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Cuba

LazyLavey

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Check out "Cuban Chrome" series for an idea what it's like there now.... .

Ya, could be a beautiful place, if we return to 1959.

I was there in '14 when Barry opened up diplomatic relations... Here's a few pics. Very decrepit.. But the people were welcoming and generous

If my wife spoke Spanish to any locals, they could pretty much tell she was cuban.. Immediately invite into their apartment, coffee, cigars and express their life, "smiling on the outside, crying on the inside" as they say there.

I found an auto parts store that only stocked some light bulbs, windshield wipers and miscellaneous useless crap.

Gas stations???? HA! maybe

I went to the US embassy in Havana just because, but nobody home...lol

Coincidentally, we shared the direct flight with the cast and crew of "House Of Lies" who was going there to film an episode.

There are a few decent areas there, pretty much maintained for tourism. Lots of Germans and Canadians (From Quebec, those fuckers are rowdy) .

I found the Car Club that caters to tourism. A bunch of tri-5s, a couple restored very nicely. Very exclusive group. Most had diesels transplants and odd suspensions like from old Jeeps.

I ask the president how they get parts.. He told me from a classic car place in OC... But he didn't elaborate how they were able to get the parts.

Many days I found myself subconsciously holding my breath. The air quality is very bad in the city. Hard to believe it's that bad when you're on an island, right there on the coast and seems like there's always an ocean breeze.

I'd never smoked a cigar until then nor am I a big rum fan. My wife swears the rum was great..

Wife went back last summer and said the tourism was pretty much nothing compared to '14.


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monkeyswrench

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Check out "Cuban Chrome" series for an idea what it's like there now.... .

Ya, could be a beautiful place, if we return to 1959.

I was there in '14 when Barry opened up diplomatic relations... Here's a few pics. Very decrepit.. But the people were welcoming and generous

If my wife spoke Spanish to any locals, they could pretty much tell she was cuban.. Immediately invite into their apartment, coffee, cigars and express their life, "smiling on the outside, crying on the inside" as they say there.

I found an auto parts store that only stocked some light bulbs, windshield wipers and miscellaneous useless crap.

Gas stations???? HA! maybe

I went to the US embassy in Havana just because, but nobody home...lol

Coincidentally, we shared the direct flight with the cast and crew of "House Of Lies" who was going there to film an episode.

There are a few decent areas there, pretty much maintained for tourism. Lots of Germans and Canadians (From Quebec, those fuckers are rowdy) .

I found the Car Club that caters to tourism. A bunch of tri-5s, a couple restored very nicely. Very exclusive group. Most had diesels transplants and odd suspensions like from old Jeeps.

I ask the president how they get parts.. He told me from a classic car place in OC... But he didn't elaborate how they were able to get the parts.

Many days I found myself subconsciously holding my breath. The air quality is very bad in the city. Hard to believe it's that bad when you're on an island, right there on the coast and seems like there's always an ocean breeze.

I'd never smoked a cigar until then nor am I a big rum fan. My wife swears the rum was great..

Wife went back last summer and said the tourism was pretty much nothing compared to '14.


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Dunno how those car guys got stuff, but I worked for an early car outfit in OC 20 years ago. Had one girl, a flight attendant, that would come in once a month or so. Her brother had a few classics, and she had the means to transport parts. She'd come in with a list. If we didn't have it, we'd send her to the other shops that did locally.
 

Cray Paper

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When I lived in Sacramento in the late 80's there was a Cuban family down the street. Big family, lots of kids and the boys loved to fight. Had a run in with one of them that was about 3 years older than me when I was 15. He came to the door, demanded that I come out front so i did, next thing I knew I was in a fist fight with this guy in the street.

We went at it for awhile, then both agreed to stop and talk. I had no fucking idea what his issue was, after talking he said I made a comment to his younger brother while I was riding my bike past him. I told him your brother doesn't know wtf he is talking about. So we went to talk to his little brother.

I was a white kid from WA State that was raised by North Dakota farmers. We talked and he laid out how bad the environment he grew up in in Cuba was and why he and his family was so defensive. We got to his place, his younger brother said yea, that's not the guy and me and the guy I got in the fight with shook hands and both agreed it was a good fight and kinda fun, and there were no hard feelings. Never had a problem with them again. It was interesting to me to listen to a immigrant from Cuba almost my age describe how they grew up. I felt bad for him and his family.

The US taking over Cuba in Cubans minds I would venture to say would be appreciated by the masses. They just need to tone down their fucking tempers in my experience / opinion.
 
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