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Testimonials from CUBAN ART TOUR - March 1-11, 2007

The trip was excellent and the tour was very interesting. The accommodations were also very good. Tom and Francie provided excellent leadership and humour. Eduardo (Cuban guide) and Angel (driver) are a credit to their nation.
Bob and Ann Cranston
Burlington, Ontario

It was a fabulous tour - something for everyone and humour on the bus was a bonus. You, Francie, Eduardo and Angel should be congratulated. All great fun.
Margie Holton
Waterdown, ON

Great group. Very diverse personalities.
Fearless leaders: Knowledgeable, generous and helpful.
Fearless bus driver: Tip top.
Wish: For a happier, freer, more prosperous future for Cuba.
Fredda Howell,
Hamilton, ON

Great trip - would have liked to have seen more of Havana, museums, etc. Francie is to be congratulated for getting such a congenial group together. Tom was excellent as our mentor and guide. Kudos to both.
Mary Balfour White
Hamilton, ON

Trip was interesting....you were very helpful and good company. I would probably stay in Havana next time.
Pat Bauer
Ontario

Wonderful! Marvelous!
Allison Gibson - Ancaster, ON
Be a good boy!
Kerr Gibson - Ancaster, ON

I know I'm going to look back on this holiday with a great deal of pleasure. the Miramar and the Union hotels were both terrific. The hotel in Varadero was fine too, but a beach resort not something I particularly enjoy. I would have liked more time in Havana. I think Francie did a terrific job of bringing together a most congenial group of people and being friendly and helpful from the beginning. I expect the concept was hers too and I thank her for that. If I turn my mind backI would say the that the studio visit which stands out is the visit to the artist outside Vinales (Ramon) who lived in a beautiful house which he had built. His house and work and the
outstanding scenery were not to be missed. Angel (driver) and especially Eduardo (Cuban guide) were excellent and professional. It was so valuable to have such a knowledgeable and agreeable Cuban guide. You, Tom, did a great job of making a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. Your jokes on the bus, your arrangements for Happy Hour and your way of defusing the (very occasional) moments of tension were very good. Thanks a lot and good luck in the future.
Pat Howell
Dundas, ON

Thank you Tom - you and Francie gave us all a wonderful overview of much of Cuba - the cities, countryside, meeting various artists in their houses and of course Havana - which I loved - the art galleries. The old colonial architecture was magnificent - there's lots to be done, but at least those beautiful buildings will be saved in the long run. I loved Angel and Eduardo.
Jane Gibson
Ontario

Tom, my Cuba experience for the past 12 years has only been these web pages that I have done for you. Having gone on this trip with you was an eye opener and a heart opener. These people are beautiful, the country is beautiful, and the architecture is breathtaking (I do hope that these buildings will have the opportunity to be returned to their previous beauty), but most of all, I was so proud of you. Tom the tour was excellent, easy going, great group, your ability to make a change to accommodate people without missing a beat was remarkable. Tom, you, Francie (my new best friend, eh?), Angel and Eduardo - have provided me with a little bit of Cuba that I will never forget. Doing this website has become a little more personal to me. Thanks Tom.
Your ermita MJ (the webmaster)

Marabana 2006 - TESTIMONIALS

I wanted to let you know that the marathon was great!~ The weather couldn't have beed nicer...not too hot.~ We gave our hats and shoes away at the finish then had to catch our flight Sunday evening.~ But do you know where we might be able to find race results?~ I've typed in one search and haven't come across anything yet.~~ Thanks for your help.
Joclyn, Cayman islands

Hi Tom.
Just a note to say thanks for for all your help in making our trip to Cuba a pleasant one. The run was awsome , we saw you taking pictures at the start of the Malecon but I don't think you saw us.Costas and Vera Roussinos
Campell River, B.C.
Canada

Hi Tom. Thanks for this info. We really enjoyed our run and our cultural experience in Cuba! When we first arrived in Havana 2 days before the race, we were assaulted by the pollution. We couldn't believe how hard it was to breathe. But we adjusted well enough and we were relieved that the streets were closed off for the race. The weather was perfect - cloudy and cool for the most part.~We really loved taking the bus tour the day before - it gave us a really good sense of what to expect, we met some other international runners, and we enjoyed the city tour! The race itself was very well organized and the oranges and water stations were excellent. We were really touched by how welcoming everyone was. We were glad to have brought several pairs of shoes to donate, but wished we'd brought more things. You may also want to suggest to people they could bring other running clothes (shorts, tank tops, etc.), and even racing gloves for the wheelchai
r runners. There were a couple of them who followed closely after us, and they did the whole race without gloves - incredible. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Nacional, but it was too far from Old Havana to walk back and forth regularly, and we would definitely stay closer to the heart of things next time. We didn't take advantage of the pool (which really was the primary reason we wanted to stay there) because~the weather was too chilly that weekend. We went to Playas del este for the afternoon after the race, and it was nice to~relax near the ocean, though, again it as a bit windy. The food was pretty awful everywhere we went! We wished we'd brought some snack food for the hotel room and for walking around - crackers, cheese, fruit, chocolate, granola bars, etc. because we found very few things to buy. All in all, we had a great time, and I'm looking forward to going back to Cuba and exploring some more.
Best,
Ingrid McKool
Toronto
Canada

Tom-
Thanks for all your assistance on my trip. Everything was just as you indicated it would be. I got along fine. The hotel could have been a
little better, not water for a day / no hot water for most of the stay, but it was clean and the staff helpful. And I guess we know who picked the
place-- me!! As for the marathon, I signed up for the 42 but after 21k with the heat and humidity I called it quits. So no time for me. Again thanks for your help, will keep in touch if I need help with another trip. Lee was a great running and traveling companion, enjoyed his company very much.
Have a wonderful new year
bl sheriff

I really enjoyed it and next year I will run prepared and injury free. Thanks again and Happy New Year!!
Take care, Steve Weisz.
Toronto, Canada

TESTIMONIAL: "Running the Havana Marathon is my most memorable experience ever! Havana is an amazingly beautiful city, the gem of a wonderfully diverse country steeped in history and running through it was a privilege. Tom Robertson was a great guide who opened up parts of Cuba that we never would have experienced had it not been for his many Cuban friends. Rum, cigars and beautiful beaches, Che Guevara, stunning scenery, dancing and friendly people, what more could you want?".......Danny Burke, Bristol, England.

2006 Cycle Tour #1 - Central/West Testimonials - (November/December)

Hi Tom,
~
~What an unforgettable tour this Western Cuban Cycle trip was!~ We were so very fortunate to be able to have this marvelous~group of tour mates/cyclists to share our~days with. Cycling through the beautiful Cuban countryside and being cheered on by the Cuban folks while going through the villages was such an enjoyable experience, as was the contrast~ of a good work-out during the day an d the first rate accommodation once we arrived.~Cycling, hot showers, the swimming pools,
beaches, Happy hour , the food, it was all excellent.~I am hooked on Cuba and will be looking forward to doing the Eastern Cuba tour sometime soon in the future.

Thanks again Tom for being our cheery and dependable leader, and Hasta Luego !!
Emmy Matte.

Hi Tom.

Thanks for your note. We had a great trip, may repeat it next year!
All the best, good health, take care.
Bruno and Catherine Freigang

2007 Cycle Tour #1 - Central/West Testimonials - (November/December)

As with testimonials from previous tours, they come with suggestions to make future cycling tours better or more appealing and each year I try to improve the overall program to introduce the suggestions entered. Not always easy to please all the people, but I try to please most and take the suggestions seriously.

Thanks, Tom. Pat and I enjoyed the trip immensely even though we had to struggle more than most with the mileage. I just hope we didn’t hold people up too much. We have fond memories of the trip, the country, our new friends, and the Cuban people we saw and met. Thank you for your personal interest in all of us and your attention to detail. We always felt like we were well looked after. We will certainly think about a return trip to Cuba with you. I will look at my pictures and send you any that might be suitable for your website.

Pat and Jill Doherty, Ottawa

Hello Tom,
We arrived back in Ottawa to tons of snow. I must admit I am finding my re-entry into the real world to be somewhat challenging as my thoughts keep wandering back to the various experiences I had while cycling in Cuba.

As promised, here are my comments on the Cycle tour of Central/Western Cuba.

First and foremost, I want to thank you for putting together a fabulous trip. It was superbly organized. The level of support provided certainly exceeded my expectations as did the entire experience. Your contribution and that of Eduardo and Angele made this trip very special, one that I will remember for a long time. Thank you for looking after us so well.

I also wish to thank you for arranging to give us hotel rooms with views and for selecting excellent accommodations.

I look forward to doing the Eastern cycle tour with you. I wish you and Jeunice (not sure of the spelling) the very best of everything.

Warm regards, Lynne Lajoie, Ottawa

• -Excellent support system with bus.
• -Constant supply of water really appreciated
• -Accommodations more than met our expectations.
• -Your relaxed manner, jokes and adaptability made for a smooth trip.
• -Eduardo and Angel, a real asset to the tour.
• -We liked the opportunity to do the longer milages.
• -Paying for water as a group worked well.

Tom, thank you so much for leading such a wonderful trip - we enjoyed everything about the trip: you, Eduardo, Angel, the rest of the group, the cycling, the vistas, and the opportunity to see so much of the "real" Cuba.

Nancy and Paul Hough, Ottawa

I enjoyed the trip, although I was not in shape for cycling in the beginning. Your bus support was EXCELLENT and was very reassuring for me.

Like many, I enjoyed the luxury of the hotels, but preferred the one in Cienfuegos (Union hotel) which was in the city and allowed us to wonder around and feel the culture of Cuba.

Hope to see you for the Eastern tour in the near future.

Renaud Prefontaine. Ottawa

• -An Excellent and enjoyable tour. Professional in every way with a lot of attention to detail and cheerful, engaging personal service.
• Fully met my expectations.
• Excellent value for the money.
• Thanks to Tom (tour leader), Eduardo (Cuban guide) and Angel (Cuban driver) for a great introduction to a fascinating country, culture and history.

Ed Weber, Nepean, ON

To Tom, Eduardo and Angel –

You’re a great team – efficient planning – flexible – responsive to group – for individual needs – can’t do it all.

Loved the the option of getting on the bus and down time was good to have.

All in all – I had a super time – will return to take in more of this great culture – I’m reactivated back to Spanish.

Keep the tours going Tom.

Don’t ever let Eduardo and Angel go – it all works – great humour – a calm, relaxed trip – knowing all was planned.

Thanks. Elizabeth (Liz) Weber, Ottawa

• Loved this way of seeing the country – adventuresome, but safe.
• Two guided tours by Eduardo (Trinidad and Havana) were great.
• Van support/water support every 20kms perfect.
• Eduardo and Angel make a great team. They are Cuba to me.
• Appreciated Eduardo’s sense of humour, your jokes and Angel’s “big teddy bear” personality.
• Great variety in countryside + places to stay (felt lucky to be staying in these places).
• Enjoyed the opportunity to interact with local people – cycling made it possible.
• For me, great value.

It’s been an amazing experience and Cuba will always be close to my heart. I’m going home to advocate in some way this country.

Yvonne McLean, Victoria

• Trip: well organized, hard working, friendly guides/driver.
• If there is difficulty with a trip for 14 cyclists it may be in the balance between biking distances/day and sightseeing – local experiences. I feel this trip was a reasonable balance.
• Bus: comfortable and adequate.
• Thanks for a great experience, Tom.

John Mynott, Chelsea, Quebec

A great over-view of Cuba and Cuban life in unaccustomed luxury. We were well looked after. The tour was relaxing, with pleasant guides. (food too big a temptation!)

Bike people are good people.

Keep up the good work Tom.

Helen Enns, Burnaby, BC

My friends will be told all about my luxurious Cuban bike tour. Our Canadian and Cuban escorts were a delight.

Jean MacDonald, Victoria, BC

-I had a very good time. I learned a great deal about Cuba. I especially enjoyed the Cuban countryside, the organic way of life, etc.

-I very much enjoyed learning about Cuba from a Cuban guide.

-The hotels we stayed at were excellent – perhaps even extravagant.

-I think you and Eduardo did and excellent job of facilitating group bonding. Thank you both so much for helping to show ua a very special country. I will never forget either you, my fellow cyclists or Cuba.

Carol Judd, Victoria, BC

DISCOVER CUBA TOURS TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS JAN. 11-25 2008

You asked us to provide you with some feedback about our recent trip to Eastern Cuba. We have looked at all our pictures and they remind us of what a good experience it was.It felt like we were seeing what life was like for real Cubans.The dynamic duo of Angel and Eduardo: Eduardo was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and fun, with a superb command of English, and a good problem solver. If he would just shave the hair on his legs…. Also we would go anywhere with confidence if Angel was driving, he was superb.
Some of the highlights were:

• the Costa Verde resort.
• the visit to Eduardo’s parents’ home.
• the dinner at the farm with the spit roasted pig and the delicious drinks.
• the baseball game on real grass!
• we were pleased to be able to gives supplies to the school and hoped we weren’t intruding too much.
• the group who played for us at Pinares de Mayari.

We would have preferred to do a little more walking or hiking, and perhaps spend less time on the bus even if it meant covering less distance.
We appreciated knowing up front about gratuities and to be able to pre-pay them.
Check-ins and check-outs were easy. All you had to say was “I’m with Tom Robertson’s group” and everything was looked after.
It was nice to have the flexibility of arriving & departing at different times.
It was a fun group and we got along well together.
Thank you for your concern about my (Bill) health. We have a little joke about it when asked what my problem is. I say “ I’ve got Parkinson’s but I’m trying to shake it.
All the best to you and your wife – hopefully we’ll see her in Canada soon.

Bill & Vivian
Peterborough, ON

as the song goes.

Hi Tom

Thank you so much for a wonderful trip and experience. For us it was like hitting a home run. All the aspects of the trip lined up to create awonderful experience and a foundation for understanding Cuba in ways we never considered possible.It will take us many enjoyable sessions to review and hash over the experiences. Thank goodness for pictures. They are there to remind us of the many things we did each and every day.We will keep in touch.

Wayne and Lynda
Peterborough, ON

TESTIMONIALS JAN. 2007

We thought the trip was wonderful. Well paced, good variety of
city/country. Bus rides never too long. spending time in the Cuban
homes was somethingwe'll never forget, as well as meeting the people and
the school children in their 3 rooms! We enjoyed Cayo Levisa very much
and the walking tour with Eduardo (Cuban guide) around old Havana.
Appreciated Eduardo reading the billboards for us.
Jim and Carol Wallace
Nanaimo, B.C.

Wow!! - we learned a lot about Cuba and will be sharing our pictures
with friends. The pace was relaxing and gave lots of time at the beach
which we really enjoyed. Tom, you have TOP notch Driver and Cuban
guide - of course you do a great job too. Your attention to detail was
appreciated. Our first trip and we enjoyed everything.
Shirley and Allan Grayston
Dawson Creek, B.C.

Yes, the above covers it all. Your attention to all involved was
important. You have a cross section of people and you handled it well.
We have lovely memories and will spread the word. I'm sure you will
hear from Dawson Creek again. A good talking stick was "who cut your
hair" and I'm sure it will be used in future by Eduardo. Thank you.
Bob and Lucy Rowe
Dawson Creek, B.C.

It is impossible to imagine a more exciting, educational and fascinating
tour. Tom and his crew were exceptional, who planned and executed the
daily events with perfection.I can't wait to join their next tour.
Thanks.
Larry Wick
North Vancouver, B.C.

Thanks for everything Tom! The trip was Magnifico. If you do and
eastern trip in February sometime....give me a call/email. Thanks again!
Ulrica Steigenberger,
North Vancouver, B.C.

It was a wonderful holiday, made the more special because of you being
the leader and of course Eduardo (Cuban guide) and Angel (driver) are
pretty neat boys.
Marnie Dolin
Vancouver, B.C.

TESTIMONIALS - NOV. 2006

Thanks to the caring,experienced Cuban guide and bus~driver and Tom's
"Cuban connections",we gained knowledge and respect for the country and
people which we couldn't have got sitting on a beach.Hotel's were clean
and comfortable;buffet-style meals~were good so we could eat what we
wanted from a variety of food;bus was~ comfortable and clean with a
cooler for refreshments-a nice extra.The~flavour ~of the tour was
relaxed yet professional and we never felt rushed.Our lively travelling
companions, much laughter, and many mojitos made this a most memorable
trip!!~
Thanks Tom,
Judy and Bill Jackson
Comox, B.C.

Loved the tour. Have been raving about it to friends and acquaintances.
Very
personalized and authentic trip of this amazing country. Your two guides
were super fun. All in all, a great vacation that totally changed my
impression of Cuba and the Cuban people.
Eric Foster
Etobicoke, ON~~~~

Hi Tom,
You certainly keep busy. Hope you get the opportunity to relax a little
over the Christmas and the New Year period.
Many thanks for making our Cuban holiday such a great success. It was
entirely due to your relaxed personality and thorough planning that we
all got an in depth insight of the real Cuba, warts and all. Apart from
the Jackson's mishaps, which were outside your control , the whole trip
was great fun, as well as being most interesting and informative. Your
assistants ,Eduardo and Angel, are two most pleasant characters, who
added immeasurably to roundness of the experience. It was my first
visit to any Communist country ,and I freely confess that I came away
with a far more favourable impression of the system and the people than
I had expected.
Anyway ,many thanks --you are doing a grand job in an admirable manner.
Barrie Burke
Wochestershire, UK

As you know, Tom, the 4 BOT Boys have travelled far and wide and the
experience that you provided for us on Tour #1 ranks among the best of
our adventures. The itinerary, activities, your personal familiarity
with Cuba, your Cuban assistants, lots of wonderful surprises and your
own relaxed, efficient and personable leadership gave us a significant
learning experience, many fond memories and loads of fun. We now
have~the deep appreciation of the "real Cuba" which you promised. The
tour exceeded our expectations in many ways.
Muchas gracias
Bill Tilden
North Bay, ON

2006 Discover Cuba Tour Testimonials

Thanks for the memories, Tom. Mary and I felt you gave us good value for our money. Without your experience and contacts we would have missed the real Cuba. Your initiative, flexibility and Canadian can-do made the trip rewarding. Swimming in a jungle pool, through a waterfallinto a cave, now that's a memory, but it's your small acts of kindness that truly stand out:

-making sure Lil had fun and was involved in all our activities, in spite of her disabilities.
-helping Francie visit her old home in Havana.
-arranging to have our laundry done.
-finding a pharmacy for me.
-acting on my request to eat out one night at a paladar
-visits to small rural elementary schools so that we could drop off school supplies.
-visits to the homes of Cuban families.
-taking the guys to the Cienfuegos vs Santa Clara ball game....the beer and peanuts was a nice touch.
Mary and I have no reservations recommending your tour to others.
Phil and Mary Lindgren
Nanoose, B.C.

It took me a few nights to stop dreaming about Cuba and all the fun we had. Since arriving home I have re read a book we got for Christmas on Cuba and while we were away my sister taped a program on Cuba.....it was great to see we had been almost everywhere the young chap went, even the cave, but I could tell it was not quite the same. Tom, you did a magnificent job putting that tour together. I enjoyed every minute and found the trip exciting, educational and above all, extremely interesting. The fact that we were able to meet Yeunnyz' mom and friends and see a real Cuban home was a bonus. So thank you! thank you! We are trying to see if we can make another trip.
Maxine Cowley
Nanaimo, B.C.

I thoroughly enjoyed our whole trip to Cuba. It was due to your careful and thoughtful planning for the trip that made it a success. As a result of your planning we have come away from Cuba with a realization of the problems th people are facing. The fact that we went as a group and functioned so successfully as a group, was an enjoyable factor. I am looking forward to possibly returning to Cuba, so keep us in mind for future trips.
Bill Cowley
Nanaimo, B.C.