Will all of you Roadscholar participants add to the comments on the Discussion Board as to how situations on your trips may have been different than what has been posted. In other words, let's give future participants a good variety of comments and suggestions. I hope all of you have as good an experience as I did on the first of the 15-night adventures.

If anyone has asked me any questions that I have overlooked, please remind me. In looking through the entries on one of the Cuba Discussion Boards, I first became aware of some of those those postings having been made.

I don't believe the question of how much does your luggage weigh and what happens when it is too much has been discussed. The charter service check-in at the Miami Airport will consist of your stating your weight and your having both bags weighed (not a lady's purse). For every pound you are over 44 pounds, you are asked to pay $2 U.S. dollars. The cost of checking your large bag is included in what Roadscholar covers but not over-weight charges. However, and this may never happen again to a Roadscholar group, but it was later determined that my group of 13, as a group, was considered within the allowed 44 pounds. The fees of $2 a pound were returned to all of us. The suggestion of wearing anything heavy during the flight would be helpful. Also, consider that most of you are going for only half the time my group did. There was no weigh-in when returning from Cuba to the U.S.

For any newcomers to this Discussion Board, at the end of the page containing the comments you will see a bar that says: "See More Posts" which you should click on and again at the bottom of each subsequent page of comments to read all that have been posted.

I have just learned regarding "The Cuban Art Revolution: Meeting the Artists and People of Cuba" program's discussion board on the Road Scholar site that a participant on the January 9 - 18 trip is creating a blog available at www.profsharon.net

I will continue to answer questions directed to me but from the description of the first two days of that program I think all of you will benefit from thoughts collected as the trip progressed.

To answer questions about tipping and especially for those who cannot find the following information in their spiral-ring information packet, I am typing exactly the information in that packet about tipping:
"Faculty and staff connected with the Road Scholar program are compensated for their services and modest gratuities for program-related staff are included in the cost of the Road Scholar program. Therefore, we discourage organized tipping in any form. Not all participants share the desire to pay additional gratuities, and many feel pressured and uncomfortable if approached by other participants to contribute to a group gift, no matter how well-meaning. Moreover, Group Leaders, local coordinators, lecturers, and bus drivers are not permitted to request tips or take up collections for tips even if asked to do so by members of the group. We understand that some people want to give additional rewards for outstanding service and cannot preclude anyone from doing so. But if you wish to tip, we ask that you keep it on a private, individual basis. While on your own at any time outside of the program schedule, you should be guided by local customs."

To answer a couple of questions - if you know Spanish or have time to learn a few sentences you will be rewarded with contact in Spanish with people you meet at people-to-people connections or on the street or in markets. Donations of pens, pencils, notepads, and other school supplies are appreciated, and I am sure each trip will include a couple of school visits. Bottles of shampoo and small bars of soap are also welcome; take some with you or accumulate them from the hotels there. Street people will also approach you asking for those things, but it is recommended that you not give to those people as you will be surrounded by people wanting the same things. Photos of most people can be taken after indicating your camera and smiling; most do not expect money like we are accustomed to paying in many foreign countries. Most people appreciate the opportunity to see the photo on your screen.

I just returned early this A.M. from Roadscholar's first In-Depth Island Journey (15 day trip). It ranks among my favorites of 20 Roadscholar trips taken in the last ten years. I will post information about the trip and the daily schedule of activities as soon as I sort out my thoughts and notes, but if there is any specific questions you have, please write now: dstanner30@hotmail.com.