Thứ Ba, 27 tháng 2, 2007

Cuba inside out






Visa and legal issues for Cuba
A tourist visa card (visada tarjeta del turista) is necessary for travellers from most nations. This visa, which is really little more than a piece of paper on which you list your vital statistics, costs between 15-25 CUC (or 15-25 Euro), depending on where purchased. It is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba - beyond this you would need a pretty good reason. Canadians are the exception, getting 90 days on arrival and can apply for a 90 day extension. Your passport needs to be valid at least six months past the end of your planned return.
Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda (28 days), Barbados (28 days), Belarus, Dominica, Grenada (60 days), Malaysia (90 days), Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines and Singapore who can stay 30 days without visa.
It is important to note that there is also a departure tax of CUC 25, to be paid in cash when departing Cuba.
On arrival you must already have a legal housing booking (hotel or casa particular) for at least three days. If you've written in the name of a good hotel on the tourist card, the officials should rarely ask for proof.
Cuban customs can be strict, though they sometimes go easy on tourists.





















Thứ Hai, 26 tháng 2, 2007

Festival Photos of Quebec Winter Carnival 2007

The Quebec Winter Carnival - A Festival of Heritage and Family Fun

Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival


Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter Carnival
Quebec Winter CarnivalThe most colourful part of the Carnival is the brightly lit night parades. Every year some half a million spectators bundle up and line the snowy streets of the city. The parades feature fantastic floats, marching bands and many clowns. Even though it was freezing cold - about six degrees below zero - the night that I watched the parade, I could not believe my eyes when a band of young ladies marched by dressed in kilts.

To the Québécois, Carnaval is more than an annual celebration. It’s a state of mind, a place where for ten days every February, they glorify winter. It's a place where people's imaginations take over, where adults can feel like kids again. For the Québécois, winter is a time for rejoicing and what better way to do that than to join them in celebrating Carnaval.