Mark & I have both wanted to go to Cuba for a long time. I mean decades! So close but yet so far away. Well we planned a NCL cruise to Cuba via Key West. A great Birthday stop for our annual getaway. We went with Naughty Nancy and Lefty Desmond, great travelling partners. On the cruise heading south we were just a little offshore enough for gambling and seeing the Ft Lauderdale & Miami Beach skyline with lights brightening the dark starlit sky.

Key West is always a great stopping point and we were reunited with many friends now living down there. Suncoast Resort Dickie still working his AC magic at all the gay clubs down on Duval Street now. Former bartender and friend from Hamburger Mary’s Ybor was smiling Will Gray. Now working at infamous Ernest Hemmingway’s – Sloppy Joe’s Bar, doing a lot of volunteer work for gay organizations and living on a houseboat he bought. Adventurous to say the least. The Bourbon Pub regulars that often came up every 3 months to spend weekends in GaYBOR were sitting around the front bar. Nancy wanted to go to the outside bar but had ‘Men Only’ posted on the door that led to the large pool and back outside nude bar. The 801 Bar bartenders who we have known for years had their big ol’ dog sitting on the bar stool welcoming customers and residents alike. Key West is that crazy laid back getaway that is so often needed. La Te Da’s Bar & Guest House has had a makeover and was as tropical as could be imagined. The tropical plant lined pool and rooms were recently upgraded we were told. We always seem to stop there for the famous weekend outdoor brunch but this was a Tuesday. Right across the street was the Key West LGBT Information Center. Had to go and peruse and get the latest community dish!

A short stay and back to the Norwegian Sun to travel south to Havana on an overnight. The ships shows were awesome about 5 going at once in each of the 10 bars. Travelling just off shore in early hours we spotted Havana from our outside balcony. No real stories or pre imagined Cuba predictions just an adventurous stop that was in our bucket list of things to do.

A quiet city as we slowly cruised into the harbor being greeted only by a military boat that had members hop aboard. A huge statue on the entry of Christ. Then our government tour guides took over. We saw old building and great history. Then we noticed that we were the only ones on the streets. It was like we were being herded down the streets and saw only what the government wanted us to see. There was nothing open and nothing to even buy. Our guides talked about the history up until 1959 only. The questions that we asked were not answered.  We asked a question about Jose Marti. The great liberator with statues in Ybor City. No answers. Later in the day we were by the largest monument and were told it was the Great War Monument. Wrong it was the Jose Marti monument.  Back on the bus we past 1,000’s of building that looked condiment. Then someone would pop their heads out a window or hanging laundry. People were still living in these places.  That night we went to the World Famous Cabaret Tropicana Cuba. An outdoor theatre with over 100 people performing. It was incredible especially when told that these performers make the huge amount of $30 per month. (The average is $20 per month). This show was the highlight of Cuba for us. It represented a Cuba that was.  We could almost see Lucy & Desi Arnaz performing on the stage in the 1950’s.

Looking back from home in Tampa. Everyone should go at least once.  We have been in communist country before like China and Russia. If a person was born in 1959, after the revolution, they would be 60 today. Unfortunately have lived this way their entire life. The people have accepted this as a way of life. In many ways Ybor City & Florida are more Cuban that Cuba is. The heart and soul of Cuba left in 1959.  What is in Cuba today are brainwashed Communist. We do not know the answer to this.