It's official: I'm going to Cuba at the end of November

[Lydia Leftcoast]

My church has a long-standing relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba, and it has sponsored several trips in the past few years.

I'm finally going on this one.

We leave the day after Thanksgiving and will be spending a week in the Havana area. (Another group, consisting mostly of people who have gone before, will be working on an organic farm near Favorito.) Our exact schedule is partly up to the church there, so we don't have all the details, but we will be flying on C&T Charters, which has long flown from Miami but has recently started flying from Chicago as well.

Our accommodations will be, of all things, a convent run by Italian nuns in the old city. The reviews on Trip Advisor are highly favorable.

We had our orientation meeting this evening, so it's starting to feel real. Time to review my Spanish.

[Peace Patriot]

1. Lucky you! I hope you will keep us posted! I would love to read your

reports on your trip--and tell us more about your Church group's activities in Cuba--their work on the organic farm, how they connected with a convent for your accommodations and all of it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. The connection with the convent (which is Roman Catholic) came about

because a local Episcopal priest went to Cuba independently and found out about it somehow. He recommended it highly, so that's where we're saying.

Here's the information about it, including photos:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147271-d1208915-Reviews-Hostal_Convent_Santa_Brigida-Havana_Cuba.html

[roody]

2. Felicidades! Que te vaya bien.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Finally, your group got clearance. What a great trip you've got ahead of you.

Looking forward to any comments you might post after after your return.

Love those photos, what a great hostel. So beautiful, too. Be sure to see that parrot!

Our thoughts will definitely go with you. Best wishes.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. The problem wasn't getting clearance from the U.S.

Groups have gone from the church six out of the eight years I've been a member.

I was going to go two years ago, and then my finances were in too bad a shape. Fortunately, I made the decision early enough that they refunded my deposit.

Now, thanks to a small inheritance, I'm feeding my pent-up demand for travel: Portland last spring, Scandinavia in the summer, Cuba this month, Japan and Korea next spring, and I haven't decided what it will be after that.

[naaman fletcher]

7. North Korea

A friend of mine went to North Korea legally somehow, took the most incredible photos. I am trying to get there before it changes to see what it is like.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. By the way, is Mika still posting?

I'm sure he'd want to know this.

[flamingdem]

8. Looking forward to hearing your impressions! Buen viaje nt