When boat enthusiast Kenny Rowland received the opportunity to go on a boat trip, he worked out the details to make it happen, even though the destination was not his ideal place to visit.
"There are happier landing places to stick your feet in the sand other than Cuba," Rowland said.
According to Rowland, Bob Summers wanted to "stretch the legs" of his catamaran sailboat, named Karis, before setting sail on a long voyage.
Summers invited Rowland and his wife, Amy, to sail over 100 miles, along with five other boats, from Key West to Havana as a trial run July 22 - 29. According to Rowland, the run "went great."
Along for the trial run of Karis were Summers' his wife, Emily, Rowland's wife, Amy, and Travis and Lauren Blaich, all of Poplar Bluff.
"It was cool and fun," said Rowland of his trip to Cuba. "I'm glad I did it, but I'm not going back."
Rowland explained the corruption in Cuba was one of the main factors as to why he decided not to return any time soon.
He saw first hand some of the corruption of the land.
During a taxi ride, Rowland said the driver was pulled over by a police officer and he paid the officer to get out of a ticket. He added the fact the driver was carrying American passengers was also a free pass.
"We heard a lot of 'you don't have to worry because you are American' during the trip," Rowland said. He explained the group was told they would not be the victim of theft or get in any trouble from police officers while in Cuba.
"If you want medical care or something done, you have to tip the doctors, government officials or police officers," Rowland said. "It's just a way of life in Cuba."
When entering and exiting customs at Marina Hemingway near Havana, Rowland said the group was stamped in and out, checked out by the agricultural inspectors and doctors with no issues, except the fact each expected to be paid to send the group on their way.
"Corruption there is just a way of life," Rowland said. "Everyone talked about instances like we would talk about taking our kids to soccer practice. It was the most nonchalant conversation."
As a boat lover himself, Rowland said the other reason he would not be returning to Cuba in the near future was the fact it's illegal for any Cuban to step foot on a boat.
"It really broke my heart they can't get on a boat," he said. "It blew my mind."
Rowland recalled not seeing any boats around the area except for foreign boats at the Marina Hemingway.
"Here we are traveling international waterways and we did not have to ask our president for permission to leave," Rowland said.
He explained if anyone from Cuba wanted to travel on a boat, they must gain permission, fill out a pass 24-hours before being scheduled to leave and must only be on the boat during daylight hours.
In coming weeks, travel plans could become more difficult for Americans once President Donald Trump releases a list of travel regulations for visiting Cuba.
At this time, traveling to Cuba has been changed to include a few restrictions, including people-to-people trips. Until the final regulations have been written, travel must fall under certain guidelines such as educational trips as part of groups.
Rowland said he and his friends obeyed the travel regulations by keeping a log of everyone they spoke with and items purchased while in Cuba.
He added the group engaged in conversations about the American way of life with many different people from Cuba. The diverse group was able to share their different American experiences with dock workers, boat mechanics, waiters, artists, taxi drivers, tour guides and merchants to name a few.
"The only thing I saw they [Cubans] were open to is our money," Rowland said. "On an individual level, I enjoyed talking to every Cuban I met."
The exchange rate for the American dollar was about 87 cents on the dollar for the Cuban currency of a CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso).
According to Rowland, the people who were able to speak English explained to him, "Cubans don't work like Americans."
In instances where he spoke with Cubans who had family members who defected, they still believed and told Rowland, "Cubans have a better life." This assumption came from family members without ever talking or visiting their family in America.
"We don't have worries like Americans," Rowland was told.
Some of the areas visited by the group during the trip included Plaza Vieja, Cathedral Plaza, Revolution Square, Harborside Warehouse and two days were spent at the Varadero Beach Resort.
The group also took a tour of Marina Hemingway from a state employee tour guide.
The tour guide explained, "Cuba was proud, but poor" and America needs to see a way to support their government.
Some of the pride points expressed to the group from locals included the quality of education, medical care, safety and the zero drug tolerance.
"The education system in Cuba is very good if it's available to you," Rowland said.
According to Rowland, doctors in Cuba make about $2,000 a year, the same as a tour guide.
"You choose a profession you love," Rowland said with the only difference being the number of school years completed.
Rowland said he made his reservations through airbnb.com and just from his experience, he said the language barrier was an issue and the response rate was not quick.
In Havana, Rowland said credit cards and ATMs were not available. The embargo in place stops any banking in Cuba.
"Everything was cash," Rowland said.
To assist with the language barrier, the group hired a private translator in Varadero. According to Rowland, the translator also rents rooms through airbnb.com and she ran out of toilet paper. After visiting her eighth store, she was able to find toilet paper.
"Toilet paper was sold in restrooms and on the streets," Rowland said. "We did our research and traveled with Wet Wipes."
He also described the public restrooms as having no toilet seats.
"Some of the restrooms were clean, but had no seats," he said. "Some were very dirty and had no seats."
Rowland described life in Cuba as "slow paced." He said cellphones were present but limited and no technology was available. He recalled hand written receipts and calculators being used at grocery stores causing long lines.
In regards to the travel restrictions placed on Cuba, Rowland said he has never had a lot of understanding or faith in economic sanctions as a tool, but after visiting Cuba he saw first hand how they work.
"Economic sanctions such as this embargo work," he said.
Before leaving for Cuba, Rowland said the group kept an eye out for whether or not President Trump's travel regulations would be released before their visit.
"I feel privileged being able to visit Cuba," Rowland said. "It was part of the journey, not the destination."
Rowland added since visiting Cuba, personally, he now has a different lens to judge America even though he did not live it, he just experienced the Cuban lifestyle.
"Go and experience it yourself. I encourage anyone to go and visit," Rowland said. "As beautiful as it is, as nice as the people are, it's not a good place. I love liberty so much and to not see it available to them [Cubans] really made me sad."