eqtworld: I would love to go down there and just relax on the beach with a thick Cuban in my mouth.

We know what you mean.

Embargo? Pshaw! American tourists will turn the place more capitalistic than a Disney World at spring break.

That TV Marti was a dumb and wasted effort, what they should have been doing was having a huge media blitz in America counting down to when tourists can visit, the great places to see and where to get drunk, subsidized the plane tickets. Then lifted the embargo.

They tried to send their prisoners over here, we should have retaliated with our tourists.

I would love to go there if for no other reason than to take loads of pictures of 1950's vintage automobiles.

If the Castro government ever does collapse, I wonder if they'll start giving back all the land they "nationalized"?

Americans "are all going to want to go to El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio at the same time and there won't be space," Kavulich said, referring to two ever-crowded watering holes made famous by writer Ernest Hemingway.

Ha ha. No. Most Americans will be wondering why there isn't a McDonald's and looking for golf courses.

I'm going there for Hymen Roth's 105th birthday party.

House of Tards: Americans "are all going to want to go to El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio at the same time and there won't be space," Kavulich said, referring to two ever-crowded watering holes made famous by writer Ernest Hemingway.

Ha ha. No. Most Americans will be wondering why there isn't a McDonald's and looking for golf courses.

I would have said "Wal-Mart and all you can eat buffets" (and pronounced the "t" while doing so), but good call.

eqtworld: I would love to go down there and just relax on the beach with a thick Cuban in my mouth.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Looks like the "Obvious" tag got trumped.

I bet all the Canadians and Europeans are pissed that they're going to lose a prime American-free vacation spot.

American tourists would do far more to change the structure of Cuban society than any embargo could possibly hope to achieve. Let's hope those crotchety old expats on Calle Ocho finally kick the bucket and we can find a more rational Cuban policy.

TheDumbBlonde: eqtworld: I would love to go down there and just relax on the beach with a thick Cuban in my mouth.

We know what you mean.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Yeah, I'm just dying to spend my vacation in a run-down communist shiathole. My life has been pretty empty since I missed traveling to Prague during the height of the Cold War, and I really want to experience the vacant stares of a populace as they serve me one variety of bread and meat per week.

Embrace, extend, extinguish? Also,

Cuba has about as many hotel rooms as Detroit.

Detroit is often used as a measure of many things. But for numbers of hotel rooms? Not so helpful.

subaudio: Looks like the "Obvious" tag got trumped.

I bet all the Canadians and Europeans are pissed that they're going to lose a prime American-free vacation spot.

As a Canadian, I came here to say this.

Get Off Our Cuba, Americans!

Well... you can bring some meat, seeing as the embargo makes meat rarer than a American who act rationally on vacation, but you can leave after!

I want to see Packards, Hudsons, Studebakers and 1951 Chevys...that is why I want to go to Cuba!!

Nooooo, that means you people are going to be there when I vacation. It was the one spot where I could be at peace without Americans.

/Just kidding folks, most of you are great
//There's an equal number of jerkwads from other countries visiting there

Bass. Fishing.

I hear it's phenomenal. I will go the first week I can.

Cuba is about to get a whole lot heavier. Here we come, mother farkers!

/stuffs Big Macs into a fanny pack
/does truffle shuffle

RAWRZ!!!11!!1!

Ostend Manifesto!

I've always thought that dropping the embargo and flooding them with goods would end the regime right quick.

I'd like to buy a vowel please Alex

subaudio: Looks like the "Obvious" tag got trumped.

I bet all the Canadians and Europeans are pissed that they're going to lose a prime American-free vacation spot.

BAW!

British tourists are widely known as the world's worst.

canadian eh: /Just kidding folks, most of you are great
//There's an equal number of jerkwads from other countries visiting there

You couldn't just insult us. You had to say, "just kidding." How polite of you. You really must be Canadian.

I am first in line for the Mandalay Bay Cuba.

Teafortwo: subaudio: Looks like the "Obvious" tag got trumped.

I bet all the Canadians and Europeans are pissed that they're going to lose a prime American-free vacation spot.

As a Canadian, I came here to say this.

Get Off Our Cuba, Americans!

Well... you can bring some meat, seeing as the embargo makes meat rarer than a American who act rationally on vacation, but you can leave after!

Tell you what canuck ...

you promise to remove all fellow Canadians from Florida (and take those damn New Yorkers with you), and we won't go to Cuba. The state of Florida only has its own tag because of tourist shenanigans (whoever told you Europeans and Canadians it's ok to wear a speedo in a gas station?) and typical rural southern behavior.

No more Disney for you.

thereadlines: Embrace, extend, extinguish? Also,

Cuba has about as many hotel rooms as Detroit.

Detroit is often used as a measure of many things. But for numbers of hotel rooms? Not so helpful.

I think it is used in calculus as "approaching zero."

At least for ones you wouldn't want to die in.


If only Hyman Roth got his way.

TheDumbBlonde: If the Castro government ever does collapse, I wonder if they'll start giving back all the land they "nationalized"?

Most of that land was stolen from someone else by the pre-Castro owners. How many thefts back shall we go? You should read up on Cuban history.

Sawatdee: I'd like to buy a vowel please Alex

A vowel you say?

But I hear Cuba has this horrible torture camp! It's true! It's in this place called Guantanamo Bay and they lock people up for years with no evidence, no trial, nothing! It just goes to show how EVIL socialism is. God bless America and sweet liberty.

Suede head: It's in this place called Guantanamo Bay



Got a problem with that, punk?

/need him on that wall etc

Suede head: But I hear Cuba has this horrible torture camp! It's true! It's in this place called Guantanamo Bay and they lock people up for years with no evidence, no trial, nothing! It just goes to show how EVIL socialism is. God bless America and sweet liberty.

God damn Bush for giving people a justifiable reason to feel bad for (probable) terrorists.

canadian eh: Nooooo, that means you people are going to be there when I vacation. It was the one spot where I could be at peace without Americans.

/Just kidding folks, most of you are great
//There's an equal number of jerkwads from other countries visiting there

Good luck with all the German tourists and their towel tactic .

Havana has quite the vibrant music scene apparently. Good cigars, cheap liquor and nice beaches will help brighten the communist pallor.

/lots of cool cars, too!

I've always wanted to go to Cuba. I am excited that it might become a reality! (legally)

My parents were there last week. I'd like to extend my apologies to the fine citizens of Cuba...

It's going to seem weird when one of these days Cuba is going to be the place to go to experience what freedom feels like.

Cuba would be a godsend for now broke american citizen who cannot afford the Bahamas.

American tourists would be a godsend to cubans who cannot afford anything.

This is, as you say, a win/win.

/Most americans will avoid Cuba until their hotels upgrade...

Credy: Teafortwo: subaudio: Looks like the "Obvious" tag got trumped.

I bet all the Canadians and Europeans are pissed that they're going to lose a prime American-free vacation spot.

As a Canadian, I came here to say this.

Get Off Our Cuba, Americans!

Well... you can bring some meat, seeing as the embargo makes meat rarer than a American who act rationally on vacation, but you can leave after!

Tell you what canuck ...

you promise to remove all fellow Canadians from Florida (and take those damn New Yorkers with you), and we won't go to Cuba. The state of Florida only has its own tag because of tourist shenanigans (whoever told you Europeans and Canadians it's ok to wear a speedo in a gas station?) and typical rural southern behavior.

No more Disney for you.

hehe, fair enough.

But don't you dare lie again! The State of Florida is more than capable of earning that title on it's own. (In fact, I don't think that I ever saw a story about tourists sporting the "Florida" tag.)

I'm sure the fake Cuban cigar industry is overjoyed at the prospect of selling thousands of boxes of knockoff Cohibas to overweight businessmen wanting to impress their friends.

PSA: An easy way to tell a fake Cuban from a real one is to look at the end cap. The vast majority of Cuban cigars have a three-layer cap, fake ones won't. Also, never buy Cohiba Especials, they're the most forged cigar there is because of its popularity. Real Especials are only made in limited quantities in Havana and run for $700US a box.

/The more you know

rob.d: Cuba would be a godsend for now broke american citizen who cannot afford the Bahamas.

American tourists would be a godsend to cubans who cannot afford anything.

This is, as you say, a win/win.

/Most americans will avoid Cuba until their hotels upgrade...

The cruise ships will start making stops there first. It won't be long before it looks like Cancun.

JerseyTim: I'm going there for Hymen Roth's 105th birthday party.

I'm going there to take a leak on this...



And, of course, mojitos on the beach at Varadero.

canadian eh: There's an equal number of jerkwads from other countries visiting there

Yeah, they're called the British.

/How do you say banana daiquiri?

Can someone explain something for me?

Americans DO visit Cuba, they just aren't allowed to travel directly from the USA. When they arrive, their passport "stamp" is on a separate piece of paper, which is easily discarded. I have known many people who have visited Cuba, and they tell me that American tourists are not uncommon. Many of them fly there through Toronto's Pearson Airport.

So here's what I need explained. Any flight over US territory must submit the passenger manifest to US authorities...even if the flight does not originate or terminate in the USA. For example, a flight from Toronto to Calgary will fly over Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as Minnesota and North Dakota. The passenger manifest will be submitted to DHS.

So, if it's illegal for Americans to visit Cuba, and there's some Americans on a flight from Toronto to Havana, and the US government knows it, why no prosecutions? After all, it's not like the USA doesn't have any experience at throwing people in jail.

Florida tourism officials are actually worried about this. They believe that once Cuba opens up for American tourists it will take some tourism business away from Florida. I'm sure it will, but perhaps it may bring some new business as well if the cruise lines start adding itineraries to Cuba out of FL ports. If it does pull a few Yankees' attention away from FL though that would be fine with me.

PJMurphy:
So, if it's illegal for Americans to visit Cuba, and there's some Americans on a flight from Toronto to Havana, and the US government knows it, why no prosecutions? After all, it's not like the USA doesn't have any experience at throwing people in jail.

It's not illegal to visit Cuba. It's illegal to spend any money in Cuba.

ghare: TheDumbBlonde: If the Castro government ever does collapse, I wonder if they'll start giving back all the land they "nationalized"?

Most of that land was stolen from someone else by the pre-Castro owners. How many thefts back shall we go? You should read up on Cuban history.


That rationale could be applied to just about anywhere in the world.

/Geolibertarianism, FTW!

There was nothing like hearing a loud, what I assume to be cuss session in response to this, coming from a Cuban American who gained his U.S. citizenship after running with his family in fear for his and their lives from Castro.

Somehow I don't think he agrees that Americans should acknowledge that Cuba exists

The fastest thing to dissolve Communism would be a free and open border policy. Bullshiat American neoliberalism and its irrational fear of Communism produces garbage like Helms-Burton, which only further serves the ends of Castro, by giving him something to frighten his people with. I don't hate Cuba, but loathe Castro's totalitarian policies....don't get me started on China.

If any US president said "Fine, we don't care anymore. You're a non-entity insofar as a threat to us, so we're going to allow tourists to pour into your sunny shores just like they did before 1959.", they'd be done within a decade.

/thankfully, got in before the Americans did. Hoping to get back before they arrive too...

//plus, a few family trips to florida has gifted me with the knowledge that you people would hate cuba and complain the shiat about everything and anything; it's a 2nd world country, thanks to american foreign policy, so that's why the water smells funny and the food isn't stellar.

Cuba, a good reason to add a star to our flag.

The state of things to come.

krupintupple: The fastest thing to dissolve Communism would be a free and open border policy. Bullshiat American neoliberalism and its irrational fear of Communism produces garbage like Helms-Burton, which only further serves the ends of Castro, by giving him something to frighten his people with. I don't hate Cuba, but loathe Castro's totalitarian policies....don't get me started on China.

If any US president said "Fine, we don't care anymore. You're a non-entity insofar as a threat to us, so we're going to allow tourists to pour into your sunny shores just like they did before 1959.", they'd be done within a decade.

/thankfully, got in before the Americans did. Hoping to get back before they arrive too...

//plus, a few family trips to florida has gifted me with the knowledge that you people would hate cuba and complain the shiat about everything and anything; it's a 2nd world country, thanks to american foreign policy, so that's why the water smells funny and the food isn't stellar.

So 99% of the world has open borders and free trade with Cuba, but it's the US that makes Cuba a shiathole, not to mention the effects a prosperous Cuba would have on the cheap Canadians looking for underage prostitutes or British women catching AIDS.