Notes to Self

We don’t know where we’re going, but I bet over the next four years travel inside and outside of the country is going to get easier.

President-Elect Obama has a lot on his plate but travel is high on his list of things to work on. During his campaign he put out the word that the train system within the US will be getting a long overdue and much needed overhaul. This project falls not only under the transportation heading but also under the developing alternative energy heading. There is also word that there might be a US Tourism or some sort of travel department being created in the future.

He has also mentioned during his campaign something that I and other experienced travelers have always known, travel as diplomacy. I always feel like a US Diplomat when I travel. I have lots of discussions about politics and culture with locals wherever I go. With our new ‘regime’ change I wouldn’t be surprised if the President-Elect will ask us to travel consciously.

And then what about our antiquated attitude towards Cuba? We all want to go to Cuba. Will travel to that island be in our near future?

For those of you who are group oriented, the discussion and community groups at My.BarackObama.Com are going to remain active. There is at least one WorldTravelers group there. I’m sure there are more, and some of them regional.

Whatever the next four years hold, it’s going to be exciting. There will be a lot of hard work in between the journeys, but it finally feels that instead of tredding water, we’re all going to be racing off doing the butterfly :)

I’d love to hear your comments on what you think travel will be about under the Obama administration.

I love the idea of Cuba. I want to go there. It’s on the list. That list I have of many places and many countries and many regions that I want to explore with my own eyes while I’m walking around on my own two feet. I want to photograph it. I want to meet the people. I want to discover it, sweat it, feel it, dance with it, speak to it in its own language. Ah well …

I have not yet gone to Cuba because my cajones are not that big.

My not being allowed to go to Cuba is just one of those conundrummy things that makes me wonder about the definition of freedom.

The other day there was a Reuters article entitled Cuba not ready, but expecting U.S. tourists.

Some U.S. lawmakers are seeking to ease restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba, but even if Congress approves, their efforts are likely to face a veto by President George W. Bush who has tightened sanctions in an effort to undermine Fidel Castro’s government.

Cuba estimates 1 million Americans would visit in the first year after Washington ends a travel ban put in place more than four decades ago to isolate Castro’s communist government.

Americans are expected to flood to Cuba to enjoy its pristine beaches, sip daiquiris at Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bars and take a step back in time riding in vintage cars in a city that was once a Mafia playground.

By some estimates, there could be 3 million American tourists visiting Cuba within five years of an opening up of U.S. travel.

I hope that I will be in the wave of the first 100.

Sorry, I have no photos to add to this post.

Read the Reuter’s Article.