Did you miss me?

I had originally intended to post entries from Cuba but made a last-minute decision not to take my laptop – a decision I do not regret. So, sorry. There was no live blogging of Cuba, but I do have plenty to report. And you could just pretend I’m still there.

Being without a laptop forced me to go back to the dark of ages of pen and paper, which was actually like getting re-acquainted with a long-lost friend. Taking one of my empty journals received as a gift and a comfortable ball-point, I left fully equipped to document the adventure.

After a short flight (about 40 minutes) from Miami surrounded by Cuban expats and their family members and fellow group travelers, I arrived at the Havana airport. The processing seemed relatively quick. I’m guessing it was less than an hour between landing and climbing onto the bus for the ride to our hotel.

I traveled to Cuba as part of an education/research group, which is the only way US citizens can travel to Cuba legally unless you have family there or can acquire a license from the government to go on your own. I will admit that I am not a fan of group travel. And while the experience was better than expected in some respects, it met my low expectations in others.

I met some wonderful people in the group, but traveling in such a restricted manner inevitably has a negative impact on your experience. Giving someone else control over what you see and do is the ultimate obstacle to glimpsing a moment of truth in a new destination. It’s just one more challenge to overcome.

Was I able to see the “real” Cuba? In only the most superficial manner. I didn’t even scratch the surface, but I at least got a closer look at it. In that, I do feel I have a greater appreciation for the complexity of the Cuban identity and the country’s quickly evolving character. And that alone was worth the trip.

(To be continued)