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| Map courtesy of “A Cruising Guide to Cuba” byAmaia Agirre and Frank Virgintino. Sloppy red arrows and lines charting between the US and our Panama destination are mine. |
“Where are you headed?” we asked the crew aboard Christina, a sizable Voyager catamaran, gliding past us as she sailed out of the Dry Tortugas anchorage.
“Cuba! Before McDonald’s gets there,” Captain Walter replied, beaming.
“That’s exactly our sentiments too!” Wayne hollered back. “No McDonald’s, no Starbucks!”
Both our boats proudly bore U.S.A. ensign flags, denoting our country of origin.
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| Kirstey and Walter of the catamaran Christina. Photo pilfered from Kirstey’s Facebook page. |
Later Christina’s Co-Captain Kirstey told us her Dad initially asked, “What are you doing going to Cuba? Are you crazy?” Dad, Kirstey explained, was pretty savvy on the topic of world affairs.
Even before Obama spoke of his desire to re-establish US – Cuban relations, we figured it was just a matter of time before the tourism floodgates opened between the two neighboring countries.
Once that friendly invasion happens, we believe Cuba will forever lose much of its unique culture in its desire to accommodate the inevitable pressures accompanying an economic boom.
Our desire to explore distinctly different cultures and terrain compels us to make this journey. Well, that and our penchant for sunny skies and tropical temps balmy enough to encourage scanty clothing.
We’re thrilled with the idea of arriving before “the masses.”
Amaia Agirre and Frank Virgintino of “A Cruising Guide to Cuba” concur….
“The mystique of Cuba is a big factor in itself. Cubans are vivacious and love music and dance, family and life. To be with Cubans is to celebrate life; not what was in the past or what may be in the future, but in the present. For without doubt Cubans are experts at living in the present. If you want to get rid of some anxiety, go to Cuba; drink some rum, smoke a good cigar and dance until the sun comes up.”
And did we?
You’ll just have to read the next post to find out!
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| We saw this sculpture after our last stop in the US, which was Florida’s Dry Tortugas. Guess — where did we see this sculpture? |
Location Location
January 21, 2015. Recent retrospective of December 29th 2014, USA, in the Dry Tortugas. Even if we did not step ashore, hugging Cuba’s coastline is one viable track from Florida to Panama. Panama is the point where we’ll cross the canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We are currently in Altamira Panama (N09.17.265 W82.23.146) where we just got our mast pulled and repaired before our trip through the canal. Tomorrow or the following day we’re likely headed to the San Blas, Panama.
I love the island and I have a very good friend who is first generation Cuban. the only thing that still stinks is they're communistic, they put you in jail just because they don't like you, and they've already taken everything of any value, no one has anything of any value, and they don't support freedom. So, when you say you want to go to Cuba before McDonalds shows up, I say …I'll wait until then, I'd like to know I will be able to maintain my freedoms, the freedoms lots of people died defending. Just as soon as my freedoms are protected, and they can't put my ass in jail for no reason, then I might have to go visit with my friend Joaquin, visit his family home.
We didn't feel "watched."
While the overall standard of living was low, we didn't get panhandled like we do elsewhere (including in the USA) and met lots of happy Cubans.
Like anywhere, we expect conditions will vary as well the perspectives of those there and those visiting.
I hope you are someday able to visit Cuba with your friend and see his family, just as we hope to someday return.