Sorry to burst your bubble, but as a full-time journalist you have a standing exemption to the licensing process required for travel to Cuba. The courts have said time and again that travel restrictions to countries on which he have trade sanctions are a legitimate use of government power. If I have to live with the fact that Florida can’t ban the baby killing that is abortion because it’s “settled law” then you have to live with the fact that the federal government is entrusted with international trade policy.

Thanks for stopping by. This blog is a work in progress, but I wanted to start it off with a Miami blogroll.

And I agree with Ms Calabaza … Awesome Pic and the name for your blog “Magic City Mania” is excellent.

I actually did end up receiving a warning letter, which threatened me with a fine or imprisonment if I dared go back to Cuba.

But you’re right, I wasn’t really worried about them coming after me because I was just a lowly journalist with a bunch of camera lenses and a few measly dollars in my pockets.

They were expecting to find Cigars in my luggage, but they found nothing except the open bottle of Havana Club we were openly carrying.

They only go after the ones that travel a lot or the ones who spend big amounts. Which of course it doesn’t make the law any more just. You they probably figured it’s not worth the trouble.

Nice post. I don’t think Miami Cubans are any more materialistic than anybody else. They are the most prosperous Hispanic group, and some like to flaunt their wealth. I can’t blame them. Some lost everything and some were born with nothng so anything they have they learned the hard way not to take it for granted. When you have made your own shoes stitch by stitch, it makes you want to buy a closetful one day.