U.S.-Cuba Relations Jul 1 2015, 2:02 pm ET

Obama on U.S. Embassy in Cuba: 'This Is What Change Looks Like'
President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the United States and Cuba have struck a deal to open embassies in each other's capitals and re-establish diplomatic relations for the first time in half a century.

"The progress we make today is another demonstration we don't have to be imprisoned by the past," Obama said.

Obama emphasized that the U.S. and Cuba have some shared interests, such as strong anti-terror policies and disaster response. But he acknowledged that the two nations still have "very serious differences" on issues like free speech.

"We won't hesitate to speak out when we see contradiction to those values," the president said.

According to a statement from the Cuban government, officials are aiming to re-open their embassy on or after July 20. White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told MSNBC that the U.S. will open its embassy in Cuba "shortly after" July 20.

"In making this decision, Cuba is encouraged by the reciprocal intention to develop respectful and cooperative relations between our two peoples and governments," Cuban President Ra�l Castro wrote President Obama in a letter.

President Obama wrote Castro that both nations are making "an important step" toward normalizing relations.

President Obama announced in December that the United States was ending an "outdated approach" of isolating Cuba, and in May the United States dropped Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

This formal step follows Obama's call to normalize relations and economic ties between the two countries after decades of Cold War hostilities. The United States severed diplomatic relations with the communist island country in 1961.

The U.S. said in May it was removing Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Cuba was formally removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism on May 29th.

Secretary of State John Kerry announced Wednesday that he will travel to Cuba later in the summer and called the resumption of diplomatic relations an "important step" in comments that followed the president's remarks.

"... Castro says that a half century of communist rule seemed like a good idea, right up until the part where he was rushed to the hospital in a '55 Oldsmobile." Conan O'Brian

LTme stated >>>
Well 2A,
Havana has seen better days.

Perhaps Conan said it best:


The sad thing is how badly degraded so much of that formerly elegant architecture is.

None the less, I gather it's a tropical paradise, at least climatologically if not politically.

- Bring a camera, and lots of "film" (whatever size batts you'll need)
- be alert to street security risks (don't loiter in dark alleys early in the morning)
- Have a great time.

NOTE:
There will be rules about what currency, what exchange rate, what plastic, and perhaps what WiFi you can use.
You may know all this, but some others that don't travel as much might know; you can spare yourself a lot of severe headaches by just doing a little study and preparation before you begin your vacation abroad.
It's almost like living in another country.

The only upside,
is maybe, it'll bring down the cost of cigars.

A case of Romeo y Julieta cigars runs about $2,500.

Quality is way down.


Honduran cigars are much better in flavour.