Jay - The rumour that you heard about leaving the "compounds" in Cuba are totally false, as is much of the propaganda the US gov't and media present to the general public (and I'm not ragging on you, or the American people, but the Cuban Embargo is complete BS) to justify thier stand on Cuba. As I live on a bodertown in Canada, most of our information is dominated by American media, so I am very aware of the US-Cuba situation. That being said, it was a very eye-opening experience to visit Cuba, interact with the locals, and here the "other-side" of the story. I've been to several Carribean Islands and have never met more genuine, honest and life-loving people, anywhere. They do not have much, but they are thankful for everything they have - which we ungrateful North Americans don't understand.
I'm sorry for getting all political, but after visiting Cuba, those thoughts really stick in my mind. I've heard of many Americans going to Cuba via Mexico or Canada. Cuban customs do not stamp American passports, but rather issue a stamped peice of paper, that is handed in at the end of the visit, leaving no paper trail of your visit to Cuba. American money is no longer acceptable , and you cannot use credit cards that are issued by American banks. Cuba is one of the few places in the world that DAN will not cover, because they are American based.....
Now, the naturalization proceedures in Canada? - Come on up, bud - we let anybody into Canada, and give them more rights and benefits than our natural citizens. We have good beer, but keep in mind, its damn cold....
Take care mate, and again - not ragging at you, but American policy on Cuba....
SS
