"My friend, my friend!" the men called as we passed. They started as the sun rose, drifting out of their kiosks. "You are hungry, yes? Here is a menu!" "Pretty necklace for the lady?" "See …
Caribbean travel reviews
Havana, Cuba: An Emerging Story
“Is Levi or Guess considered a more elegant brand? Addidas or Reebok?” A couple of mid-twenties locals ask with anticipation. A young single mother shares her ideas on the “What is Cuba to you?” question …
November 23, 2009
Havana: Worlds Apart
“What are they all waiting for over there?” A group of women are waiting on a neighborhood street corner. The truck is arriving sometime in the day, exact time unknown, to deliver their monthly ration …
November 9, 2009
Havana, Cuba (If You Can Get There)
“Where all cars are taxis, and all women are whores.” This raucous response to the frequently posed pre-trip question, “So what does Cuba mean to you?” understandably stood out the most. The “cigars” reply was …
October 28, 2009
Exploring Unspoiled Dominica, West Indies
Enjoying the lush scenery and fair but humid weather, we rounded a tight mountainous curve on the way to Carib Territory. A small blue Toyota popped into sight coming from the opposite direction, fast. We …
End of the line
Long Beach–based Cuba Travel Services is taking advantage of the Obama administration’s recent loosening of some travel restrictions to Cuba by offering nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Havana, allowing travelers to bypass the long-used …
July 1, 2009
Cruisin' in the Caribbean
Our seven-day Caribbean cruise started out in Miami on a hot summer day in 2006. Standing near the southernmost tip of the country, you can gaze toward the horizon across the Florida Keys. With a …
Caribbean Tide, Killer Words
Dear Matt: My parents and aunt and uncle just got back from the Caribbean on vacation. We all got together to look at their pictures, and in the middle of everything, my uncle pipes up …
June 24, 2009
Hey, Rastaman...
"If I had sold music alone, I wouldn't have been able to survive," says Elliot Leib, who cofounded Trade Roots with Renee Romano 20 years ago. Leib had a master's degree in African studies when …
October 13, 2005
Best of 2001: Best Travel Agencies If You're Flying To Cuba
Viajes Cuauhtli 8160 7th (Galeana) Street, between Revolución and Constitución, Tijuana (011-52-66) 85-33-10 Taino Tours 9330, Ignacio Comonfort Street, next to the ball-shaped Cultural Center, behind the McDonald's (011-52-66) 84-96-34 Flights to Cuba are becoming …
Getting Back Can Be Tricky
“It’s not against the law for Americans to travel to Cuba. It’s just illegal to spend any money on Cuban businesses,” Michael Dessen says, laughing. Dessen, trombonist with local avant-jazz band Cosmologic, is talking about …
May 11, 2000