CAN AMERICANS VISIT CUBA?

• Despite a ban on most American travel to Cuba, more than 60,000 American tourists travel to Cuba annually from Mexico, Canada or other Caribbean ports. Cuba places no restrictions on American travel in Cuba and will not stamp passports of American tourists to prevent problems upon return.

WHAT IS CUBA LIKE?

• Your first impression of Cuba will be visual. Cuba looks like someone pressed a stop watch on January 1, 1959, the day that FIdel Castro's revolution overthrew that dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. A third of the cars are 40's and 50's American models. You have to love a country where there are more Desotos than Hondas! Havana is a beautiful colonial city, with a large historic quarter (the Vieja), museums and a spectacular waterfront walk called the Malecon. Cuban people are friendly, well educated and healthy, as a result of Cuba's universal and free health care and education systems.

WHY GO ON A CUBABALL TOUR?

• Cuba is unique. One of only two remaining socialist societies, it struggles to preserve its revolution in the face of international isolation, a 46-year American blockade, and an economy that went into a tailspin after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Fidel is 81 years old. There is little doubt that Cuba is going to undergo a profound change upon his departure. The time to see Cuba is before that change, when it will become one of the major tourist destinations in the Caribbean.

HOW ABOUT THE BASEBALL?

• Despite the defection of some stars, such as Livan and Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez, and Ray Ordonez, Cuba remains a world power in baseball. In the spring of 2000, the national team split a two game home and home series with the Orioles, losing a close game to the O's in Havana and drubbing the big leaguers at Camden Yards. When I talk to Cubans about Rey ORdonez, they laugh, saying that he was never considered good enough to make the Cuban national team. Omar Lineras, who plays with Pinar del Rio is considered the best third baseman in the world, and turned down $10 million/year offers to play in the big leagues. He is perhaps Cuba's greatest sports hero. Baseball is the #1 sport in this sport-crazed country. Kids play ball with home-made pelotas (baseballs) year round. Every 9-year old looks like a prospect! All games we attend will be games of the National Series, Cuba's premier league. The League has 15 teams, one for each province and one for Havana City. Cuban ballplayers always play for their home provinces. Ballparks are of 60's and 70's vintage, and are comparable to AAA parks in North America. We will attend games in Havana province, Matanzas province, and at Havana's Estadio Latinamericano, Cuba's Yankee Stadium!

CAN I BUY CUBAN CIGARS?

• Cuban cigars are the best in the world. Hand-made Cubanos are widely available in factory stores (we will visit two), hotels and some specialty shops. These are guaranteed authentic and come with all official stamps. They sell for prices that are approximately 25% of those in Canada or Great Britain. Most brands (Cohiba, Montecristo, Uppmann, Romeo y Julietta, Bolivar, etc) are available most of the time. Tourists are constantly approached by Cubans who offer cigars at sharp discounts, claiming that their brothers work in the factories. These are invariably fakes and should be avoided. Regrettably, Americans may not bring Cuban cigars back into the United States. But you can enjoy your Cubans while on the tour.

WILL I BE ABLE TO GET AUTOGRAPHS OF PLAYERS?

• Cubaball Tours has arranged opportunities for tour participants to meet with current and former Cuban baseball stars, including former major leaguers and Negro League players. For example, 96 year-old Conrado Marerro, who pitched with the Washington Senators from 1951-54, still lives in Havana.