 percent white in 1957, was completely desegregated 30 years before Rosa Parks was dragged off that Birmingham bus and handcuffed. In 1958 Cuba had more female college graduates per capita than the U.S.

Humberto Fontova is the author of "Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant," described as "absolutely devastating. An enlightening read you'll never forget" by David Limbaugh. David Horowitz says: "Humberto has performed a valuable service to the cause of decency and human freedom. Every American should read this book."

More things I missed....

Awesome Daiquiris at a great Bar....

The Gang...

NYC Key Chain Awards....

Here is the part of the trip where I give out NYC Key Chains to exceptional people.

Mari the amazing travel agent got the first Key Chain

Brian from England the second and third

Lesley the fourth.

Wish I brought more....

Shout Outs....

This is the time I give mentioned to those individual displaying those random acts of kindness you come across frequently when traveling. I know most of you will never read this but your generous spirit is not forgotten. You reaffirm my belief in people.


Marieasa or Mari as she sign her emails. Wonderful, gracious and helpful travel agent who book my entire trip. Got me into the Hotel Nacional when it was booked then when the cab did not pick me up at the airport gave me an immediately refund. Her partner agent delivered the money to the hotel.

Julian from Cubalinda travel agency who hooked me up with the room at The Nacional

Brain and his wife, Marie an interesting fun couple from England.

Lady from Business Center, Estella for helping with an impossible WiFi connection.

Kunt and Lesley wonderful people from Norway.

The staff at the National who are always patient with my limited Spanish and very helpful.

Miguel and Roberto my classic car drivers.

Some photos I missed...

My Last Taste of Cuba Linda....

We all met, where else? At the bar! After a few drinks, the placed filled up with people and music. Brian and Marie decided to just relax at the hotel, so that left me, Klunt and Lesley to go out. I mentioned this place given to me by Miguel my driver to eat dinner. We hopped in a cab to this restaurant that is a private home with swimming pool the extends onto the edge of the water and overlooks the sea. The waves crashing against the rocks and we ate our seafood dinners and a bottle of wine.

After dinner, we headed to El Floridita for some more drinks and live music. The place was less happening this evening then it was the other afternoon. At about 1am, we walked down about 8 blocks. Klunt began not feeling well and wanted to get a cab back to the hotel. Lesley and I continued down to Cafe Paris where we caught the band heating up the night with some great salsa music we hung out a couple of hours more then decided to call it a night. I did have to get up in a few hours to head to the airport. We said our good nights and I decided to hit the veranda area to get some coffee. At this point, I felt sleeping was useless so I downed a few cups of Cuban coffee, even fell asleep for a half-hour enjoying that cool evening breeze off the water...it was time to go to the room to shower, pack, pay my bill and make my way to the airport. Upstairs I packed my bag, shower and shaved, sat in the chair overlooking the water, and took a few moments to enjoy the memories of my few days in this city. Lost in my thoughts of Cuba linda, I put on my iPod and listen to Coltrane's "My Favorite Things