Forbidden countries
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Forbidden countries
I'm ex mob. Missus wants us to go to Cuba on holiday. I was aware of a list of countries I could not visit whilst in and somewhere amongst all my gumpf is a dit about where I cant go now I'm out.
Do I have to declare or ask permission somewhere?
Can anyone clarify please?
Cheers
Do I have to declare or ask permission somewhere?
Can anyone clarify please?
Cheers
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Just returned from a week in Cuba this morning.
I know several guys that are still serving that have been there before and I didn't ask any questions before I went. Had a fantastic time by the way, very frendly people who are eager to make sure you have a great holiday. Enjoy!
I know several guys that are still serving that have been there before and I didn't ask any questions before I went. Had a fantastic time by the way, very frendly people who are eager to make sure you have a great holiday. Enjoy!
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Always useful to have an imaginary 'list', though, of Forbidden Countries.
Ex Mrs Taxydual woke up one morning desperate to go to China. She harped on about it for weeks. Brochures arrived, phrasebook bought etc etc.
Then I saw the price of the holiday. Unbelievable.
Trump card played, "Sorry dear, I'm not allowed to go to a communist country".
She none the wiser.
Saved me a whole load of dosh.
Ex Mrs Taxydual woke up one morning desperate to go to China. She harped on about it for weeks. Brochures arrived, phrasebook bought etc etc.
Then I saw the price of the holiday. Unbelievable.
Trump card played, "Sorry dear, I'm not allowed to go to a communist country".
She none the wiser.
Saved me a whole load of dosh.
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I'm on that wavelength also. Most places suggested to me I have been to and I think are gash.
Like the sound of Cuba though but, like I said, I know I have somewhere something saying about declaring & certain countries etc.
I successfully thwarted a holiday to Egypt by declaring it communist last year
Like the sound of Cuba though but, like I said, I know I have somewhere something saying about declaring & certain countries etc.
I successfully thwarted a holiday to Egypt by declaring it communist last year
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I would check your passport if you have an older type. I once went to Israel with one that had "Government Service" in it. They were not too chuffed at Haifa. Yes, I know now 
.
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Always useful to have an imaginary 'list', though, of Forbidden Countries.
Ex Mrs Taxydual woke up one morning desperate to go to China. She harped on about it for weeks. Brochures arrived, phrasebook bought etc etc.
Then I saw the price of the holiday. Unbelievable.
Trump card played, "Sorry dear, I'm not allowed to go to a communist country".
She none the wiser.
Saved me a whole load of dosh.
Ex Mrs Taxydual woke up one morning desperate to go to China. She harped on about it for weeks. Brochures arrived, phrasebook bought etc etc.
Then I saw the price of the holiday. Unbelievable.
Trump card played, "Sorry dear, I'm not allowed to go to a communist country".
She none the wiser.
Saved me a whole load of dosh.
"I know its expensive darling but if I want to enjoy a career in aviation then I have to pay it!"
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Been there twice in one year. No problem whatsoever. If youve got DV you may want to breifly check with your security officer, but to be honest, thats just purely out of courtesy.
Nothing to fear. Go and enjoy it, for a tourist, its a great place. Best mojitos you can get and some cool cigars as well!
Nothing to fear. Go and enjoy it, for a tourist, its a great place. Best mojitos you can get and some cool cigars as well!
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Cuba / behind Iron Curtain
When the wall was still up, a chap I knew who was in BAe Flt Test visited the then ( already friendlier ) Moscow on hols.
He asked for a chat with the top Kingston security guy, who gave simple advice as to A, spot if one is being groomed for info', B, more likely being diddled out of money.
At the same time or thereabouts, my ex-wife ( before I met her ) joined in a family holiday week for New Years' Eve in Moscow - as far as I can make out, 2nd prize 2 weeks - vegetarians were regarded as hooting mad, and I'd probably not have liked to be around after a week on boiled cabbage !
Since then I've known a fair few people - services and not - visit Cuba and all have come back saying positive things, but one does have to be careful about personal security, as it's a relatively poor country and muggings are not unknown.
I know sanctions etc are gradually being lifted, I'd hope for all concerned inc. the U.S. that all should be made ' normal ' status ASAP and the inhabitants are allowed to develop financially to get on with it, a holiday destination rather than a strategic threat.
He asked for a chat with the top Kingston security guy, who gave simple advice as to A, spot if one is being groomed for info', B, more likely being diddled out of money.
At the same time or thereabouts, my ex-wife ( before I met her ) joined in a family holiday week for New Years' Eve in Moscow - as far as I can make out, 2nd prize 2 weeks - vegetarians were regarded as hooting mad, and I'd probably not have liked to be around after a week on boiled cabbage !
Since then I've known a fair few people - services and not - visit Cuba and all have come back saying positive things, but one does have to be careful about personal security, as it's a relatively poor country and muggings are not unknown.
I know sanctions etc are gradually being lifted, I'd hope for all concerned inc. the U.S. that all should be made ' normal ' status ASAP and the inhabitants are allowed to develop financially to get on with it, a holiday destination rather than a strategic threat.
Last edited by Double Zero; 9th Mar 2010 at 19:09.
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Ex Mrs Taxyduel - Saved me a whole load of dosh
My last boss in the Army was original SAS from North Africa and spent two and a half years with Tito's partisans in the then Yugoslavia, he was told after the war, in no uncertain terms, that he could never go back there! Sorry, anecdotal stuff! It's age wot duz it.
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Oh, the former Mrs Taxydual had her revenge.
She could have bought China following the divorce settlement and I don't mean the crockery sort!
Back on thread. Mates have passed on their experiences of Cuba, all good but as Double Zero points out, personal security is a must. The Peoples Paradise of Cuba has it's fair share of footpads, scoundrels and ne'er-do-well's.
She could have bought China following the divorce settlement and I don't mean the crockery sort!
Back on thread. Mates have passed on their experiences of Cuba, all good but as Double Zero points out, personal security is a must. The Peoples Paradise of Cuba has it's fair share of footpads, scoundrels and ne'er-do-well's.
FREE HOLIDAY IN CUBAJust got to a US Airport muttering "explosive", "airplane" and have a copy of the Koran in your back pocket. You'll be whisked off for an all-inclusive break on the island of Cuba - they even throw in a nice bit of jewellery, a free orange flying suit and matching beanie hat. The 'holiday reps' are a bit "shout-shout-and-shout-again" but, hey, it is free!
Here's a holiday snap...
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Taxydual wrote:
Back on thread. Mates have passed on their experiences of Cuba, all good but as Double Zero points out, personal security is a must. The Peoples Paradise of Cuba has its fair share of footpads, scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells.
Ah, just like Whitehall and Downing Street, then.
Back on thread. Mates have passed on their experiences of Cuba, all good but as Double Zero points out, personal security is a must. The Peoples Paradise of Cuba has its fair share of footpads, scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells.
Ah, just like Whitehall and Downing Street, then.
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From what I can remember of the list of "forbidden countries" many were places you wouldn't want to visit anyway - North Korea, Yemen, etc
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Went to Macau in '68 unaware that it was "prohibited" (well I was still wet behind the ears). Neither Mrs ROG nor myself felt safe or comfortable, so we hightailed it back to Hong Kong in a hurry. Got some great shots of the unbelievable density of red flags everwhere (the only Portugese flag was on the hydrafoil entering the harbour) and some pictures of the Border, but again made a hasty retreat when Mao's men came towards us noisily. It was a very sad place in those days.
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When I came out ('76) I received a list of countries I was forbidden to visit, most where the Eastern block countries, and yes ricardian, you would not have wanted to visit anyway.
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In the USMC in 1986, one of my men (I was Sgt in charge of the FLIR repair shop) got told his planned destination for Christmas leave was on the "no-travel list".
He got a funny look on his face and told the Captain "I'll have MY ambassador call YOUR president about that!".
The Captain managed to think enough to realize something was funny here (the thick brogue helped here, I think), and soon found out that Cpl Bray was indeed an Irish citizen (Eire, not N.I.), and the address on his leave request was his parents' house... and also his "home of record". It seems his older brother was a naturalized US citizen, and had sponsored him, which allowed him to join the USMC.
Regs required them to let him go "home" on leave, so he got an Intel briefing before leaving from a spook Major... who said afterwords that Blackie had told him more than he had told Blackie about who was doing what to whom, and where!
He got a funny look on his face and told the Captain "I'll have MY ambassador call YOUR president about that!".
The Captain managed to think enough to realize something was funny here (the thick brogue helped here, I think), and soon found out that Cpl Bray was indeed an Irish citizen (Eire, not N.I.), and the address on his leave request was his parents' house... and also his "home of record". It seems his older brother was a naturalized US citizen, and had sponsored him, which allowed him to join the USMC.
Regs required them to let him go "home" on leave, so he got an Intel briefing before leaving from a spook Major... who said afterwords that Blackie had told him more than he had told Blackie about who was doing what to whom, and where!
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Cuba
Cuba
Sounds a great place to visit, but I have a self-imposed rule that I only go where I can get myself under sail-power ( well it avoids terrorists & Bruce Willis; I suspect Bruce may be good for a beer and a f****y magnet so he'd be welcome, but I could well do without an RPG in the rear end ) so will go there when I have time AND money; tricky combination.
Please do be aware of muggings in Cuba; I know seasoned travellers ( not the hippy type, hotel people ) who have been mugged.
Enjoy with a certain amount of care, nothing to get an ulcer about just common sense notched up a degree.
Sounds a great place to visit, but I have a self-imposed rule that I only go where I can get myself under sail-power ( well it avoids terrorists & Bruce Willis; I suspect Bruce may be good for a beer and a f****y magnet so he'd be welcome, but I could well do without an RPG in the rear end ) so will go there when I have time AND money; tricky combination.
Please do be aware of muggings in Cuba; I know seasoned travellers ( not the hippy type, hotel people ) who have been mugged.
Enjoy with a certain amount of care, nothing to get an ulcer about just common sense notched up a degree.
