Cuba

[Winnie]

More drugs and snipers in Panama, too! Don't get too close to the border if you're traveling Costa Rica!

I've only beento Panama twice, but the last time we drove from one coast to the other and failed to see any snipers.

Definately going back. I particularly enjoyed the mountains and the islands. Pretty good snorkeling - better than the Keys but not as good as Honduras. Still, lovely place and great people!

 

[Lynnie]

I've only beento Panama twice, but the last time we drove from one coast to the other and failed to see any snipers.

Definately going back. I particularly enjoyed the mountains and the islands. Pretty good snorkeling - better than the Keys but not as good as Honduras. Still, lovely place and great people!

We should compare travel notes. Everyone I know who's been to Panama is crazy about it.....have a friend who is a dive instructor trying to plan a trip there this year! So, I'll definitely be going there.

Snipers in Panama: along the border of Costa Rica; they are protecting their 'crops' if you know what I mean. I went for a hike in the jungle and they sent me out there with a big tall black Jamaican/Costa Rican! I was warned at how dangerous it was; however, I felt very safe with this perfect stranger by my side in the jungle! What the hell was I even thinkin? Adventure, that's what I was thinking.......

I didn't have the right gear for this jungle so he put me in some wellingtons....because there are spots of quick sand. Completely ruined my pedicure! But, those wellies came in handy when I did step in the quick sand.......my sweet guide pulled me to safety!

It was a great trip! Costa Rica remains one of my favorite countries! Just south of Limon, they have only had electricity since 1993 so they still have brown outs every night! That was very cool! And, they've only had telephone service since about 1998.

 

[Winnie]

We should compare travel notes. Everyone I know who's been to Panama is crazy about it.....have a friend who is a dive instructor trying to plan a trip there this year! So, I'll definitely be going there.

Snipers in Panama: along the border of Costa Rica; they are protecting their 'crops' if you know what I mean. I went for a hike in the jungle and they sent me out there with a big tall black Jamaican/Costa Rican! I was warned at how dangerous it was; however, I felt very safe with this perfect stranger by my side in the jungle! What the hell was I even thinkin? Adventure, that's what I was thinking.......

I didn't have the right gear for this jungle so he put me in some wellingtons....because there are spots of quick sand. Completely ruined my pedicure! But, those wellies came in handy when I did step in the quick sand.......my sweet guide pulled me to safety!

It was a great trip! Costa Rica remains one of my favorite countries! Just south of Limon, they have only had electricity since 1993 so they still have brown outs every night! That was very cool! And, they've only had telephone service since about 1998.

I envy you going this year! I won't be able to go back until next Spring. The place I snorkeled (can't dive) was around Isla Bastimentos. There is a large National marine park there too. It isn't far from Costa Rica.

It also isn't far from the mountain town of Boquete. A great place for jungle treks and rappelling. It is nice to have the change of weather. Evenings are cool enough to sit by a large fireplace for cocktails. If you drive, the road and scenery from Almirante to Boquete is spectacular.

Sorry about getting off the Cuba thread topic. I haven't been there, but would like to go some day.

 

[phillycheese]

I know two Cubans (living in America) who have their land deeds from the 50's. They can hardly wait for communism to fall so they can reclaim their land rights!

Will be tough, indeed! Sad for those families!

My wife's family have their deeds also!

 

[Lynnie]

Oh, phillycheese! I'm sure you know this already, but it is highly dubious that your wife will ever have that land again. Communism at it's finest - so sorry!

 

[beachmouse]

I brought up Chile earlier. A little blurb about how it's handling the global downturn:

Chile's Old Testament economics - How the World Works - Salon.com

What happened? Chile's primary export is copper, and its biggest mining company is state-run. During the extended commodity price boom that sent copper prices booming, Velasco played it safe, squirreling away a huge proportion of the copper windfall, investing the proceeds abroad, and building up Chile's Treasury holdings from $5.9 billion to $48.6 billion -- equivalent to a whopping thirty percent of Chile's GDP -- during his three year tenure. Then: Pop-went-the-global-economy! But Chile was ready.