This trip was directly out of an unmarked gate in Miami. We were able to go to Cuba on a special cultural exchange visa, which is no longer available. As part of that exchange we actually sat in an auditorium while being lectured on "the triumph of the Revolution", which became a cliche we repeatedly heard on our visit there. The next night we were scheduled to go to a neighborhood meeting of the "Defense of the Revolution" and we dreaded it as more propoganda. In fact, some people from our group stayed at the hotel. It turned out to be the best event of the trip: a surprise block party in our honor. When the thirty Americans in our group filed off the bus we were met by an entire community cheering and clapping, and shaking our hands. There was lots of food, music, dancing and invitations into the homes of the people.
