Americans traveling to Cuba

I know this is old news but I never found out the reason why Americans are banned from visiting cuba..anyone know?

embargo

Embargo .... Castro ... Bay of Pigs ...

Any of this sound familiar??

Modified to add that I have a US friend who went over to Cuba as part of a joint governmental US/Cuba zoological study of Cuban parrots. So it is possible.

It is so ridiculous.

And from so long ago.

We can go from here though, right, just not from the US.

Not with a U.S. Passport unless you get a visa.

Thanks, I told that to Rich, he didn't listen.

no i think you can go... many americans fly from canada or mexico or other parts of the world. they wont stamp your passport if you go this route as they know why and it is on the DL.

yes, people can get visas okayed by the US government for study or research etc.

what was ridiculous was some recent thing about limiting the number of times Cuban Americans could visit home.

Really? That is cool. I would really like to go. My grandfather lived there when he was a teenager. It was such an important part of his life and he always thought of it as his homeland even though he was born in Russia.

Or get a Brit passport. 

yeah there are actually travel agents who specialize in this field for americans who want to go.

it is actually against US law for americans to spend money in cuba, but you can legally go there. silly, but true. and they do fine people for breaking that law. if you ever want to work for the usg or a contractor, it is wise not to go as a tourist since it is impossible not to spend money on cheap rum at least.....  there is a US diplomatic presence in cuba, so you can bet that the USG knows exactly who is visiting, even on another passport......

it is actually against US law for americans to spend money in cuba, but you can legally go there. silly, but true.

i was going to mention this but was afraid to get it wrong. that's what I've heard as well

Uh...my brother went there on spring break round '98, with several friends.

I don't know how, but he did do it. He loved it too.

i was going to mention this but was afraid to get it wrong. that's what I've heard as well

By that, do you mean spend money on something to bring back, or things you use there (i.e. hotel, food, etc)