Carolyn,

I don't know where to begin to answer your comment about going to visit Cuba in February...usually when I start to give my comments towards Cuba, many people are amazed as to what they hear as they are not aware of the dire sutuation in Cuba.

Let me begin by telling you that the natives are hungry and are not allowed to go to the restaurants or "paladares" that you will be frequenting. This is a Communist country with no freedoms allocated to the native Cuban. I for one, could not ever visit a country that #1, is Communist and oppresses its people, and #2, you will be served Jautia (that is a rat that could be deep fried or boiled or roasted), you won't know it though. You will be thinking you are eating some sort of roast meat but beware my friend! We had American friends many years ago visit Cuba, and they were so proud and jubilant at the opportunity. When they came back and told us they were served roasted Jautia, we gasped and told them, you were served rat! You could imagine their expression!!!

Cuba is communist and the money Europeans and others spend visiting there goes directly to the cofers of Castro. I could not in all honestly enjoy a visit there knowing how the people are treated, what they are not able to eat or buy, etc. I have aunts and uncles and cousins who live there still. A few aunts have written to me asking for base nessecities such as sewing thread and needles, these they cannot get in Cuba. Imagine that! Of course, there is no way for me to get that to them due to the embargo act. Rice and beans is allocated to one pound a month per family. And milk? Forget it if you don't have children. My family in Cuba have incredible ways of cooking without the needs we take for granted here.

How sad to go there as a tourist and see the poverty and know that those people cannot enjoy what you are enjoying. It literally turns my stomach, I know I could not do it.

With so many other beautiful places to visit in the world, why pick Cuba? The poverty level is astounding and to know that it was once the "Pearl of the Antilles" and now reduced to rubbish is unbearable to us Cubans.

Those are my thoughts...I hope one day to visit a free Cuba but not now while the Castro regime is in force. I came over in 1959 when I was 4, next year will be 50 years, imagine that! that Cuba has communism in force still. I don't remember my homeland and have to be content listening to stories from the family who does remember.

Sincerely, Gina