| John and Mary Stachnik in Hemingway's corner of Havana's La Floridita bar with his bronze likeness behind us. Hard to see but the picture behind us is the only photo of Hemingway and Fidel Castro together. In the other photo, note Hemingway and his wife, Mary, in the same corner, along with Spencer Tracy. |
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– M is for Mary, M is for Mayflower, M is for Mimi... |
January,
2015 |
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Change......the process of doing something different |
Everyone talks about embracing change. You read every business magazine and there is always an article about change. Those people who can adapt to change always will survive and thrive.
I had the opportunity last June to visit Cuba and scout out our upcoming Cuba program, a People to People experience. Previously, Mayflower acquired a license from the Treasury Departments' Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to operate tours within Cuba, and as you can imagine, this was quite a process. We were told what we could do and what we should not do out on tour with our travelers. This was a big thing.
John, my husband and business partner, wanted to go to Cuba especially to visit Ernest Hemingway's home and walk through his life in Cuba. When we were in Havana, we were told we could not publish visits to his home or the infamous bar, La Floridita. I still do not know why to this day this was so, yet we did what we were told. Of course, while we were in Havana, we went to the bar and spent time at his home.
Change... now, there is no need to acquire a license from OFAC to travel to Cuba. This much we are sure of. As much as everyone wants to travel to Cuba, change does not happen overnight. Major changes take time. The switch has been turned on yet the power to ignite travel to Cuba needs to amp up. |
| This much I know |
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You do need a visa. |
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Chartered air only is available at this time, and we do not know when scheduled service will be available. We talked with a major airline last week, and they are not saying much about schedules yet, or whether they will even do it. |
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U.S. banks and credit cards companies can be used, yet not now - MasterCard said they can be used after March 1 of this year, but things move slowly in Cuba. |
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You can bring back up to $100 in tobacco (cigars) and/or alcohol (rum) among your allowance of $400 in purchases. |
This much I don't know
How is this going to work after so many years of general tourism being forbidden by a half-century-year-old embargo? My opinion - very slowly and very painfully.
There is just not enough infrastructure to handle the demand to Cuba. The hotels and food are very limited yet the Cuban hearts are wide open. I am sure glad I saw Cuba before it changes. I love and admire the Cubans' ability to adapt. 66,000 antique cars are major transportation and they keep those cars going with sheer ingenuity.
Our first Mayflower Tour People to People Experience departs February 22 and won't that be something...seeing Cuba before it changes! |
Click here and Listen to John and Mary
– Cuba Experience
Click here for a complete itinerary of Mayflower Tours' 2015 Cuba Experience. |
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