Cuba Ahora

If you're an avid traveler and have been following the news in the last 48 hours, you would know that numerous American-operated airlines have been granted tentative approval to fly from U.S. cities into Cuba for the first time in over 50 years. This is a major milestone in many ways. Cuba, as we know it (or as we don't know it) is no doubt going to be changed by this sudden influx of curious American tourists.

Thusly, it is my DUTY to get there before they do. Would it be easier to get there on Delta, American, or United? Sure, but I would have to wait at least 3-4 more months for that opportunity, by which time Cuba will be ruined by some frat boys from Boston. Slowly over the course of the last couple years, Obama has eased relations between the U.S. and Cuba and it has created a grey area where Americans can go, but not without some stipulations.

One must fit into 12 different criteria ranging from journalism to religious activities. You can guess which category I fall under. And as of yet, traditional "tourism" is still not sanctioned by the U.S. state department and is still a somewhat contentious issue amongst congressional republicans who still find themselves fighting the cold war. So my photojournalistic friend from the Vietnam/Cambodia trip will be accompanying me to Cuba by way of Cancun.

We will be flying on the state-run airline, Cubana de Aviación. Internet, as one might expect, is somewhat difficult to come by, but we shall do our best to post once a day . . . if possible.