Adventures in Cuba - Freeland man to establish tour company on island nation

Adventures in Cuba: Freeland man to establish tour company on island nation
BY JILL WHALENPublished: September 3, 2015

When Bob Delese's sister learned that Americans were being allowed to
visit Cuba again, she asked him if he wanted to go.

Delese didn't hesitate with his answer.

"I said, 'What? Are you crazy?" he said, recalling the January
conversation with his sister, Josephine Plesce of Freeland.

But after some thought — and prodding by Plesce — Delese visited the
island nation.

"It was the best thing I ever did. I love the country," he said.

Nine months later, Delese, of Freeland, is readying for his fifth trip
to Cuba and is working with a Cuban tour guide to establish a tour
company there. He hopes to someday handle travel accommodations and tour
arrangements for visitors once they arrive on the island.

Delese never thought he'd find himself in Cuba. For almost half a
century, Americans were forbidden to travel there, and even though
President Barack Obama loosened travel restrictions earlier this year,
Americans can only visit the country with permission, and for
educational, religious or cultural purposes.

Tourism is not a valid reason.

"Travel to Cuba is still restricted by the U.S. government," Delese
said. "You need a valid reason to go."

Delese, who retired as a pilot from the Florida Division of Forestry,
received permission on a people-to-people basis and has since made many
Cuban friends and contacts.

A seasoned traveler, even Delese was nervous on his first trip to Cuba.
He recalled walking out of the small airport terminal and feeling like
he had stepped back in time.

Many vintage cars traveled on the streets, and Delese was taken to his
accommodations in a 1958 Pontiac.

"Walking the streets of Havana, I felt very safe," he said. "There is
virtually no crime and the Cuban people are very warm and friendly — and
when they find out you are American, they want to know everything about
you and America," even though only a few speak English.

During his travels, he saw no neon signs, fast food restaurants or hotel
chains. Internet connections were available only at government-owned
hotels and prices for lodging and food were relatively inexpensive.

"The architecture of the buildings is amazing, however, all the
buildings are in disrepair from years of neglect and are falling apart.
Some have even collapsed," Delese said. "The infrastructure, such as
roads, sidewalks, electrical, plumbing and sewer services are all in bad
shape."

Delese called the countryside "breathtaking."

"There are sugarcane fields, bananas, pineapples — everything you can
imagine," he said.

He visited the Cienfuegos, which was built by Milton Hershey as a
company town. Originally called "Central Hershey," it was renamed after
the Cuban Revolution.

He enjoyed the beaches in Varadero, a resort he said "is truly 5-star
but at half the price." And night life is always entertaining, thanks to
Cuban music and dance, he said.

Delese has been to the Philippines, parts of South America, the
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy, and other locales, but said Cuba is
his favorite place to go.

He said he awaits the time when all travel restrictions are lifted.

"This should be on everyone's bucket list before all the McDonald's,
Starbucks and Hiltons move in," Delese said.

Delese invites anyone interested in travel to Cuba to contact him at
570-236-4394 or bobdelese@yahoo.com.

jwhalen@standardspeaker.com

Source: Adventures in Cuba: Freeland man to establish tour company on
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