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(CNN) — Growing up in America, Joshu Harris was captivated by the mystique, music and history of Cuba.
A photograph of Havana at dusk taken by photographer Chris Messner on his second trip to Cuba in April 2008.

So before Harris started law school, he traveled to Santiago in southeastern Cuba — something very few Americans can do today. While there, he played his trumpet with a local dance band, touring across the Cuban countryside.

“I wanted to see and experience the country for myself,” says Harris, who is now an attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Harris visited Cuba in 2004 under the promise that he would stay with a Cuban friend and host. Such travel was legal at the time — before former President George W. Bush imposed more stringent travel restrictions later that year.

Many travelers and travel industry professionals hope the Obama administration will soon loosen Cuba travel rules. During the campaign for the White House, President Obama promised to lift travel restrictions on Cuban Americans trying to visit family.

Under Bush’s policy, Cuban Americans had to wait three years between visits to relatives in Cuba. The policy also complicated travel for Americans with no ties to the island. Photo See photos of Cuba »

“My daughter still hasn’t met her grandmother,” said Leigh Salvage, a 38-year-old teacher in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Salvage, who is not Cuban, hopes to accompany her Cuban boyfriend and their 2-year-old daughter soon to visit his relatives in Cuba. She volunteered for the Obama campaign last year, telling people about the effect of the travel restrictions on her family.

“We have roots there, and we should be able to go without so much trouble,” she said.

In 2007, about 45,200 Americans — including Cuban Americans — legally obtained a license or approval from the U.S. government to enter Cuba by air, a dramatic drop from nearly 84,500 travelers in 2003, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

Easing travel restrictions for Cuban Americans alone isn’t enough for many in the travel industry. The American Society of Travel Agents, the nation’s largest group of travel professionals and companies, would like all Americans to be allowed to visit the island.

The group formally requested the Obama administration lift all travel restrictions.

American travel to Cuba remains tightly controlled and highly bureaucratic for most Americans since the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on the country in the 1960s. Many American critics say opening U.S. travel to Cuba would be supporting an oppressive, totalitarian government.

Several academics say Obama’s administration wouldn’t go as far as allowing American leisure travel, and the president indicated he will maintain the trade embargo.

“The Obama administration isn’t just going to give the policy unless Cuba gives something in return,” says Jaime Suchlicki, director of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies at the University of Miami.

Almost all other countries in the world have open access to Cuba and the island remains a popular tourist destination for Canadians and Europeans, attracting millions of visitors each year. Tourism is a primary source of revenue for the island.

Along with Cuban Americans, journalists, church volunteers, athletes and students are among the few non-Cuban Americans who can apply for applications to visit Cuba.

“Travel isn’t banned,” explains Richard Champley, a senior analyst in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism and Industries, “You just have to get permission.”

Legal American travel to Cuba began to fall after Bush toughened restrictions. For example, there were nearly 350 universities and schools offering study abroad programs before the changes. Now, there are only a half dozen, says Robert Bozina, a professor at Santa Clara University in California who organizes the school’s Cuba study abroad trip.

Government approved travelers usually enter Cuba via charter flights because direct flights by U.S. flagged carriers are illegal. Flights from Miami, Florida, located 90 miles away, can run around $550 for a round trip, according to several charter companies.

Other Americans who visit Cuba illegally rely on foreign entry points such as the Cayman Islands, Mexico City or Canada. Travel experts estimate tens of thousands of Americans do this annually, despite the fact that tourist travel to Cuba is also illegal through a third party country, according to the U.S. State Department.

Travelers who visit the country illegally “could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon the return to the United States,” the State Department’s Web site says. Civil penalties could mean thousands of dollars in mandatory fines.

Despite restrictions, travel industry professionals say the American tourist demand is there.

“If Cuba was opened up, you’d see a significant amount of interest from Americans,” says Mary Peremsky, a travel consultant at Travel Advisors International, a travel booking agency based in Minnesota. “People get tired of the same cookie cutter destinations.”

A travel agent for more than 20 years, Peremsky says visiting Cuba would be a big hit for younger and more adventurous travelers with an appetite for unexplored locations. The close proximity of Cuba to the U.S. makes the Caribbean island a convenient destination as well.

Chris Messner, a fine arts photographer in Santa Barbara, California, visited Cuba twice in the last three years through his association with the Architectural Design Review Board.

“Everything is like a time capsule,” said Messner, who plans to return in March. “When you are in Havana, it’s like you’re in the 1950s.”

If leisure travel is approved, legal tourism to Cuba will only be popular among Americans in the first few years, says Tomas Bilbao, executive director at Cuba Study Group in Washington.

He says U.S. tourists are unlikely to return once they realize the island’s weak infrastructure grants limited services at a higher cost compared to other Caribbean destinations.

Still, travel agents are ready to meet the demand for Cuba travel.  advertisement  “I think Cuba needs some work, and I don’t know if it’s ready for us,” says Cathy Mezzacappa, manager of Marshfield Travel, a travel company outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

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Although Cuba is in America’s backyard, the island has had virtually no contact with its illustrious neighbour for almost half a century. This contrasts with Russia, which despite being on the other side of the world, has given the Cuban government $354 million in loans.  With Barack Obama in the White House, Washington is promising to change the situation.

But why is Russia being so friendly to Cuba now?

“It irritates the United States. What the Russians are saying to the Americans is that if you are going to interfere in Georgia, Ukraine and Poland, we also have options in your backyard. It’s a very old game,” geopolitical expert George Friedman says.

Because of the embargo, Cuba remains an exotic, almost forbidden, place for U.S. citizens. But Andres Martinez, a veteran U.S. journalist and scholar, has been to the island several times. He believes Cubans and Americans desperately need more contact.

“I was trying to talk to people on the streets, and engage in sort of informal exchanges and learn about the situation. I think on the part of most Cubans, there’s also this appetite to have more exchange with Americans. There’s this thirst to participate in the larger world out there,“ Martinez says.

But this Cuban thirst might not be so easily quenched. Very few in the political establishment believe that the embargo will be lifted. Despite the promised radical changes in American foreign policy, the anti-Castro lobby remains powerful; there are too many people in America who can’t forgive Fidel for what he did.

“The government that my parents left from is still in place. They took away all of my family’s personal property. In other words, they wanted to make it so difficult we would not have even a cent as punishment,” says Cuban-American Jorge Ponce.

Jorge Ponce was eleven years old when he and his family came to the United States. He has not been back to Havana in 43 years. He says he would go back only when Cuba is free, according to his understanding of the word. Only then, Jorge says, can sanctions be lifted.

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Raul Castro is in Russia for a week-long state visit. So far, Castro has put 30 deals into his pocket and, as a bonus, was able to satisfy his appetite for Russian traditions. There were times when the Castro brothers were greeted in Moscow by crowds of people chanting “Cuba SI Yankee NO.”

Soviet news showed Castro arriving on a Soviet Ilyushin airplane, escorted by MIGs – an unheard-of honor.

Although, in reality, Fidel had secretly landed earlier in Russia. He was first taken to Murmansk where he got a glimpse of Russian nuclear missiles.

Also in 1963 Fidel spent 45 days traveling in the USSR. Everywhere he went he was met by cheering crowds.
Times have changed…But when his younger brother landed in Moscow this week it was again on a Russian made Ilyushin…the type that’s usually used by Russian leaders.

This visit couldn’t boast the Soviet-era pomp but the symbolism remained…Russians still affectionately calls Cuba an “Island of Freedom” and contrary to the Soviet Iron Curtain times, many choose Havana as a holiday destination.

While in Russia, Raul Castro has decided to stay at the Russian state residence in Tver region, outside of Moscow.

He came well-equipped with a warm coat and ushanka hat. Medvedev greeted Castro like an old friend, although they both met for the first time just two months ago when the Russian president landed in Havana, along with a contingent of the Russian Navy.

“I’m very glad to see you in Russia and especially at this place which I know you visited many years ago. I even have a film about Fidel’s stay here and some interesting pictures,” – the Russian President said during his greeting.

In the 1960s, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev hosted the Castro brothers at the same residence. Then, Fidel got the full Russian experience – including a Russian hunt – and shots of vodka to go with the hunting. And Raul Castro was filled with nostalgia. “I’ve been missing Russian forests. The moments when I was roasting lard with pieces of rye bread on sticks over the fire I hold dear to my heart… I don’t know if I will be so lucky as to have the chance to again taste it, but I’m here.”

Medvedev got the hint, laying on the top traditional Russian hospitality filled with delicacies. After talks, the two went outside for a dinner by the fire… with pickled vegetables, barbecue, samovar and certainly the most important dish. “Here’s is lard- something you should have come for!” – said Medvedev as he passed the plate to the guest.

These were the first joint talks at such a high governmental level in 25 years. Medvedev and Castro seemed satisfied, chatting every time they had a chance. It is still a mystery how  – since Castro doesn’t understand Russian or English and Medvedev doesn’t speak Spanish. At one point, Medvedev grabbed a paper and began drawing to explain something to Castro.

Both countries reportedly avoided discussions of military ties.

Asked about military cooperation, Deputy PM Igor Sechin laughed it off. “Why are you not interested in our cooperation in pharmaceuticals?  Military, that’s all that interests you!”

However, the frenzy behind this particular issue between Havana and Moscow is easy to understand.

For some 30 years there was an alliance of brothers in arms. Communist Cuba sits right at the U.S. doorstep and Soviet leaders were glad to use this thorn in the side of Washington by reinforcing military cooperation.

In the 1960s it led to the Cuban Missile Crisis – a major stand-off between the two superpowers that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Mikhail Kamynin, Russian Ambassador to Cuba, said today the countries “focus on economic and humanitarian relations but military contacts cannot be ignored”.

Russia shut down its military base in Cuba in 2002. When Medvedev landed in Havana and was followed by a contingent of the Russian Navy, many saw it as a sign of Russia’s military comeback in the region.

So far, the fleet that will next dock in Havana will be only for commercial fishing. “We used to draw one million tons of fish a year, we are going to come back” said Andrey Krajny, the head of the Russian Fishing Agency.

Also, Russian energy companies are planning on developing oil fields around Cuba. Further, Russian “Inter RAO” is going to build a power station on the island. The countries also sealed deals in auto manufacturing, mobile communications and pharmaceuticals. Cuba will also receive a multimillion dollar loan on top of the 300 million they received earlier. Additionally, Russia has a bulk carrier loaded with grain ready for shipping as humanitarian aid to Cuba.

But the symbolism of this meeting might be more important than the agreements that were thrashed out – as old friends are rebuilding their ties anew, this time with no ideological backing.

Source

Raul Castro is in Russia for a week-long state visit. So far, Castro has put 30 deals into his pocket and, as a bonus, was able to satisfy his appetite for Russian traditions. There were times when the Castro brothers were greeted in Moscow by crowds of people chanting “Cuba SI Yankee NO.”

Soviet news showed Castro arriving on a Soviet Ilyushin airplane, escorted by MIGs – an unheard-of honor.

Although, in reality, Fidel had secretly landed earlier in Russia. He was first taken to Murmansk where he got a glimpse of Russian nuclear missiles.

Also in 1963 Fidel spent 45 days traveling in the USSR. Everywhere he went he was met by cheering crowds.
Times have changed…But when his younger brother landed in Moscow this week it was again on a Russian made Ilyushin…the type that’s usually used by Russian leaders.

This visit couldn’t boast the Soviet-era pomp but the symbolism remained…Russians still affectionately calls Cuba an “Island of Freedom” and contrary to the Soviet Iron Curtain times, many choose Havana as a holiday destination.

While in Russia, Raul Castro has decided to stay at the Russian state residence in Tver region, outside of Moscow.

He came well-equipped with a warm coat and ushanka hat. Medvedev greeted Castro like an old friend, although they both met for the first time just two months ago when the Russian president landed in Havana, along with a contingent of the Russian Navy.

“I’m very glad to see you in Russia and especially at this place which I know you visited many years ago. I even have a film about Fidel’s stay here and some interesting pictures,” – the Russian President said during his greeting.

In the 1960s, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev hosted the Castro brothers at the same residence. Then, Fidel got the full Russian experience – including a Russian hunt – and shots of vodka to go with the hunting. And Raul Castro was filled with nostalgia. “I’ve been missing Russian forests. The moments when I was roasting lard with pieces of rye bread on sticks over the fire I hold dear to my heart… I don’t know if I will be so lucky as to have the chance to again taste it, but I’m here.”

Medvedev got the hint, laying on the top traditional Russian hospitality filled with delicacies. After talks, the two went outside for a dinner by the fire… with pickled vegetables, barbecue, samovar and certainly the most important dish. “Here’s is lard- something you should have come for!” – said Medvedev as he passed the plate to the guest.

These were the first joint talks at such a high governmental level in 25 years. Medvedev and Castro seemed satisfied, chatting every time they had a chance. It is still a mystery how  – since Castro doesn’t understand Russian or English and Medvedev doesn’t speak Spanish. At one point, Medvedev grabbed a paper and began drawing to explain something to Castro.

Both countries reportedly avoided discussions of military ties.

Asked about military cooperation, Deputy PM Igor Sechin laughed it off. “Why are you not interested in our cooperation in pharmaceuticals?  Military, that’s all that interests you!”

However, the frenzy behind this particular issue between Havana and Moscow is easy to understand.

For some 30 years there was an alliance of brothers in arms. Communist Cuba sits right at the U.S. doorstep and Soviet leaders were glad to use this thorn in the side of Washington by reinforcing military cooperation.

In the 1960s it led to the Cuban Missile Crisis – a major stand-off between the two superpowers that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Mikhail Kamynin, Russian Ambassador to Cuba, said today the countries “focus on economic and humanitarian relations but military contacts cannot be ignored”.

Russia shut down its military base in Cuba in 2002. When Medvedev landed in Havana and was followed by a contingent of the Russian Navy, many saw it as a sign of Russia’s military comeback in the region.

So far, the fleet that will next dock in Havana will be only for commercial fishing. “We used to draw one million tons of fish a year, we are going to come back” said Andrey Krajny, the head of the Russian Fishing Agency.

Also, Russian energy companies are planning on developing oil fields around Cuba. Further, Russian “Inter RAO” is going to build a power station on the island. The countries also sealed deals in auto manufacturing, mobile communications and pharmaceuticals. Cuba will also receive a multimillion dollar loan on top of the 300 million they received earlier. Additionally, Russia has a bulk carrier loaded with grain ready for shipping as humanitarian aid to Cuba.

But the symbolism of this meeting might be more important than the agreements that were thrashed out – as old friends are rebuilding their ties anew, this time with no ideological backing.

Source