How to Legally Travel to Cuba in 2012
While independent travel to Cuba is still not legal for Americans, the Grand Circle Foundation is licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control to offer “Cuba: A Bridge Between Cultures,” a 12-day People-to-People program designed to foster meaningful cultural exchange between Americans and Cubans.
The program operates in small groups (12-20 participants) and is open to all Americans, although the program is geared to and paced for the 50-plus market. This is a unique opportunity to legally travel to Cuba.
The itinerary includes five nights in Havana, Cuba’s capital city; two nights in Cienfuegos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s also known as La Perla del Sud (the Pearl of the South) because of its beautiful harbor area; and three nights in Trinidad, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that recalls life in Cuba’s 19th-century glory days.
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A Hands-On Tour of the Ocean Floor in Bermuda
If you would like to explore coral reefs and see what the world “down under” (down under WATER, that is!) looks like, but you have no desire to learn how to scuba dive, here is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
The next time you are in Bermuda, head for Hartley’s Under Sea Adventures (located in Somerset, and operated by Greg Hartley). Here you will receive a few minutes of instruction, an underwater helmet which has an air hose attached (the other end of the hose is attached to your air supply on a nearby boat), and a guided tour “under the sea,” actually walking along the ocean floor. And guess what! You don’t even have to know how to SWIM! You won’t even get your hair wet!
You’ll walk eight feet below the surface of the water, and have a chance to feed and pet the fish and touch the coral.
Underwater trips are available April through October, and the warmest water months are July and August. The $80 for adults and $55 for children under 13 admission fee includes a boat ride, a half-hour underwater tour with special helmet, and an underwater souvenir photo!
No, it’s not cheap or free, but it’s too cool not to mention.
For More Information….
Call: 1-866-836-3989 or 1-441-234-2861. (Cell phone: 1-441-334-7607.)
Write: Hartley’s Under Sea Adventures; PO Box SB 194; Sandys SB-BX, Bermuda.
E-mail: hartley@ibl.bm
Website: http://www.hartleybermuda.com
Trinidad Carnival in February!
Trinidad Carnival has been described by many as one of the most colorful and culturally diverse pre-Lenten celebrations in the world. It is the biggest, most explosive, and vibrant festival where people from all walks of life come together for a celebration of culture, calypso, and cuisine. Trinidad ‘s Carnival is not a typical parade. You don’t stand along side the road and watch the masquerade bands go by. You join in, sing, dance and are completely part of the event.
Carnival was introduced to Trinidad by the French in 1783 in the form of elaborate masquerade balls thrown by plantation owners. Banned from the festivities, the African slaves would hold their own celebrations using rituals and folklore while imitating their masters’ behavior. Once slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their Carnival celebration to the streets and, as each new immigrant population entered Trinidad, a new flavor was added to the festivities. Today, the diverse culture of both islands has influenced the music, food, and traditions of the festival.
Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With their careful approach to tourism, the dual island nation offers one of the last absolutely unspoiled Caribbean destinations. Trinidad is home to the world-famous Carnival and the birth of the steel pan drum. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, award-winning eco-attractions, and private villas.
For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com/ or call 1-800-816-7541.
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