I had an interesting vacation in Cuba. I think the best part about it was the Cuban people - they were warm and friendly and did not resent the special treatment tourists get at all. It was not what I was expecting. We'd definitely go back.

The fact that Cuba is a communist country was quite well hidden from view. Aside from the fact that Cubans are restricted from visiting the island where my resort was located, I did not see much evidence of socialism. There were no statues of Castro, no giant posters. This was not like Saddam Hussein and Iraq, or Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines... the people of Cuba are not forced to worship their leader. They had no trouble discussing politics openly, and were not afraid of “secret police” or any other totalitarian authority.

Anyways, it's 9 degrees and raining here in Toronto. Man, what a let down. I had hoped that in the week I was gone, things would have become more spring-like here. Oh well.

My wife and I are already planning our next sunny getaway - maybe even in the next month or so. Unfortunately, our social calendar is full the next two or three weekends, and so it's hard to find a free week.