Unidad Cubana

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and Bookpleasures.com, is pleased to have as a guest well known author, travel writer and expert on the South Pacific, David Stanley. David is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific.Good day David and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.NORM:Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and the books you have authored pertaining to the South Pacific.David:I've earned a living from travel guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of Rutland published the 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK.In November 2004, Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville, California, brought out the 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific...

When North Americans discuss Cuba, they always focus the intense poverty of Cuba. I hope to provide my readers with insights into the various social programs available for the Cuban population, specifically for people with disabilities...

Before the world even knew of the expression teacup chihuahua, regular chihuahuas have had quite a history of their own. They were first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904 after being discovered in the Chihuahua state, a mexican region, bordering Texas and New Mexico. This also gave rise to the name of the breed.As many times happens with history, there are slightly different versions as to the origin of what became the teacup chihuahua. If we comine known facts they are said to come from the ancient Techichi dogs of the Toltec Civilisation near Mexico City. The Azteks conqured the Toltecs and turned these dogs in to sacred icons of the upper class, giving them religious meaning...

After my walk through the Vedado neighbourhood, my friend Pedro came to pick me up since I had suggested a little excursion with a rental car to get to know the countryside. His wife and sister-in-law unfortunately coulnd't make it since their cousin was coming to town. La Habana can feel a little claustrophobic since the transportation options are limited and even a basic taxi ride to the Eastern Beaches (Playas del Este) is quite costly.And it's also nice to get away from the city, which can get rather congested and contaminated with car exhaust fumes from all the old vehicles. I can't imagine what the air must be like here in the summer when it is 35, 40 degrees Celsius with 80, 90 percent...

After picking up the bicycle on Thursday, I finally took my first ride on Friday afternoon through the beautiful residential area of Vedado. We had had a tropical downpour in the early afternoon, so the streets were a bit wet and it was about 4 pm or so by the time I got out. Of course, by that time, rush hour traffic had already started and there were thousands of people in the street, waiting for buses. The bicycle was a pretty new mountain bike, but it seems that all the gears and derailleurs were totally screwed up and I constantly had problems with the chain. 2 of the 3 chainrings in the front didn''t work at all and I had a pretty hard time getting along with the bike.But even more so than the...

The decision to provide another nuclear power with PALS technology is not unprecedented. The United States has transferred the technology successfully to Britain, France, and even to the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis (Man). Pakistan has made indirect overtures to the United States in what seems to be a bid to obtain the devices, with Pakistani officials making public suggestions to their U.S. counterparts that cooperation of the U.S. with Pakistan on nuclear safety issues is an imperative given their relative inexperience with safety systems and nuclear weapons in general (Man).In the aftermath of September 11th, the U.S...

Fidel Castro is having surgery and getting up in years and has assigned Cuban concerns to his Brother Raul for now. Fidel Castro is 80 some years old now and has been in charge of Cuba since the revolution in 1959. Fidel Castro announced this passing of torch at least temporarily in Havana recently. But is this temporary or an end of an Era?Will Fidel Castro survive his complicated surgery procedures? Will this temporary relinquishing of power become a permanent issue? Cuba is known in Central and South America for very good medical expertise. Raul is currently the Vice President, Defense Minister and second in charge of the party. Raul is 75 years old. Fidel Castro has had an incredible run as the...

Fidel Castro is having surgery and getting up in years and has assigned Cuban concerns to his Brother Raul for now. Fidel Castro is 80 some years old now and has been in charge of Cuba since the revolution in 1959. Fidel Castro announced this passing of torch at least temporarily in Havana recently. But is this temporary or an end of an Era?Will Fidel Castro survive his complicated surgery procedures? Will this temporary relinquishing of power become a permanent issue? Cuba is known in Central and South America for very good medical expertise. Raul is currently the Vice President, Defense Minister and second in charge of the party. Raul is 75 years old. Fidel Castro has had an incredible run as the...

One of the most popular destinations to cruise in the world is the Caribbean. While you are having fun and adventure of a life time on board, lets look at what the Caribbean is. The word Caribbean conjures up visions of many beautiful sandy beaches, vacation paradise and a lifestyle most people can only dream of. There are more than 200 island territories in the Caribbean; it is home to millions of people too. It would be extremely advantageous to understand the geography, history, diversity, economy of the region and what it can offer to the average tourist. This can only add to your experience as a visitor. The Caribbean is defined as the Bahamas and the Antilles. The Antilles are further divided...

Warren Beatty once observed," That if you get married in Hollywood, you should always do it before noon. That way if it doesn't work out, you don't kill your evening." But in 1925 Walt Disney, still getting his feet wet in Tinseltown was not interested in pampered starlets. His eye was on a employee of his named Lillian Bounds, originally from Lewiston, Idaho who worked for him as ink paint girl making fifteen dollars a week. She reminded him of the hard working girls he knew growing up in Missouri. For her part she found him charming, the way he grew a mustache to look older in business meetings, and how he refused to call on her until he could afford a new suit. Since he was more gentile around...

The trend towards outsourcing will continue to grow as market pressures force corporations to be more tightly focused on core business functions, gaining competitive advantage and reducing costs. Outsourcing is an attractive alternative in good times and bad times. Shifting back end administrative and business functions to an external provider in good times, may be a means for quicker time to market and focusing resources on core business activities to grow the business. In bad times, outsourcing is a means for streamlining the enterprise by eliminating functions, which create a drag on capital and/or do not provide any competitive advantage.In the current economic environment, concerns over...

Diversions are wonderful things that distract the mind and relax the body. Although initially to be diverted from a course might sound like a bad thing, in a day when the work week seems never-ending and vacations are always out of reach, diversions are a Godsend. They can be a way to connect with friends and family, discover a heritage (or pass on a passion to future generations), express a creative side, get exercise, relieve stress, and most of all, alleviate boredom. After all, diversions equal fun. Collecting is a popular diversion, and since it depends on the interests of the individual collector, it can deal with literally any subject. People have been known to collect things from nature...

I had been to Mexico twice before, once many years ago in Manzanillo, and more recently in 2003 in Puerto Vallarta. Essentially both of these vacations were typical tourist experiences and ever since I got the taste for real discovery, starting with my Cuba trip last year, I have wanted to discover new places by immersing myself, getting to know the locals, even studying the language to really get a good feel for the country and its people. Early this year I read an article in the Toronto Star's Travel Section about Cuernavaca - "The City of Eternal Spring", a city just 90 km south of Mexico City, on the main highway to Acapulco. Cuernavaca is also one of the world's largest centres for Spanish...

I decided to do some research on Cuba's healthcare system. as we excitedly wait for film maker Michael Moore's new masterpiece,"Sicko," "Sicko" spotlights the negligent U.S. healthcare system. In a brilliant example of contrast, Moore takes 911 fire fighters and rescue workers with life threatening lung problems their health insurance policies refused to cover, first to the U.S. Post Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where care was refused; then to Havana, where the doctors there happily treated them. 50,000 people are without healthcare insurance in the United States. Many of those who are insured are under insured. The job of the insurance companies is to deny claims and services to their clients, whether...

The grand Bahamas is a completely independent nation in the West Indies and is an assortment of seven hundred islands and some smaller islands. The Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean, which comes in the east of Florida in the United States of America and north of Cuba and the Caribbean islands. The Bahamas is a grand and a beautiful place to be in. it feels like as if you are in heaven away from the regular rush of the daily lives and the hustle and bustle and the noise. Bahamas Golf Vacation is the ultimate vacation that you can gift yourself as well as your family and enjoy the stay in Bahamas while you enjoy the Bahamas Golf Vacation spree. Golf is a much played game in the Bahamas and so...

Mexico Holidays & Packages Mexico the country with its turbulent history encompasses fantastic legends and lore. Its culture with its Spanish connection has its own indigenous appeal. That appeal has infiltrated into its art, design and architecture. From museums and opera houses to tranquil beach resorts, travellers in Mexico will definitely not ask for anything more. Over 500 festivals and holidays are celebrated annually throughout Mexico City and nearby towns showcasing deep historical ancestry. Mexico is one of the most admired tourist spots. The first name that comes in mind is Riviera Maya, Mexico. Due to its lush jungle, landscape, shoreline and history, Riviera Maya has a variety of...

Americans avoid Colombia for good reasons. A virtual civil war has been waged for nearly 40 years. Rates of crime and violence are among the world's highest. And then there's the "drug problem." Why would anyone consider coming here to teach English?"I came because a friend who was working in Cali liked it here and recommended it," says Glenn Yates, a teacher now in his second year at a bilingual school. Tired of Canada's frigid winters, he fled to a land of year-round warm weather and an even warmer welcome.Colin Jacobs, weary of gloomy days and drizzle, found his way to teaching English in Cali from his native England more than 20 years ago and hasn't left since. "I don't think I could live in...

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and is delighted to have as a guest well- known author and travel writer, Christopher P. Baker.Christopher is an expert on Cuba and Jamaica, as well as other venues in the Caribbean and Latin America.Christopher was named Travel Journalist Of The Year by the Jamaica Tourist Board in 1998. He is here to discuss with us Jamaica.Good Day Christopher and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.NORM:Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and the books you have authored.Christopher:I grew up and was educated in England, where I began my international travels while studying geography at university. After settling in California in...

As a travel professional considering an exotic island wedding was a logical choice, but having to convince a strong Catholic family was the challenge I faced! I was never a traditionalist in the sense, and I have attended so many conventional weddings with a church ceremony and post-reception in the past, I wanted to do something different and special for the most important day of my life!Island weddings have been around for quiet some time, but in my opinion, they seemed to be perceived more for renewal of vows and second marriages, however, as our lifestyles change, we separated ourselves from tradition, and an exotic wedding on a spectacular island seemed like a dream in paradise for me.I met the...

United States of America is not the only country with a problem with its illegal immigration or illegal aliens. Although in the U.S. we have people coming over the U.S. Mexican border who are drug dealers, possible international terrorists, MS 13 gang members and criminals, we must also consider what they are up to.There are currently 24 million illegal aliens in the United States of America and not all come from MEXICO in fact 40 percent of the illegal aliens in our Nation come from other countries; such as China. And when we catch Chinese illegal immigrants we cannot take them back because China does not want them and really the cost to ship someone half way around the world should not be the US...

After my walk through the Vedado neighbourhood, my friend Pedro came to pick me up since I had suggested a little excursion with a rental car to get to know the countryside. His wife and sister-in-law unfortunately coulnd't make it since their cousin was coming to town. La Habana can feel a little claustrophobic since the transportation options are limited and even a basic taxi ride to the Eastern Beaches (Playas del Este) is quite costly.And it's also nice to get away from the city, which can get rather congested and contaminated with car exhaust fumes from all the old vehicles. I can't imagine what the air must be like here in the summer when it is 35, 40 degrees Celsius with 80, 90 percent...

Fidel Castro is getting old and there are rumors that he has terminal cancer, so his reign will be almost over and yet we wonder; will he pass the torch completely or will he hold on to it until his death? Will we ever know when Fidel Castro dies? Will there be some people in Cuba who do not accept his death or believe it when he dies?Will it be a lot like Elvis? Perhaps you might ask yourself the question; did you just see Elvis at the bar with Fidel Castro? Will Fidel Castro's brother take over the country and will that be a good thing for the world? Will that help the United States of America and Cuban relations? Will it be the end of an era or another five years of the same?We will know in...

Hotel Havana Libre, Tuesday April 5, 2005, 6:24 pm So Saturday I had already planned to go to Vinales, a beautiful area in the province of Pinar del Rio, 190 km west of Havana. I took the Viazul bus from the Havana station, which is a modern bus network more or less for tourists and the one way fare is US$12 (way too much for the locals, most of whom end up taking local taxis or the cheaper and less reliable, more decrepit Astro bus system). A young Cuban man sat down beside me in the bus terminal and tried to offer me accommodation in his private home in Pinar del Rio (one version of the shadow economy which is centered around tourists). After I told him I already had accommodation, he started to...

After my walk through the Vedado neighbourhood, my friend Pedro came to pick me up since I had suggested a little excursion with a rental car to get to know the countryside. His wife and sister-in-law unfortunately coulnd't make it since their cousin was coming to town. La Habana can feel a little claustrophobic since the transportation options are limited and even a basic taxi ride to the Eastern Beaches (Playas del Este) is quite costly.And it's also nice to get away from the city, which can get rather congested and contaminated with car exhaust fumes from all the old vehicles. I can't imagine what the air must be like here in the summer when it is 35, 40 degrees Celsius with 80, 90 percent...

Are you an American wondering how or if you can legally visitCuba? Join the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have experienced the thrills of visiting this exciting and exotic destination legally.Americans can travel to Cuba legally if they are a Cuban American, politician, journalist or if you have a research project that is about Cuba. Others including students,religious groups and humanitarians can apply for a license from the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC...

We all want to do something interesting but affordable with our kids for spring break. I have compiled a list of the ten most kid and adult friendly places to go . 10. Splash Lagoon indoor water park in Erie, PA. At a dreamy 84 degrees F any day of the year this is a location of guaranteed nice weather. This place is awesome with a lazy river to lounge in atop an inner tube built for two. There are three giant hot tubs, one for adults only to relax in. An enormous tipping bucket perches on a three story tree house waiting to dump a thousand gallons of water on the waiting crowd that gathers below. Monkey Shines Island is an area for little ones only with a pool and mini slides. The biggest bonus...

Do you know that Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Hong Kong are the most visited cities in China? A lot of people refer it as the 'golden route' or 'presidential route' after Bill Clinton visited these cities in 1998. Certainly the golden route has a good combination of everything: great historical heritages, beautiful landscape, delicious Chinese food, great shopping and so on. Best time to visit China is spring and autumn when China has beautiful weather and fewer tourists. If you are a first-time visitor to China, the golden route is your top pick. You would need at least two weeks to complete the tours. Beijing - you would need at least four nights to complete what you need to see and do. Great Wall of...

The prisoners at Gitmo have decided to go on a hunger strike of course this does coincide with their Islamic holy holiday. It costs taxpayers to feed these prisoners who have decided they do not want to eat. People do make choices in life and in fact they have to live with those choices. For instance they chose to make the United States their enemy, they ended up in Gitmo. They choose not to eat they might starve? Just like those who failed to heed the mandatory evacuation are now at serious risk of disease and death.But there are others who really do need help, that did follow evacuation orders, they are not the ones looting. So here is what I propose. We take a months worth of food from Gitmo and...

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and Bookpleasures.com, is pleased to have as a guest well known author, travel writer and expert on the South Pacific, David Stanley. David is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific.Good day David and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.NORM:Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and the books you have authored pertaining to the South Pacific.David:I've earned a living from travel guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of Rutland published the 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK.In November 2004, Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville, California, brought out the 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific...

Caribbean cooking introduces all visitors to some truly distinctive flavors through the addition of spices and other ingredients like mangoes, coconut, lime, cassava, papaya, yam, guava, and peppers. Surprisingly, the use of limes in Caribbean cooking among the natives is not all that different from the way it is used in the United States. Lime is one of the most popular ways of marinating fish and a popular dish is Ceviche, which is seafood cooked with the aid of citric juices and seasoned with herbs and onions. Caribbean cooking is not merely delicious it is also unique from one island to another. Each island has developed its own style and technique of cooking food and the food in the Caribbean...

Marinello at Vidaurreta the publicist and writer was born 2. 11.1898, political and public figure of Cuba. Has graduated from Havana university. In 1921-32 professors, in 1962-63 rectors of the Havana university. In 1937 was in republican Spain; together with Gilion has published the digest of the reportings " the People of republican Spain " (1938). In 1938-39 chairmen of a consignment Revolutionary union. In 1940-44 chairmen of Revolutionary Communist Union which has arisen as a result of association of Communist Party and Revolutionary union. After transformation (1944) Union in a National-socialist consignment of Cuba the chairman up to 1961. From 1965 members of Communist Party of Cuba. In 1940...