For the first half of the 20th century, Cuba was known as an exotic get-a-way for wealthy Americans, mobsters, and Ernest Hemingway. This ended with the American embargo imposed by President Kennedy in 1962, eased a bit with President Obama’s “Cuban thaw” in December, 2015, only to be re-imposed by the Trump administration in 2019.

During the thaw, our presenter spent a month in Cuba studying Spanish, volunteering in an after-school program, and exploring the island on a motorcycle. What did he learn about our “forbidden neighbor”, and how can Americans again sample the spice of Cuba? Find out during this photo presentation and discussion.

John Deikis caught the travel bug working on an ocean-going ship in the 1960’s. He later spent a year wandering to the southern tip of South America, Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, the North Cape of arctic Europe, and the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. Interrupted by an unexpected adulthood, he returned to traveling when he retired from a career as a clinical psychologist 10 years ago. His preferred mode of travel is now by motorcycle.

Preregistration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the lecture will be e-mailed prior to the event.