NFR Cuba or New Orleans

[Southcoastffc]

Thanks everyone - the only real answer is to get to both at some stage, but I'll sift through what's been said and make a decision.  082.gif

[nose]

new orleans is brilliant, absolute gas but max stay probably 4 nights.
going to cuba this year before the USA tourists arrive.... expecting great things however I too need help.

I am trying to fly from havana to either Fort Lauderdale or Miami and there are flights AND according to the US Dept of Treasury rules I am approved to fly but the airlines have a form that needs to be completed that disqualifies me because they do not understand their own government rules.... anyone else experienced this and knows how to make it work without either lying (which I will not do) or flying via a third nation which seems insane.

[ScalleysDad]

As has been stated non government controlled Cuba is something else but at the same time going around the state controlled cigar outlets or a 'collective' farm is an experience. We did have to take some trips on a tourist bus which made me a bit uneasy, unnecessarily so really, as there we were in air conditioned luxury driving past packed, and I mean packed, artic truck trailers doubling up as buses and groups of workers and school kids walking miles to and from work or school.
wandering through a field of rusting bulldozers with the old communist hammer and sickle emblem just showing was strange but that was trumped by a line of disintegrating Mig fighters. Some of the town squares tell a story and of course montages of Castro and Guevara dominated walls and the sides of buildings. We stayed in place where the taxi drivers turned up later as the band and later still as the bar staff and even later still as the dance troupe. Mental.
Landscape is mostly gorgeous and the people we met were fabulous but there is an under current. The older generation wax lyrical about the revolution even though they are barely getting by but the younger generation hanker for change and are very keen to learn, talk about where you have come from and tell their own stories. If its not tourism as a career they want to be Doctors. English is quite wildly spoken except out in the sticks but going back to the line of Migs I was joined by a couple of old guys and we got along just by pointing at or kicking something and calling it a bearing housing or hose. Engineering like botany is an international language.
Havanna is very nice for half a day. I say that as if you look too deep it is quite sad and it will literally fall down one day. Worth seeing before Disney get hold of it though or the other main threat seems to be hordes of Canadian and Japanese tourists who seem to operate under a totally different set of rules. I quite liked Holguin, Vinales and Santiago de Cuba but again it might be worth grabbing the essence of the place, having a beer and moving on. I can't remember how many times I had pork and black beans but it is what it is. One constant was the sea was always flipping cold. 

That's very interesting - may I ask how long ago you were there and did you hire a car and 'freewheel' as much as you were able to?  Your phrase 'essence of the place' is what I'm after in terms of Cuba as a whole. I'm not interested in luxury hotels, gated developments, white sand and blue seas - i want to have a beer with the locals, eat pork and beans and catch some music.

Blimey there's a question. It was pre Uni for the kids so eight years ago tops. I would add Cuba is not always easy. One car hire place actually dissuaded us from hiring a car to cover longer distances and a hotel franchise insisted we stuck to the main roads otherwise our insurance was void. An organised coach tour is not everybodies cup of tea but Holguin to Santiago with a couple of stop overs, a paddle in the sea, a few beers and an overnighter was pretty good all round.
Top tip. Have some toilet paper in your back pocket.

[Southcoastffc]

Top tip. Have some toilet paper in your back pocket.

Just like the Cottage then!    And thanks again.

[Hersham Henry]

If you go to New Orleans go for the Mardi Gras. In the year of the Boxing Day flooding the carnival procession took 7 hours to pass. However most Jazz clubs converted to Blues at that time to bring in more punters.

Cuba is great but recommend combining it with Bermuda.

[stevehawkinslidingtackle]

As has been stated non government controlled Cuba is something else but at the same time going around the state controlled cigar outlets or a 'collective' farm is an experience. We did have to take some trips on a tourist bus which made me a bit uneasy, unnecessarily so really, as there we were in air conditioned luxury driving past packed, and I mean packed, artic truck trailers doubling up as buses and groups of workers and school kids walking miles to and from work or school.
wandering through a field of rusting bulldozers with the old communist hammer and sickle emblem just showing was strange but that was trumped by a line of disintegrating Mig fighters. Some of the town squares tell a story and of course montages of Castro and Guevara dominated walls and the sides of buildings. We stayed in place where the taxi drivers turned up later as the band and later still as the bar staff and even later still as the dance troupe. Mental.
Landscape is mostly gorgeous and the people we met were fabulous but there is an under current. The older generation wax lyrical about the revolution even though they are barely getting by but the younger generation hanker for change and are very keen to learn, talk about where you have come from and tell their own stories. If its not tourism as a career they want to be Doctors. English is quite wildly spoken except out in the sticks but going back to the line of Migs I was joined by a couple of old guys and we got along just by pointing at or kicking something and calling it a bearing housing or hose. Engineering like botany is an international language.
Havanna is very nice for half a day. I say that as if you look too deep it is quite sad and it will literally fall down one day. Worth seeing before Disney get hold of it though or the other main threat seems to be hordes of Canadian and Japanese tourists who seem to operate under a totally different set of rules. I quite liked Holguin, Vinales and Santiago de Cuba but again it might be worth grabbing the essence of the place, having a beer and moving on. I can't remember how many times I had pork and black beans but it is what it is. One constant was the sea was always flipping cold.

I worked in Cuba for a few years and this is an excellent review. I really felt quite sorry for some of the younger generation who wanted to better themselves. We had 2 locals working for us for peanuts who were 2 of the most skilled and competent workers we had come across for a long time. We lined them up jobs in the North Sea to earn some  life changing money, but the local government came in at the last minute and refused them an exit.  Some people here think the place will be spoilt soon. That may be the case for the tourist wanting to soak up some history and nostalga on holiday, but for the young local it could be a long overdue end to a mind boggling national wage of $1 a day.

[The Equalizer]

Mojitos, Cohibas and the Buena Vista Social Club! Got to be Cuba.

[Logicalman]

Only done New Orleans, and as said, Mardi Gras is the time to visit.

Problem is, you really need a car in the States to get the most, unless you're on some kind of package holiday with visits/transport  included, as you could then travel north into the Mississippi Delta and visit one of the greatest Blues clubs in the world, Ground Zero in Clarksdale, by the Blues Museum, something not be missed by music enthusiasts. Loved the visit, the music and the food. On the way there/back you could stop in at Vicksburg, one of the best preserved Civil War battle sites t/w an original ironclad warships - USS Cairo.

[stevehawkinslidingtackle]

As has been stated non government controlled Cuba is something else but at the same time going around the state controlled cigar outlets or a 'collective' farm is an experience. We did have to take some trips on a tourist bus which made me a bit uneasy, unnecessarily so really, as there we were in air conditioned luxury driving past packed, and I mean packed, artic truck trailers doubling up as buses and groups of workers and school kids walking miles to and from work or school.
wandering through a field of rusting bulldozers with the old communist hammer and sickle emblem just showing was strange but that was trumped by a line of disintegrating Mig fighters. Some of the town squares tell a story and of course montages of Castro and Guevara dominated walls and the sides of buildings. We stayed in place where the taxi drivers turned up later as the band and later still as the bar staff and even later still as the dance troupe. Mental.
Landscape is mostly gorgeous and the people we met were fabulous but there is an under current. The older generation wax lyrical about the revolution even though they are barely getting by but the younger generation hanker for change and are very keen to learn, talk about where you have come from and tell their own stories. If its not tourism as a career they want to be Doctors. English is quite wildly spoken except out in the sticks but going back to the line of Migs I was joined by a couple of old guys and we got along just by pointing at or kicking something and calling it a bearing housing or hose. Engineering like botany is an international language.
Havanna is very nice for half a day. I say that as if you look too deep it is quite sad and it will literally fall down one day. Worth seeing before Disney get hold of it though or the other main threat seems to be hordes of Canadian and Japanese tourists who seem to operate under a totally different set of rules. I quite liked Holguin, Vinales and Santiago de Cuba but again it might be worth grabbing the essence of the place, having a beer and moving on. I can't remember how many times I had pork and black beans but it is what it is. One constant was the sea was always flipping cold.

I worked in Cuba for a few years and this is an excellent review. I really felt quite sorry for some of the younger generation who wanted to better themselves. We had 2 locals working for us for peanuts who were 2 of the most skilled and competent workers we had come across for a long time. We lined them up jobs in the North Sea to earn some  life changing money, but the local government came in at the last minute and refused them an exit.  Some people here think the place will be spoilt soon. That may be the case for the tourist wanting to soak up some history and nostalga on holiday, but for the young local it could be a long overdue end to a mind boggling national wage of $1 a day.

Just found this old newspaper clipping from the Cuban Standard with a picture including yours truly at the bottom. Ah , the good old days !

https://www.cubastandard.com/?p=6720

[ScalleysDad]

Is that you propping up the door?
Another travel tip for south coast. Always have a few coins on you. Tipping in restaurants and bars can be awkward at the best of times but when somebody steps out in front of the traffic to escort you across the road the equivalent of fifty pence goes a long way.

[Southcoastffc]

Is that you propping up the door?
Another travel tip for south coast. Always have a few coins on you. Tipping in restaurants and bars can be awkward at the best of times but when somebody steps out in front of the traffic to escort you across the road the equivalent of fifty pence goes a long way.

Thanks for that - It's always the little things that count!

[Southdowns White]

Cuba is an experience, when I was there 15 years ago things away from the hotels were very basic ( and I have done some backpacking through parts of asia many years ago) You need to speak to some of the Artists and musicians and tell them you want to see some of the real Cuba, places where the hotels won't take you on a guided tour. Be prepared to buy a few drinks and even some food or sweets for the children and just talk, the Cubans love to tell their stories of their families and the situation. We ended  up through an artist who came to our Hotel, going off and meeting locals, going to a cuban nightclub where we were the only non locals, we went to someone's house for dinner,being driven in an old cadillac to and from our hotel to places of interest.
When you first speak to people they stick to the tourist manifesto but dig a little deeper and you get experiences and visit places you would not normally do.
Definitely visit Havana, I hear some parts have been re-built, it felt like most parts had fallen down or were about to when we were there. Go on some of the tourist tours because they give you a historical guide to people and places and the head of on your own, it felt very safe at the time but it may have changed.
Yes take some loo roll, I think it was on ration when we were there to the local people, plenty in hotels though. the food was basic compared to most places i've visited but we still managed to eat some fresh fish served with a thick bean stew out and about. 
We would like to take out teenage children back to show them how difficult things could be for them and still have a great holiday. Go and check it out.

[Southcoastffc]

Some really good responses - thanks FoFers.  065.gif

[stevehawkinslidingtackle]

Is that you propping up the door?
Another travel tip for south coast. Always have a few coins on you. Tipping in restaurants and bars can be awkward at the best of times but when somebody steps out in front of the traffic to escort you across the road the equivalent of fifty pence goes a long way.

Yes sir, that be me. If I remember, I was gawping at the woman there, concealed behind that guys chin. She was an absolute stunner. Hundreds of millions spent on that project, and we found just about enough gas to fill a small cigarette lighter. We were only the second ever rig to drill in Cuban waters because geologists believed there is a massive well there somewhere, which is why they were even more desperate to keep the USA at arms length. We had to lay off all American crew before being deployed from Trinidad, and our vessel was searched by the Cuban Government to make sure not one piece of our equipment was American made, not even a screw driver !
This was also the same rig, if anyone remembers the Oil worker stating he spotting MH370 dropping out of the sky in flames when we were later deployed to Vietnam. For the record, that guy was a raving nut job. Mad Mike the mud engineer. But thats another story