13-Mar-2004, 11:30 PM
I'm pleased to read that some of you are enjoying the thread.
Here is yet another little point of interest...Prior to leaving for Cuba we were informed/advised, to take along with us some treats in the form of candy bars, ie: Milky Ways, Mars Bars, Kit Kats, etc., to give to any children we might meet. I personally packed several bags of the afore mentioned candy bars, along with several packets of Wrigley's chewing gum. The interesting point of all this, is that here in todays climate of mistrust, when a child is being offered candy by a complete stranger, the child's parent would probably refuse the candy on the childs behalf. Not so in candy starved Cuba.
Where-ever we went, and we visited several towns other than Havana,.... Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Florida, Moron, and a few that I can't recall their names, the candy bars and chewing gum that we freely handed out to complete strangers, was never refused. Quite the contrary, it was accepted with gleaming white smiles, and gasps of "Gracias, gracias"
I also packed a couple of my football shirt collection, now out of date, but in excellent condition. An old 'away' Man. Utd. blue shirt, and God forbid, an old Baxi, PNE shirt. I gave the Man.Utd. shirt to a young man at one of the B&B's where we stayed, and the PNE shirt went to our driver. They were both delighted, it was Christmas once again ;-) So if any of you do decide to take in Cuba, while Fidel is still running the place, by all means, pack some candy, and some clothes that you can leave behind after your holiday, they will be greatly appreciated.
Here is yet another little point of interest...Prior to leaving for Cuba we were informed/advised, to take along with us some treats in the form of candy bars, ie: Milky Ways, Mars Bars, Kit Kats, etc., to give to any children we might meet. I personally packed several bags of the afore mentioned candy bars, along with several packets of Wrigley's chewing gum. The interesting point of all this, is that here in todays climate of mistrust, when a child is being offered candy by a complete stranger, the child's parent would probably refuse the candy on the childs behalf. Not so in candy starved Cuba.
Where-ever we went, and we visited several towns other than Havana,.... Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Florida, Moron, and a few that I can't recall their names, the candy bars and chewing gum that we freely handed out to complete strangers, was never refused. Quite the contrary, it was accepted with gleaming white smiles, and gasps of "Gracias, gracias"
I also packed a couple of my football shirt collection, now out of date, but in excellent condition. An old 'away' Man. Utd. blue shirt, and God forbid, an old Baxi, PNE shirt. I gave the Man.Utd. shirt to a young man at one of the B&B's where we stayed, and the PNE shirt went to our driver. They were both delighted, it was Christmas once again ;-) So if any of you do decide to take in Cuba, while Fidel is still running the place, by all means, pack some candy, and some clothes that you can leave behind after your holiday, they will be greatly appreciated.