Experience the Forbidden Tropical
Paradise!!
Buenos Dais Amigo! Get
used to it because you'll hear it a lot in friendly Cuba. Cuba
is the largest and one of the most beautiful countries in the
Caribbean. This is
a rare
opportunity to be a Baseball
Ambassador and play baseball in this tropical paradise.
Despite the embargo the US has with Cuba and the ban on travel, there
are many legal means for travel to Cuba. One of them is amateur
athletic competitions and this trip is set up under those
conditions. It's a long and arduous exercise and there is no
guarantee the trip will happen until full approval is obtained from
both countries. We've been invited by the Cuban sports
authorities and they are in the process of planning for this
trip.
Cuba is known for it's beautiful tropical climate, rum, great music,
cigars, friendly people and of course baseball. The people
of Cuba are generally very congenial towards people from the USA and
are very pro American. They are
very
friendly and welcome tourists with open arms. We'll be playing in
several cities which will give us opportunity to see these historic
cities,
dense tropical jungles, beautiful beaches, and interact with Cuban
nationals. The Cubans are always glad to
have visitors from far away lands are are anxious for us to return to
play
baseball with them and show us their country.
There is no need
to feel intimidated. Cubans are pro American and generous
hosts.
Cuba is a very popular vacation resort for Canadians, French, Germans,
Spanish
and
Italians.
The Cuban government is very concerned about making sure of the safety
of tourists and has very strict penalties for anyone causing problems
with
them. There is plenty of police
and security protection if you are concerned. On the other
hand,
the Cuban people are very warm, friendly and helpful people. They
are always very glad to see you or speak with you. There are
plenty of first class hotels, good places to eat, great music,
beautiful
sites and lots to entertain you. Plus, this trip is perfectly
legal.
We'll visit
both rural and urban areas and stay
in nice tourist hotels. The food is mild Creole style, the
baseball
players
are very good, the music is hypnotic, the architecture is beautiful,
and
the people are hospitable and friendly which make for a great trip.
Between
baseball, tours, site seeing and some free time on your own, we'll have
a full time agenda
to keep you busy. We'll be playing in 4-5 cities in the
western part of Cuba. Our
traveling
baseball experience
will begin by playing in the city of Havana, with day trips to
Matanzas and Pinar del Rio. .
These trips
are a
lot more
than baseball.
You'll be interacting with Cuban Nationals every day on various
levels.
Each day is a full day agenda of baseball and other activities. Just
about everything is included on this trip, all baseball,
license,
airfare to and from Cuba, tours, travel visa, tour guide, all lodging,
most meals and much more. Each day will be a new Baseball Adventure. Once
you've
done one of these trips, your perspective on Cuba and the Cuban people
will change forever.
This
trip is in
the planning phase at this time. Final dates and
itinerary will be confirmed as we get closer. The costs will be
determined
probably after the New Year. If you are interested in
joining this trip, please let me know your intentions. This trip
is for members of Dodgertown West only. Just
forward a completed application and deposit and you are on your way.
|
|
Information
|
This
is a
custom
designed trip for baseball players.
It's the only one of it's
kind to provide a baseball experience for amateurs in Cuba with a full
time baseball
itinerary. Baseball
is one of many mediums between our cultures. We'll eat at
some
great restaurants, stay at nice hotels, be entertained by a full time
agenda, see some great
sights and Play Baseball, Cuban style.
|
This
trip
is open
to any adult person who plays baseball with Dodgertown West, DTW.
The average age of
our
teams is usually in the mid 40's to mid 50's with players ranging in
their 30's
through their 60's. The trip is scheduled in mid winter to
allow for a tropical vacation and chance to get away from the cold,
snow or rain in your area. We'll be limiting
ourselves to a maximum of 15
players.
We will need 3-4 good pitchers, a couple of catchers and several good
position
players.
VALID PASSPORT REQUIRED
You should also be aware that there are strict requirements on spending in Cuba.
All persons will be required to read the embargo requirements and sign
a
document agreeing to follow the requirements. |
| The
trip is far
more economical than any travel agent could do if they could do it at
all.
This
is a unique opportunity that we have for local Cuba baseball
associations to sponsor
us and give us use of their fields, stadiums, teams and parks.
Cuba is
a fairly economical country to visit but most all your expenses will be
paid for in advance. We'll be
going at a
reasonable cost that includes first
class
treatment in every step of the way. The trip will include
all
lodging, ground transportation, all baseball, and many meals.
|
Most
days
we'll be in a different areas, see some local attractions and play a
local
baseball team. Each evening we'll have group outings or
dinners at the hotel.
Occasionally there may be joint meals with the local teams that
will
allow the locals and USA players to get together, swap lies and
make
new friends. You'll find baseball enthusiasts of all age
groups and levels.
They are eager to meet and play baseball with you.
Don't
be just
a tourist, be an International Baseball Ambassador, get to know
the people not just the postcards.
|
Baseball
Baseball and
Cuba go hand in hand. They play baseball in Cuba with much more
passion, much like it
used to be in the USA. They play everywhere and at all
ages. You'll see kids in fields playing with sticks for bats,
taped up rocks for balls and a milk carton for a glove. It is
their passion. In our previous 10 trips we've played in many
cities often using their major league stadiums. Most of the
players we'll play are former professional players and members of the
Cuban national or Olympic teams. You'll need to be on the top of your
game
as they play competitively and don't like to loose. It is
however, all done in fun.
The Cubans have very little baseball gear so you should plan on
bringing baseballs and allowing them to use our gloves, bats and other
equipment.
Transportation
You will
need to make your own flight arrangements from your origination to and
from Miami (MIA) International Airport. We'll be on a charter
flight from Miami to Havana and return on another charter
flight.
Once in Cuba, we'll be met at the airport by our guide and our luxury
bus. We'll have the bus and guide to transport us throughout the
trip. In addition, there may also be members of the Cuban
baseball organizations joining us.
Upon
departure,
you'll
be transported from the hotel to the airport and assisted by our tour
guides.
|
|
Food
Food in
Cuba can be good to excellent depending on where you eat. It is
mostly Caribbean or Creole style with a lot of black beans and
rice. There is also lots of seafood in the diet. Chicken,
fish and pork are the primary proteins and not too much beef.
Most the beef I've had there has been pretty tough. We had a lot
of lobsters on our last trip.
Breakfasts
are included with the rooms at the hotels and will be buffet style
breakfasts. Most lunches are included and will be at various
restaurants wherever we are. Some dinners will be at the hotel
and included. On nights we go to other restaurants you'll be
responsible for your own meals.
Some meals may be with the local Cuban nationals prepared by them
after games or evening social activities.
You won't find any McDonalds, Starbucks or other chain food
restaurants
you are used to. The only fast food chain type restaurants are El
Rapido which is government owned and in almost every city. Deep
fried greasy chicken and the worst pizza you've ever had. On
the other hand they have plenty of cheap beverages and are generally
open all
night. You'll also find restaurants that serve Italian, American,
and Chinese foods.
|
Entertainment
Per the
requirements of our license, we are not limited to the things we can do
but we are limited to the amount of money we can spend each day which
on last review was about $179/day.
Much of that is already taken up by lodging, food and
transportation. There will be time each day for tours, site
seeing
and evening entertainment. We might even want to try Wild
Bills Pub Crawl.
We'll be basing our trip in the western area of Havana which has
several places to experience the local
music and culture. There
are a variety of discos and
entertainment areas as well as entertainment at the hotel.
Schedule permitting we'll be attending a professional game while in
Havana.
The hotels often have a free show every night as do other hotels in the
area. Since we are
limited on time and money, we'll never be able to do all there is to do
but we'll have plenty of activities to keep us busy. We'll also
have some time
for you to explore on your own in each city.
With the baseball, tours and your own outings, you'll be exhausted by
the end of the trip. Sleep when you get back to work.
|
Sightseeing
Almost
everything you see will be new to you. Each day will be a new
adventure with playing baseball, meals at exotic restaurants and seeing
the local sites.
While in each city we'll visit the historical downtown area, have a
lunch and take in the sights. We'll also probably visit a
cigar
factory and possibly a few other things. SInce this trip is
mostly for veterans of previous Cuba trips we'll not be doing as many
tours as previously.
Requirements
This
trip is for
amateur baseball players from Dodgertown West, preferably veterans of
previous Cuba trips. Ages ranging in
the 30's through the
60's. Average age of the teams is generally in the
mid-50's. Only team members are permitted on the trip per the
license. You will need
a valid passport and be able meet visa requirements and must be a full
time participant in scheduled events.
|
Accommodations
When
you
travel a long distance to a foreign land, you want a comfortable place
to stay. Each city has a variety of hotels from which to
choose. There are plenty of hotels in the Havana area. We
generally stay at the El Comodoro
which is bungalow style rooms
surrounded by connecting pools but the hotel has been going down hill
the last few years and is now getting a lot of bad reviews. As
such
this year we will be either at the Hotel
Occidental or the Oasis
Panorama, both in the Miramar district. Both of these are 4
star hotels.
|
Schedule
and Agenda
This
trip is scheduled to take place in the dead of Winter of
2010. This will give you a break from the rain, snow, wind and
cold of winter from wherever you are. There are plenty of flights
to and from Miami to choose from. You should plan on arriving the
day before we go into Cuba as it will probably be an early morning
flight into Cuba. You generally need to be at the airport 3 hours
before
the flight which means being there sometimes at 4-5 am. We
usually plan a dinner in Miami the night before we go into Cuba.
Our departure flight from Havana will probably be in the morning or
early afternoon. By
the time we get through all the customs,
this will get
you back to Miami where you can stay over night or catch a flight home
right away. You are, of course,
welcome to
come earlier to Miami or
stay later in Miami on your own. A
preliminary detailed agenda is shown
below.
All
in all, between the baseball
and the tours,
this will be a very
busy schedule that will give you a great experience and a chance to see
some of the sights of Cuba and experience the Cuban culture. You'll
have lots of
opportunities for
evenings out after the games, tours and dinners.
Outline
of Schedule for 8-days and 7 nights
Day 1
Sunday
Feb. 14
|
Depart
Miami
Arrive Havana Jose
Marti Airport
Transfer to Havana Hotel
Lunch and afternoon on your
own in Havana
Dinner on our own
|
Day 2
Monday
Feb. 15
|
Breakfast
at Hotel
Transfer to Stadium
for game 1 w/Havana
Veterans
Lunch at
local
restaurant in Havana
Afternoon Tours in Havana
Dinner on our own
Havana Hotel
|
Day 3
Tuesday
Feb. 16
|
Havana Hotel
|
Day 4
Wednesday
Feb. 17
|
Breakfast
at the Hotel
Transfer
to Antillana for game #3 with local Cuban
veterans
Lunch at
local
restaurant in Havana
Havana Hotel
|
Day 5
Thursday
Feb. 18
|
Breakfast
at hotel
Transfer to Stadium
for game #4 w/Havana
Veterans
Lunch at
local
restaurant in Havana
Transfer to Havana
Dinner on our own
Havana Hotel
|
Day 6
Friday
Feb. 19
|
Breakfast
at hotel
Transfer to Matanzas
for game #5 with local Cuban Veterans
Lunch in Varadero
Transfer to
Havana
Dinner on our own
Havana Hotel
|
Day 7
Saturday
Feb. 20
|
Breakfast
at hotel
Transfer to Stadium
for game #6 w/Havana
Veterans
Transfer to Hotel
Lunch on your own
Dinner at Hotel National
Havana Hotel
|
Day 8
Sunday
Feb. 21
|
Breakfast
at
hotel
and checkout
Transfer
to
Jose Marti
Airport.
Return to Miami on same day.
|
|
|
|
Harry, Doc, Dennis, Gene & ?
|
|
|
|
Scenes of
Havana
|
Dates
February 14-21, 2010.
You will arrive in Miami by Saturday Feb.13 for charter flight to
Havana
in Feb.14. We will return from Havana to Miami on the
following Sunday, Feb. 21.
Cost
We need at
least 15 participants for this trip to happen, including any additional
non playing staff members.
Costs is not determined yet but look for something in the $2300-$2800
range. These
costs are based on staying at Cuban 3-4 star hotels in double
occupancy. If you want a room to yourself, add
around $450-$500.
It's best
to exchange Euros, British pounds or Swiss Francs as you will get an
even exchange. If you exchange US dollars they will charge you
10% on top of their normal exchange rates. This could be about
20% total.
Universal
Currency #1
Currency
Converter #2
Current Exchange
Rates
Exchange rate,
1 USD = about .9 CUP
Current
Weather in Havana
If you
would like
more information on playing in Cuba send an email to Dennis@DennisMc.com
Included is: Travel License & Visa
Processing
Charter flights MIA-HAV,
HAV-MIA.
7 nights lodging, double
occupancy.
Luxury Bus & Transportation
Travel Guide & Interpreter
All Scheduled Local Tours
All Baseball Games
Most Breakfast & Lunches,
some Dinners
Attendance
at a professional Cuban baseball game (schedule permitting)
Transfers to and from Airport
in Havana
An experience of a lifetime and
More!
|
Not
included is:
Travel
from your home to and from Miami, beverages, airport taxes.
Non-scheduled
trips
(taxis, buses, trains etc.).
Visa
fee Approximately $50
Airport
Taxes MIA: $50
Airport
Taxes HAV: $25
You
may have to pay a gift import tax in HAV: $20-$30
You
may be limited to 44 lb. luggage and have to pay extra for extra
weight, $2/lb if it is allowed.
You
may want to have your luggage security wrapped at about $8-10 each.
Each
player to bring 6 leather baseballs (to be verified)
Each
player to bring
their own playing gear & uniforms.
Gratuities
Insurance
of any kind
Some
lunches and dinners
|
Contact
Dennis
McCroskey,
Baseball Adventures
P.O. Box 707
Mendocino, CA
95460
707-937-4478
707-937-2349
fax
email: Dennis@DennisMc.com
Sign
Up
To sign up for
this
trip you need to fill
out the application form and send a $500 deposit. The balance
of funds will be due by the first week of January
2010. If
for some
reason, the trip does not happen, all deposits held by me will be
returned in
full. Any deposits forwarded to the travel agents are subject to
their return requirements. Other than threat of war, not
obtaining the OFAC license or natural
disaster, the only
reason it would not happen is if we do not the min of 15 people on the
trip.
Early
booking absolutely
essential
as
Cuba is a HOT spot for tourists from
everywhere,
including the USA, and we need to secure our hotel rooms.
Roster
We
need a minimum of 15 participants. I usually try and keep the
playing roster to 14 players for the week. If you are interested
in doing a second week of Cuba to include Cienfuegos and Havana, see the other program. If you want to do
both weeks you will need to fill out registration form for each trip
and provide a deposit for each trip. Since it is such a rare
occasion that we go to Cuba, I'll take applications from additional
players and you will be pre approved once we get our license. If
someone else drops out, you'll be taking their place. Seems
like
almost always, someone has to drop out for some reason. Depending
on how many extra people we have, we may just take
everyone. We can take an unlimited number of other team
support staff. They must however be part of the team and a member
of DTW.
This trip is
filling up rapidly and will probably be full fairly soon. Right
now we need some more quality pitching
and
another catcher. If you
would like to play or get on a
waiting list, please let me know.
Roster of Participants
| Player |
Status |
Positions
|
|
Dennis
McCroskey
Mark Foerster
John Stalberg
Gene Sinclair
Sid Rosenblatt
Blair Bessette
Mike Bessette
Damian Perkins
Patrick Hamacher
Tim Urban
Steve Wolf
Russell Ward
Richard Cable
Rod Ritter
|
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
|
P,IF
IF,P
IF,OF
IF,OF,P
IF,OF
IF
IF
OF
C
1B,OF
OF
IF,P
OF
IF,OF
|
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
Confirmed
|
14
|
|
|
|
Non Players
|
Status
|
Positions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waiting List
|
|
|
|
Gerry Garcia
Andy Badolato
Frank Maher
Tom Montgomery
|
Maybe
Maybe
Yes
Maybe
|
C,IF,OF
1B,OF,P
|
Maybe
Maybe
Maybe
Maybe
|
|
|
It's fun playing for a crowd.
Friendly People of Cuba
Kids are everywhere!
Vinals Valley
Che
Our Team in Havana
Revolution Square
Stadium of the Americas, Matanzas
Veltz and Friends
|
