I wore my 116710LN to Havana, Cuba this week...

[Tha Baron]

Originally Posted by jdpny

He was there Monday night and still wearing his Sub... also a true story.

fun time in that bar!

[Tha Baron]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

Those vintage cars are a rolling business on wheels. They're worth more than several houses put together. It's amazing how they've kept them up without a legitimate supply store for parts.

Mostly Chinese Diesel engines retrofitted to the frames

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by 911NBK

Tourism is everything to cubans and to that dictatorship, any cuban messes with that and the government throws them in a box and throws away the key. You can walk down any street in cuba with a PM piece and no one will ever rob you.

Good to know! Thanks for the pro tip

[911NBK]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

Good to know! Thanks for the pro tip

I rented a scooter once and drove from varadero to cartegena. Cartegena honestly looks like it just got bombed, at the time anyways, I dont know about now. It was late and it was dark and we were lost. It looked like a great place to get robbed, but instead people were coming out of their homes asking us if we were hungry.

But always be vigilant, the truth is as the regime losses grip on the people, and it inevitably will, the crime will start to surge. So let me be clear, I'm basing myself on my experiences, don't put yourself in a situation you don't feel comfortable with. I don't want anybody getting hurt because of what I said.

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[RW16610]

Looks like you had a great time It's beautiful there

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

That's, like, in direct contradiction of what the State Department has to say. Not that I believe everything from the federal government, but what made you feel so safe? There are neighborhoods in Brooklyn (where I was raised) that I wouldn't venture into, let alone a communist dictatorship.

Among the reasons DOS issues advisories are crime, terrorism, government instability as well as severed diplomatic relations. Cuba largely simply falls into the lack of diplomatic relations. Cuba is very safe, even for americans, for which it isn't black and white illegal to visit as someone eluded to. How can it be a crime to visit when there are flights from american airports.

[911NBK]

Originally Posted by 911NBK

I rented a scooter once and drove from varadero to cartegena. Cartegena honestly looks like it just got bombed, at the time anyways, I dont know about now. It was late and it was dark and we were lost. It looked like a great place to get robbed, but instead people were coming out of their homes asking us if we were hungry.

But always be vigilant, the truth is as the regime losses grip on the people, and it inevitably will, the crime will start to surge. So let me be clear, I'm basing myself on my experiences, don't put yourself in a situation you don't feel comfortable with. I don't want anybody getting hurt because of what I said.

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Not cartegena, cardena.

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[Timesensitive]

Cool pics. Not to pile-on, but let me also say I found Cuba to be one of the very safest places I've traveled. Heard the same from many people wandering the country taking photos etc. I found the people particularly lovely.

Cheers

[nick c]

Cuba is always a safe place.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

That is a naïve statement. I'll bet you 99% of Cubans DO KNOW what a Rolex is. Especially a Sub.

I won’t go into details but, you are wrong. Let’s just say that I have extensive Cuban family. Try visiting the country, ask any person outside of a the 30 blocks that is Havana City or, Varadero, if more than 1 in a 1000 know what your watch is I would be very surprised.

[Scanspeakman]

A GMT-master in Cuba.....very appropriate since Fidel Castro used to wear one as well. Presumably to always be sure what time it was with his Moscow friends...

Scanspeakman

[GMT Aviator]

I fly in and out of Cuba ALOT. Always wear my Ceramic GMT LN and never once had a problem.
There is rationing on food currently in Cuba.
As said earlier, the country is on the verge of collapse.

[excelerater]

the old cars are fantastic as is the food and cigars

[abozz]

And great violation of Human Rights of his people.

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[dr35mm]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Cuba is a very safe country. 99% of Cubans (in Cuba) don’t even know what a Rolex is.

That’s what I a call a happy trigger comment.


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[jsausley]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

That's, like, in direct contradiction of what the State Department has to say. Not that I believe everything from the federal government, but what made you feel so safe? There are neighborhoods in Brooklyn (where I was raised) that I wouldn't venture into, let alone a communist dictatorship.

Because Cuba would imprison someone for life for burglarizing a foreigner.

When I went our "enrichment speaker" (who was from Argentina, I believe) made the following statement:

In Habana, if I steal your iPhone, I get 10 years in prison.

In New York, if I steal your iPhone, I get $200.

[InitialAndPitch]

It’s certainly somewhere that I’d love to get to sometime. Friends have visited and have had wonderful stays. It’s a shame that despite tourism the country is falling over. I hear despite all the grim economic state that they have a really terrific healthcare system.

Haven’t had a cigar in a long, long time - Cuba would be the place to break that drought. Enjoy. Cool pics and Buick.

[jsausley]

Originally Posted by InitialAndPitch

I hear despite all the grim economic state that they have a really terrific healthcare system.

They actually bring in doctors from other developed nations like Japan, China, Brazil, Russia, etc. to study and practice there as sort of a training/residency situation. I wouldn't say healthcare is terrific there because you're not going to get the same quality of care/doctors/medicine as you would in the US, Canada, or the UK, but it is free and you're probably going to get better care than you would in another other country with a similar standard of living.

http://time.com/5467742/cuba-doctors-export-brazil/

[InitialAndPitch]

Originally Posted by jsausley

They actually bring in doctors from other developed nations like Japan, China, Brazil, Russia, etc. to study and practice there as sort of a training/residency situation. I wouldn't say healthcare is terrific there because you're not going to get the same quality of care/doctors/medicine as you would in the US, Canada, or the UK, but it is free and you're probably going to get better care than you would in another other country with a similar standard of living.

http://time.com/5467742/cuba-doctors-export-brazil/

You make a good point. They’ll never have the resources to match the US or Australia, UK or Canada but it seems that they’ve made healthcare a priority. France has a similar philosophy. One of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the US originates from healthcare costs - even amongst those with insurance.

I read an article in the Australian press about an Australian woman who spent the night in a hospital in California. For the one night (from memory), she wound up with s bill for around $18,000 including doctors, tests and accommodation. There was an item on her bill for $US200 - it was described as ‘MRU’. Turns out that she had asked for a tissue to blow her nose so they gave her a box and the term MRU was for “Mucous Recovery Unit”. Two hundred bucks for a box of tissues. Wow.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by excelerater

the old cars are fantastic as is the food and cigars

The food is fantastic? I hear it is garbage. And there is a major food shortage now due to the whole Venezuela thing. I will stick to food in the good 'ol USA

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by InitialAndPitch

You make a good point. They’ll never have the resources to match the US or Australia, UK or Canada but it seems that they’ve made healthcare a priority. France has a similar philosophy. One of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the US originates from healthcare costs - even amongst those with insurance.

I read an article in the Australian press about an Australian woman who spent the night in a hospital in California. For the one night (from memory), she wound up with s bill for around $18,000 including doctors, tests and accommodation. There was an item on her bill for $US200 - it was described as ‘MRU’. Turns out that she had asked for a tissue to blow her nose so they gave her a box and the term MRU was for “Mucous Recovery Unit”. Two hundred bucks for a box of tissues. Wow.

Hahahah! Oh, man, what a gouge.

[jdpny]

- Listen, if you have the time and the means go to Cuba as I did, easy to do.
- The people are the nicest bunch of folks.
- There is very little crime as the justice system is one-sided against the accused.
- Food was great but as an American tourist I had access to the best they had available, 99% of Cubans do not.
- The infrastructure is much worse than I expected.
- I did get one scratch on my GMT's PCL and I will covet the scratch and memory forever.

[Oyster84]

I'm a big time Cuban cigar lover, and actually have probably 20+ boxes. So I would love to visit Cuba, before things get really icy again(hopefully not) but I just haven't been able to plan a trip out. I have friends who visit Cuba religiously. So I may just hitch a ride with them.

[Blueline226]

I also bring back at least 4 suitcases full of Cuban cigars.

How???

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by jdpny

- Listen, if you have the time and the means go to Cuba as I did, easy to do.
- The people are the nicest bunch of folks.
- There is very little crime as the justice system is one-sided against the accused.
- Food was great but as an American tourist I had access to the best they had available, 99% of Cubans do not.
- The infrastructure is much worse than I expected.
- I did get one scratch on my GMT's PCL and I will covet the scratch and memory forever.

This is a very well said thread wrap-up. Thanks for posting pics, even though your thread got sidetracked.

[10XRolex]

Happy to hear and see you made a trip to Cuba. I am married to a born and raised in Cuba Cubanita. With family and owning a house there, we visit often. My first Rolex sport watch came from Cuba, a 2 mil series Pepsi GMT. Unfortunately I had to have it recased, new dial and hands. But it still gives me that Cuban memory when I wear it.

[doramas]

Originally Posted by jcleventhal

Really?

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Of course I do. Total security and kind and wonderful people.

[Oyster84]

Cuba may be safe but we certainly can't say the same for the DR... It's getting a bit ridiculous over there!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...=.54c78c652012

https://www.foxnews.com/us/maryland-...nican-republic

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by 10XRolex

Happy to hear and see you made a trip to Cuba. I am married to a born and raised in Cuba Cubanita. With family and owning a house there, we visit often. My first Rolex sport watch came from Cuba, a 2 mil series Pepsi GMT. Unfortunately I had to have it recased, new dial and hands. But it still gives me that Cuban memory when I wear it.

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing.

[acrds1]

Definitely on my next country to visit. Where did everyone stay? Any suggestions? I personally
love traveling to the irregular undeveloped roads less traveled.


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