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Can U.S. Citizens Travel To Cuba?

May 10, 2007 at 10:11 AM | 4 Comments

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore is under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department for taking ailing September 11 rescue workers to Cuba for a segment in his upcoming health-care documentary SiCKO. SiCKO, coincidentally, premieres May 19 at the Cannes Film Festival and debuts in U.S. theaters June 29.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control recently informed Moore that it was conducting a civil investigation for possible violations of the U.S. trade embargo restricting travel to Cuba.

According to Moore's website, he considers this incident an attack by the Bush Administration on his newest controversial film.

However, what is far more pertinent to us is the question of U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba. According to the U.S. government:

The Regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed to engage in any travel-related transactions related to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of Treasury regulations will face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.

Underneath the restrictions section the document states that licenses are granted to "journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel".

How do you get Cuban travel clearance?

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Castro Lives! Cuban Cigar Festival in Full Swing

February 28, 2007 at 3:40 PM | 0 Comments

Rumors are swirling today that Fidel Castro is no longer on death's door and could even return to lead Cuba.

Is it a coincidence that Castro's alleged phoenix like radio appearance coincides with the 9th Habano Cigar Festival, taking place in the Havana Convention Centre from February 26 to March 2? Doubt it.

Raul Castro, the current number one in Cuba, is rumored to dislike cigars--the horror.

This year's festival will launch a new line of cigars for the island's signature Cohiba brand known as Maduro 5 or Mature 5, which are finished with a wrapper leaf that has been aged five years. Wrapper leaves represent the final stage of cigar-making and are essential to how well a cigar burns.

Participants include Havana cigar smokers from Russia, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, China and England who are scheduled to visit tobacco plantations and cigar factories in the island, but there are no known celebrity attendees to generate cigar buzz.  Luckily, it looks like Fidel will handle the buzz generation all on his own, thank you very much.

Related Stories:
· Havana International Convention Center [Google Maps]
· 9th Habano Cigar Festival [GoCuba]
· Hotels in Havana [HotelChatter]

Castro Death Party at Orange Bowl, Date TBD

January 29, 2007 at 5:22 PM | 0 Comments



You probably think Miami is all consumed with Super Bowl XLI hotel drama this week, el wrongo. In their minds, Miami officials are already over the Super Bowl and planning the next big Orange Bowl event--The Castro is Dead party.

City Commissioner Tomas Regalado, a Cuban American, came up with the idea of using the Orange Bowl, noting the stadium was the site of a speech by President Kennedy in 1961 promising a free Cuba, and since reports of Castro's waning health broke late last summer, Miami is hard at work putting the final touches on the big soiree.

Don't call it a Death party, call it a "giant venue ready for people, if they wish, to speak to the media, to show their emotions".

The Orange Bowl is a extremely easy commute from Calle Ocho.

Related Stories:
· When Castro dies, Miami will party like it's 1959 [CNN]
· Orange Bowl Miami [Google Maps]