Cuba With the Friendship Force - 1996

A visit to Cuba with the Kansas Friendship Force 1996

In 1996 the only legal way an American could get into Cuba was with a visa issued by the State Department. Any other entry method could net you a fine of $500 and/or a year in jail. By applying to the State Department 90 days before departure, we, 21, Friendship Force(FF) travelers, were able to go to Cuba legally. We were there at the invitation of the Cuban Council of Churches. Castro would not allow any organizational group which might threaten him into the country.

We later learned that by flying to Can-Cun and boarding a Havana Airline plane to Havana you would be given a visa permit request to fill out. Upon your arrival you would receive the required visa for your visit. But don't get your passport stamped because that would prove that you entered Cuba illegally and get you in trouble.

The following are some of my impressions from the trip - not in any particular sequence.


A way to move

My hosts apartment building
School girls
Carmen Miranda from the old days when casinos were allowed in Cuba. When Castro took over in 1959 he shut them all down
Pappy making a balloon for a staff member

Entertainment at hotel entrance

Hemingway's living room - no caption needed

Cuban cigar makers on a smoke break

A 15 year old Cuban girl on her wedding day

After three nights with hosts, we spent three nights at a six star Varadero Beach Hotel. All expenses: room, meals, bar, beach towel, etc; $130 per night.

First night in Cuba, at the Tritonho Hotel

My hosts street. The apartment had no hot water, no flush toilets(you had to get a bucket of water to flush them), no screens on the windows, beer drinkers and barking dogs in the street at night. Rubbish ever where.

School kids ready to visit Hemingway's house. Hemingway opposed Castro during Castro's takeover, so he kicked him out and made his house into a tourist attraction.

Russian Embassy, while they were there. The Russians provided the Cubans $4 billion a year in assistance till Russia turned to Democracy in the early 90's.

Rock Muriel shows life of man from start, as a snail, to now

A live pig gets a ride home to a big bar-be-q

FF member from Topeka, "Pappy Winkler," makes balloon dogs for kids at Children's Hospital in Havana

My Cuban hosts: Roda, Ofelia, and
Eunice Zorrilla

Two Kansas FF ladies, Ann and Beverly, with their Cuban hats

David, a FF member from Milwaukee, along with us for the trip

Ana's church. She kept a stack of mattress there for any one needing a place to sleep

Requiring constant repair

What Cubans are driving these days - 1950 vintage cars

Formerly The Capitol - now Castro's Capitol

FF bus to view next place to see in Cuba. George Short catches a few ZZZZs

A vendor on Varadero Beach, where most visitors stayed.

Ana Puerta
Cuban Council of Churches, Ana Puerta, at her computer
Fred Hadley - FF member
Now(2009), that President Obama has indicated he will open up Cuba for American tourists I might return (to Varadero Beach).