Cuban Vacation in December

-
Cuban National Flag
It was a good time to visit Cuba. We spent a glorious and sunny 11 days at a resort in Cayo Santa Maria. We felt that it was a good time to visit since we think it is the calm before the proverbial storm. By that I mean that once the Americans arrive after the thawing of relations between the two countries, Cuba will never be the same for us Canadians. Cuba is (or was) our refuge.

Point of Sale cigar humidor
The last time we were in Jamaica (2015) the resort we stayed at had a number of Americans. Many were quiet and simply enjoying their vacation but some were somewhat loud and obnoxious. I don't mind Americans in general but do some have to announce their presence (and superiority) by draping their flags over the balconies and wear American flag bathing trunks on the beach? No doubt the same will happen in Cuba and that is when we Canadians will likely find peace and serenity elsewhere.
Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial Site

Back to our vacation.

The beach was simply wonderful and the weather was a consistent 30+ degrees each day. Cayo Santa Maria has the best beach in Cuba in my opinion. You can walk the beach for kilometers and meet hardly a soul.

Not every day is spent at the resort however. We managed day trips to Remedios, Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Trinidad (of Cuba). To us it is very important to understand the culture of any country we visit and Cuba is no exception. Indeed it's history of a struggling peoples is both intriguing and compelling. Above is the tomb of Ernesto Che Guevara who as most know was assassinated by the CIA in Bolivia in October of 1967. He is, to this day, considered as much of a  hero as Jose Marti.
Peasant dwelling
Los Helechos resort 
We spent an overnight in a hotel called Los Helechos atop a mountain near Trinidad. What a unique cultural experience. The next day we walked through the El Cubano Natural Park where we came upon a peasant dwelling. For a small fee we were permitted to go inside this quaint house and briefly experience what is must be like to live without electricity or running water. Not all Cubans live like this but in the countryside it is not uncommon to see homes without power.
Municipal Building in Sancti Spiritus
Trinidad side street near downtown
We had a great time. And despite my ranting above we will likely return for a seventh time.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seth Thomas Round Top Mantel Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Dome clock I wrote about this clock a few months back and at that time it was only running for a couple of days. I was pretty happy with my purchase since I had picked it up at a junk / antique store just about a 1/2 hours drive from here. It has, in fact been running wonderfully for several months now. It's a bit idiosyncratic in that despite being an 8-day clock it does not like being wound right down because the count wheel for the strike gets confused and strikes the hour on the half hour instead. Could be it needs some adjustment. Keeping it wound without it stopping has proven to work. It also ticks quite loudly but it is in our dining room and certainly not intrusive in that location. It has been oiled and seems to runs just fine. The walnut case is in excellent condition and a good rubbing with Murphy's Soap has virtually restored the cabinet. I make it a point not to redo the clock finish if it has minor nicks and scratches. I have an assortment of ...
Read more

Seth Thomas Gothic Beehive Mantle Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Beehive Mantle clock circa 1928 This is a Seth Thomas Gothic beehive mantle clock. The face has Henry Birks & Sons inscribed on it and obviously the company contracted the clock out to Seth Thomas at that time. The movement is an 89AL which was used in a variety of clock between 1922 and 1928 so I would put this clock at around the 1928 period. There is a little plaque inside the back access door giving the reseller location which in this case is Amherst, Nova Scotia. I has been running all day now and I am just waiting to see whether it gains or loses time. I will know in about 24 hours. The beat is good but the clock chimes the hours on the half hour which is obviously not supposed to happen. It means a minute hand pin adjustment once I know that the clock can run steadily. As is typical of these old clocks there was a lot of dirt and grime on the finish. Rather than take the dramatic step of refinishing the clock it is far easier to take a good cleaner, in my...
Read more

Photography Rant – Is It A Rant Or Just Some Observations?

-
Image
Panasonic G6 with 45-175mm zoom On my last holiday trips outside this country I was surprised to see so many people using cell phones to take photos. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, the world of technology is changing and changing very rapidly. I was also equally surprised to see so few people using cameras and most of what I saw were larger DSLRs (I am a mirrorless user myself). Some were even using their iPad which in and of itself is rather amusing to watch. Cell phones have virtually hosed the lower digital camera market and must be a blow to the bottom line of camera companies who saw much of their profit in these small entry level cameras go out the window in recent years. So, along comes the cell phone, the new Kodak Instamatic.  If you are into a phone contract as most people are you might as well take advantage of as many features of the phone as you can and that includes taking photos and immediately posting them for all the world to see. Cell phones have o...
Read more