Couldn't Stay Away....

That picture is actually very interesting as there is a feeling in the industry that once Americans start being able to go back freely to Cuba, many Canadians will be looking for elsewhere ...

Except that Americans have been touristically going to Cuba in numbers all along anyway. So much so that they are offered loose sheets of paper to fit into their passports stamped with their visa, so that when they return to the USA the slips can simply be removed and not shown at immigration. They just routed their trips mostly through Mexico and Canada to get there is all.

This thaw has the potential to radically change Cuban culture, outlook, and business. The entire society has been infra-structured with their Committee for the Defense of the Revolution, a kind of mega neighborhood watch where people take turns spying on each other in order to defend against American and decadent infiltration. That an the complete lack of freedom of media, freedom of speech, the whole thing. Unless you're a way up party member you've also got to live with intensive rationing. It drove me nuts that we could eat more or less like we usually do in Canada there in our Hotel, but locals would literally have to line up for bread. The ration allotment for a family of 4 was one small chicken per month back when I visited in the early 90's. They got by.There was always the black market.. and You can live and be quite healthy on rice, beans,and fresh fruits and vegetables, but they have a lot of catching up to do...and I hope they get there.