Destination: Cuba

I’ve never met anyone who went to Cuba and wasn’t charmed by the people. Maybe President Trump should make the trip…or, at least, watch the TV special I made after I traveled there last year.

President Trump’s recent decision to curtail our rapprochement with Cuba exemplifies many of the qualities I don’t like about him: It favors fear and suspicion (and currying the favor of a few Florida politicians) over people-to-people connection; it’s preoccupied with driving a “better deal” regardless of compassion, by bullying a nation of 11 million people who are much weaker and poorer than us; and it is, I believe, simply illogical — politically, economically, and morally.

As we’ve learned over the last 55 years, isolating Cuba only makes its government stronger and its people poorer. That’s something I saw firsthand when I traveled there in 2016 (legally, thanks to President Obama’s reforms). And having been to Cuba, it’s clear to me that turning back the clock is a bad move all around. It will hurt struggling people who live just 90 miles from American shores — and it will make it that much harder for Americans to travel there and get to know our neighbors.

Travel is good for peace, it’s good for the economy, and it’s a civil liberty. If you agree, rather than shout amen, contact your member of Congress and let them know how you feel.

Sit back, grab a mojito, and experience the resilient joy and spirit of the Cuban people. KCTS 9’s TV special about my trip to Cuba earlier this year is now available to watch online.

Venturing to Cuba offers a chance to befriend a poor and struggling island society that is, in its own way, an inspiration. It’s a one-of-a-kind time warp, free of the strip-mall banality of our rich world. But with Castro gone, pent up change is likely to sweep Cuba. And that includes a tsunami of American tourists.

Did you visit Fidel’s Cuba? I would love to hear about your travels.

“Rick Steves’ Guide to Cuba,” a KCTS TV special based on a talk I recently gave on my Cuba adventure (from last January), is now yours to watch any time. (It is part of our extensive and growing Travel Talks library.) While it’s a simple production of my lecture, Seattle’s KCTS did a fine job, and I don’t think there’s a faster moving, more up-to-date, or more informative video out on Cuba. Play the video and join my family and me on a 40-minute trip across the island. (If you’ve traveled to Cuba, I’d love to read your thoughts on my thoughts — so many people are dreaming of taking a trip there.)

A couple of weeks ago, shortly after my 30-part blog series on Cuba wrapped up, Barack Obama announced that he’s following in my footsteps. (I’m assuming it’s a coincidence.) President Obama’s visit on March 22-23 will be the first time a US President has set foot on Cuban soil since 1928.

With all of the media attention on Obama’s historic visit, I’m feeling pretty smart for having just traveled to Cuba. Soon the Castros will be gone, and Dunkin’ Donuts and all of the international chain stores will arrive, heralding a tsunami of change that will submerge the time-warp, idealistic charms of this mysterious island 90 miles off the coast of Florida. I just had to visit now and share my experience. In case you missed it, here are some highlights from my blog series:

Landing in Havana, I went on a photo safari in the colorful old town. One thing that really struck me, wherever I went, was the warm welcome I received from the Cuban people. They love visitors and they love to talk. And it struck me that in Cuba, even though people don’t have a lot, they act like they do.

It was fascinating to explore slice-of-Cuban-life Havana, from a farmers markets to the paltry aisles of a supermarket to the limited options for getting online. We rode a variety of taxis — from those famous classic American cars to a funky but efficient “Cocotaxi.”

For those interested in 20th-century history and current events, there are plenty of weighty issues to grapple with in Cuba — including their communist system, their heritage of complex relations with the USA and USSR, and the racial stratification of Cuban society. The best lessons came on an educational tour organized through Augsburg College’s Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE).

People are curious about the logistics of my trip. Where did we stay? Where did we eat? How did we get local cash? And what about the red tape — I know it’s legal now, but how does it work? The answers are all in my blog.

Leaving Havana, we toured the same two stops that seem to be on every visitor’s itinerary: the gorgeous valley of Viñales, where we enjoyed a horseback ride (and a rooftop breakfast); and the colorful city of Trinidad, where local guide Julio Muñoz showed me around.

For our grand finale, we returned to Havana just in time for New Year’s Eve, including an impromptu dance party in a local home that we’ll never forget. (And we have the videos to prove it.)

My trip to Cuba was a fascinating and memorable way to kick off 2016. And sharing it with you (and reading so many insightful comments) has been a joy. I hope you enjoyed traveling with me.