Why can't we go to Cuba? After all, the Pope's been.
      "Tell us about your organization," the voice at Cubana Airlines asks, the fifth such query we've fielded in our first day of planning the pilot episode for our documentary series.
      "Our mission transcends political boundaries," our associate producer Stacy responds cheerfully. "Can you please just tell us how to book tickets?"

Trying to Get Out of the Rain
Truth is, we're not Jesse Helms conservatives nor pro-revolutionary pinkos, we're just a bunch of chicks determined to escape Seattle's winter drizzle and look for contemporary Cuba.
      The women we're looking to meet for our pilot show include a poet, an ex-Black Panther in exile and a Santeria priestess whose talent on the sacred drums has made her a troublemaker or heroine — depending who you ask.

Image Update
We want our show to offer a contemporary, refreshing image of Cuba — something beyond Fidel, the embargo, or that cob-webbed Bay of Pigs incident.
      An eclectic kaleidoscope of colors, textures and people, Cuba is a world away politically, but a mere 90 watery miles from Miami. For Europeans and South Americans, Cuba is a popular destination for both business and pleasure. But for us, yanquis, the official word is Nada, No Can Do, Embargo, Trading with the Enemy. All this despite the considerable weight of public sentiment that the embargo is ridiculous — downright inhumane — as it nooses the Cuban people economically, without budging Dr. Castro.

Asking the Experts
Not knowing the best tack to take, we make "just ask" our motto as we begin our Cuba research. We badger friends, and friends of friends, who've been to Cuba. We call travel agents. We call D.C., our senator and the local lefties.
      We scour the Web for Cuba-related sites and pour over the Moon Handbook — an exceptional guide that offers insight about the political situation and priceless information on negotiating Cuba once you're there. We discover that we can: (1) Take an organized "educational" trip complete with daily itinerary or (2) Get journalists' visas or (3) Go on the sly.
     

Vaya con Dios!