Hola Breeps!
Well, I’m just back from a whirlwind trip to Cuba, which we took with the website coolhunting.com and Global Gallop (The latter is a tour company I highly recommend ran by Batia Plotch, who knows Cuba like the back of her hand and her great local tour guide Alexis, who knows everybody.
As most of you probably know, the Brits among us (most of you) can legally go into Cuba as tourists. However even though the embargo has been lifted, the Americans have to still go through the right channels (like people to people exchanges) and apply for a visa to travel. And most of the trip must be educational and cultural. Although I see this probably changing fairly soon, as Obama has already taken Cuba off of the State Department’s terrorist list.
To be honest this is the best way to do it anyway. I learned so much, from the history, the education and politics. We were very fortunate to meet with Cuba’s president Raul Castro’s daughter, Mariela Castro Espin, who is an advocate for LGBT rights. We also enjoyed a private dinner with Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada who is a Cuban statesman. He served as Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) for nearly 30 years and later served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1993. He’s very happy the embargo has been lifted, but doesn’t want America to think they can come in and start telling the how to run their country. (fair enough!)
We were very lucky to meet with tons of artists and came home with quite the collection and because of the lifting of the embargo, we are probably some of the first people allowed to bring cigars that we bought at the factory legally back into the states.
Speaking of cigars, a sign of celebration. I am happy to share news of my engagement. Cuba even though a little run down, is still a world class city of art, culture, music and romance! 😉
I highly recommend it visiting NOW before it becomes a tourist’s nightmare, best of all you can take a direct flight out of Miami.
This week at our British Breakfast Club Air New Zealand continued to spoil us by giving all sorts of goodies – congrats to all the winners. Make sure you follow us on twitter @britsinla and join our Facebook group www.facebook.com/britslovela to join in all the fun and great chances to win.
We also bumped into one of Britain’s national treasures, comedienne Catherine Tate at the Dancing with Films festival screening of her new film SuperBob in West Hollywood. Thanks to Nigel Daly for the free screening info. Look forward to seeing you at some of our upcoming events see below for all details.
Hasta La Vista!
Craig
Mariela Castro Espín is the director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education in Havana and an activist for LGBT rights in Cuba
