Pre Revolution Cuba - Did your family vacation there?

[BrightonCorgi]

Did any of your parents or grandparents party in Cuba in its pre-revolution hey day?

[JohnnyO]

Years ago a neighbor showed me some pics of his wedding in the late 30's in Cuba. He said everybody got married in Cuba back in the day, it was a bigger party. He was an American as were most of the guests in the pics. Long tables with white linen, white dresses, and suits and a very dark drink in the pics. Beautiful nostalgic pics. I asked if that was wine that everybody was drinking (the pics were black and white)? He said no, Guinness!

[Rhinoww]

Funny story. My Dad graduated med school and went to Cuba with his buddy Irwin. Turns out there was a guy named Fidel that interrupted their vacation with a revolution . They were Canadians, and went to the embassy to figure out how they were going to be able to leave. The Canadians were placed at the front of the American caravan to the airport. He liked to say that he led the parade out of post revolution Cuba. 

I thought the story was BS. A month or so before he died, we had a 45th anniversary/birthday party for him. Friends I had only heard about traveled to see him that weekend including Irwin and his wife. I had a few conversations just with him about their trips together. He told me the same story about leaving Cuba unprompted. 
Neither my Dad nor Irwin came from any means - this was their first real travel vacation and left quite an impression.

Oddly, they didn’t talk much about what else they were doing in Havana at that time 😂

[JY0]

My great Grandparents emigrated from Ukraine to the US through Cuba in the early 1900's. They spent 6 months in Cuba waiting to get into the US.

[BrightonCorgi]

Parents of the friend I mentioned with the Picasso used to vacation in Cuba in the 50's. His dad was an entertainment attorney and mom a former Miss Switzerland. They said the night life was vibrant, lots of famous people and care free. Global celebrities & indulgence. The music, the energy; the best offered at the time. 

[Rhinoww]

16 hours ago, JY0 said:

My great Grandparents emigrated from Ukraine to the US through Cuba in the early 1900's. They spent 6 months in Cuba waiting to get into the US.

Whereabouts? One of my grandparents came from a small village near Lviv. He left around 1900, but straight to the US - he was lucky and had a family member who could sponsor him. Came over when he was 8. And was responsible for his younger brother on the journey. 

[JY0]

14 hours ago, Rhinoww said:

Whereabouts? One of my grandparents came from a small village near Lviv. He left around 1900, but straight to the US - he was lucky and had a family member who could sponsor him. Came over when he was 8. And was responsible for his younger brother on the journey. 

Kiev

[BrightonCorgi]

On 3/17/2024 at 7:43 AM, JY0 said:

Kiev

I have some ancestry as well from Kiev & Odessa.

[JY0]

6 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I have some ancestry as well from Kiev & Odessa.

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