Thanks Authentic Cuba Travel® for providing a lovely and educational experience. I do have some observations:

1. The guide service was superb. We had Iliana and she was very open, knowledgeable, efficient, concerned and just a lovely lady. You have a gem.

2. The hotels were pleasantly comfortable. I know we did not pick the top of the line hotels, but ours were very serviceable. The staff was well trained.

3. The itinerary with visits to several legal entities mixed with local history, architecture and culture was perfect for our group .

I do hope many more Americans will take advantage Cuban travel.

Sincerely, Marianne Kanning

The trip to Cuba was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I learned so much about the country in such a short amount of time. I loved being able to sit down with former Cuban Supreme Court Justices and learn about the criminal justice system. Sarah Scott

When Americans think of Cuba, there are a few stock images. For those old enough, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Fidel, and old cars come to mind. For others, Cuba is a total mystery due to the embargo and the inability to travel there unless under a license. This past March, our group of Santa Clara Law students and faculty was fortunate enough to embark on a legal study tour to see the Cuba of today.

As in other civil law countries, judges do not follow precedent but rather look to the penal code. Cuba recognizes the death penalty but it has been 12 years since a death sentence has been carried out. We learned other legal facts. Property: Everything is state owned and no foreigner is allowed to own land or houses. Intellectual Property: Cuba has a thriving pharmaceutical industry. They say they patent their inventions, and they are protective of the famous Cuban Cigar trademarks. Family Law: While divorce is legally easy in Cuba, there is such a housing shortage that couples who divorce often still live together in the same apartment until one of them meets someone who has a place to live, allowing him or her to move out.

Read the entire publication at CUBA, an Immersion Experience By Anna Han and Cynthia Mertens, Professors of Law