Cuba 2000.

Since Cuba is in our "zone", the fencing World Cup there is open to all North American fencers. The USFA approves all Americans who want to compete and can afford the trip, getting approval for us from the State Department, the Treasury Department, etc. I went last year, and had a very memorable trip. I wasn't sure I really wanted to go this year, since it's not cheap, and the likelihood of raising my standing in fencing is very small. At the last minute I sent my registration to the USFA, but didn't look for airfare or book a hotel until two weeks before the trip.

I decide to do some things differently this year to avoid some of last year's trouble. I book a room at the Hotel Plaza, since last year all the Americans were bumped from the nice Hotel Palco to the really crappy Triton. And I decide to fly through Nassau instead of Cancun, since it is cheaper and to my mind a nicer destination.

The plan is to fly to Nassau on the 19th, stay one night and fly to Havana on the 20th. On the return trip I will also stay one night in Nassau. Roundtrip airfare from Washington DC to Nassau is around $350, and Nassau to Havana $200, which totals much less than any other option I find when planning only 2 weeks ahead. Mary (my girlfriend) will meet me in Nassau and sneak to Cuba with me. Of course she won't have all the proper approvals, but they're not really necessary anyway, since Cuba will give just about anyone a Tourist Visa for $20.