Cuba day 9-10
Our Final 2 Days and goodbye
Yesterday (Thursday) as an official farewell to all of us.. My family on the side of my father threw a huge celebration on the farm they own here on the Island.. In conjunction with the birthday party of a very honest little girl I have come to really enjoy talking to these past few days...She always tells the truth about everything.. and I do mean everything and when you talk to her it does not seem like you are talking to a 10 year old but to a young passionate college student involved in government or politics and on one side passionately believing in thhe issues you are discussing.
She speaks about the conditions at her school, about the way things are here, and about the residents of the Island in ways that make her seemm like a college grad student.. One thing is clear from her view and many others here that the US Embargo on this Island is only hurting the peoople and not the goovernment and on this one point I will agree... The government still has what it needs and will always have the means to control the population.. Loook at China.. There is no imbargoo and the goivernment there is a much bigger threat to the United States then the Cuban government. If the embargo were lifted it would mean a new begining for this Island, one with some hope and maybe just maybe supplies would start rushing in.. The past is the past it is time to look forward and remove the Embargo against Cuba..
Getting back to our farewell dinner... It had a huge pig, roasted in the open, goat meat, which if any of you have not tried, I suggest you do because it is the most tasty delicious meat of all in my opinion, salids, tamales, and every other cuban made dish you could think of. I of course took the beers and drinks.. sodas and alcohol are usually out of financial limits to most cubans although Cuban Rum is readily available..The party went off without a hitch until about half way thhrough the power went out buty thank god the rain because even though thehre was no electricity for about two hours, the breeze kept things very cool, cooler then before the rain and wityh only fans as most cubans do not have AC anywhere on the island. It is a luxury reserved for the most financial stable families.
Then we sang Happy Birthday to this very special girl and the one thing she says she will remember the moost is the fact that there were balloons at her party. We brouth them from the states. For you see that is one item that even with money can not be found on the island ion any store or even the most expensive hotels... She was happy too have a birthday (her first) with ballonns.. I have to remember that on my next trip proobably in December to bring lots of ballooons because they seemed to maske everyone there happy it somehow took over the air all around us. It was indeed a good, memorable farewell diner for all of us who today at 10:00 PM will travel back to Miami and be there befor 11:00 PMM tonight.. Back to our working iPhones, home computers, blog postings, emails, problems, phone calls, and oother everyday stress... and as you think abnout all of this, you wonder who truly is the lucky one but then reality hits and you realize its you.. With all the problems we put up with in the United States, its rare we go too bed with hunnger or woondering where tomorroow´s mmeal is coming from, or whether or not we are going to eat or not...
Those are the issues facing lots of people here and entire families suffer the same restlessness although I can say one thing, everyone seems to get by somehow.. Somehow it stays together and peoople have time to fix their hommes and the streets of Cuba´s cities are cleaner thenn anywhere I have been in South America or the carribean, for that matter lots of american cities.. They take pride in maintaining the streets clean and debris free.. so that at least you can leave here knowing this is a very clean hygenic society that takes pride in itself and in their surroundings.
Cuba is indeed a land of contrasts and one vacationn I will gladly repeat in December of this year and again next June for it is my father land and my families hoome, and one I can never forget.. It has my roots and my people from which I came and a week long family celebration is something thjat always does the body good.. Peace, relaxation, and a governmennt bent on making tourists feel welcome make this place, with all its shortcomings perhaps the best vacation on the planet.. at least to me...
My next blog entry will be tonight from the city of Miami, from my office as I go to check up on what happened in the last ten days.. Gooodbye for now from Cuba, this beautiful island unnknown to many and misunderstood by most...
AG Home Goods
Showing posts with label CUBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CUBA. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Cuba Days 6-9, tourist stuff with family and friends
Cuba Days 6-9
Tourist stuff with Family and Friends
The last few days on the Island have been mostly spent onn going around and seeing what each family household needs. In other words, a window that needs repairing oor replaced, a rooof that needs fixing, a household that is shoort on food, one that needs plaster or paint and then have been going around and trying to find these items in a country where these things do not exist or are hard nearly impossible toi find. However this year we found that everything we waanted to buy was readilly available and purchased everything we needed in about the two days we had allotted to the search. We purchased wardrobes for some family members, windows for others, as well as friends, connected flat screens that no one seems to know how to opperate, and helped spruce up homes with small items such as plates, glasses, stemware, paint, and a few other basic items such as toilet paper. Everyone here seems to need something yet their spirit and determination is completely alive and kicking. The tourist dollar only stores (correction new chavo - the term used for the converted american dollar) are rich in merchandise but at prices way out of reachj of most the Island. A shovel for example costs 20.00 and most cubans make 10.00 a month.
I also had my first experience in a Cubann Gym these last few days.. To say it was an experience is an understatement. No real equipment to speak about, or for that matter much of anything.. It was two bars, one bench, and outdated and broken stairmasters, which of course did not work.. There were two bars to be shared by everyone and thehy were full of rust and the smoothie bar was commpletely emty but yet there was still someoone working there, the massage area and steam, sauna, and bathrooms were long ago shut and the entrance fee 5.00 USD, which they think is a bargain.. I hear that most good gyms are in Havanna and I agree that Havana is perhaps the closest one gets to feeling like they are back in the states. Although sometimes when I am in the hotel in the room, with the AC full blast and the TV tuned too ESPN, I feel the same but as you open the door and feel the heat and run into the brooken elevator that forces you to walk down 9 flights of stairs annd be completely drenched I realize where I am Cuba. All of this and I would not trade this vacation for a week at the best greek villa on the islands of Mykonos.
People here are waram, friendly, and everyone survives, they know how to party, act, yet survive. The Cuban Spirit is strong determined, and willed to move ahead and make through these times so that they can live a better tomorrow. One thing is for sure the construction here is absolutely sturdy and if this place were to ever see a Lowes or Home Depot or something similar, the reaction would be a better island, one full of tourists, and one completely renovated and invigorated...
We went to a place called LA Granjita, which was Fidel Castro´s old Villa oor House here in Santa Clara to eat yesterday with our family and friends and at $12.00 all you can eat buffet style dinnner, it was a bargain to have the pleasure of seeing my family and friends enjoy such a wonderful meal and savor every moment, including thhe all you can eat Ice Cream Bar, which seems unimportant to us yet is a super luxury on the Island, and some with us had never seen one.. Its amazing just 90 miles from here is the southern coast of Florida and the city of Miami, with everything available and yet here its a differennt world where everything is a chore too find or get a hold of.
One thing I will never get use to is the lack of paper towels or napkins.. There art none anywhere, you get one for lunch, dinner, and none in the bathrooms, even in the hotels.. So trust me on this when going to the bathroom and going to do number two, do it in your room for a surprize will definitely hit you, if you do it in the public areas.. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE...
Today we are going to say goodbye to most of the people we love and care about in a big celebration outside the city at my grandparents old home, one we completely renovated by sending money from the states. One of three homes we have completely rebuilt here on the Island even added AC, noty too mention the coutless windows, paintings, concrete for other homes of our friends and family we have helped with. For you see with western monney and funds everything is available, for that RIGHT price... then is back to Santa Clara to spend the nighht and tomorrow at 2:00 PM we leave for Havana to make sure we check in by 6:00 for our 10:00 PM flight and back in Miami before 11:00. When we land we will have traveled not only 90 miles but in a time machine forward in time to 2011..
And although I will happy to be back, I will not be able too stop tyhinking about my family and close friends still here on the Island fighting everyday to survive..
AG Home Goods
Tourist stuff with Family and Friends
The last few days on the Island have been mostly spent onn going around and seeing what each family household needs. In other words, a window that needs repairing oor replaced, a rooof that needs fixing, a household that is shoort on food, one that needs plaster or paint and then have been going around and trying to find these items in a country where these things do not exist or are hard nearly impossible toi find. However this year we found that everything we waanted to buy was readilly available and purchased everything we needed in about the two days we had allotted to the search. We purchased wardrobes for some family members, windows for others, as well as friends, connected flat screens that no one seems to know how to opperate, and helped spruce up homes with small items such as plates, glasses, stemware, paint, and a few other basic items such as toilet paper. Everyone here seems to need something yet their spirit and determination is completely alive and kicking. The tourist dollar only stores (correction new chavo - the term used for the converted american dollar) are rich in merchandise but at prices way out of reachj of most the Island. A shovel for example costs 20.00 and most cubans make 10.00 a month.
I also had my first experience in a Cubann Gym these last few days.. To say it was an experience is an understatement. No real equipment to speak about, or for that matter much of anything.. It was two bars, one bench, and outdated and broken stairmasters, which of course did not work.. There were two bars to be shared by everyone and thehy were full of rust and the smoothie bar was commpletely emty but yet there was still someoone working there, the massage area and steam, sauna, and bathrooms were long ago shut and the entrance fee 5.00 USD, which they think is a bargain.. I hear that most good gyms are in Havanna and I agree that Havana is perhaps the closest one gets to feeling like they are back in the states. Although sometimes when I am in the hotel in the room, with the AC full blast and the TV tuned too ESPN, I feel the same but as you open the door and feel the heat and run into the brooken elevator that forces you to walk down 9 flights of stairs annd be completely drenched I realize where I am Cuba. All of this and I would not trade this vacation for a week at the best greek villa on the islands of Mykonos.
People here are waram, friendly, and everyone survives, they know how to party, act, yet survive. The Cuban Spirit is strong determined, and willed to move ahead and make through these times so that they can live a better tomorrow. One thing is for sure the construction here is absolutely sturdy and if this place were to ever see a Lowes or Home Depot or something similar, the reaction would be a better island, one full of tourists, and one completely renovated and invigorated...
We went to a place called LA Granjita, which was Fidel Castro´s old Villa oor House here in Santa Clara to eat yesterday with our family and friends and at $12.00 all you can eat buffet style dinnner, it was a bargain to have the pleasure of seeing my family and friends enjoy such a wonderful meal and savor every moment, including thhe all you can eat Ice Cream Bar, which seems unimportant to us yet is a super luxury on the Island, and some with us had never seen one.. Its amazing just 90 miles from here is the southern coast of Florida and the city of Miami, with everything available and yet here its a differennt world where everything is a chore too find or get a hold of.
One thing I will never get use to is the lack of paper towels or napkins.. There art none anywhere, you get one for lunch, dinner, and none in the bathrooms, even in the hotels.. So trust me on this when going to the bathroom and going to do number two, do it in your room for a surprize will definitely hit you, if you do it in the public areas.. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE...
Today we are going to say goodbye to most of the people we love and care about in a big celebration outside the city at my grandparents old home, one we completely renovated by sending money from the states. One of three homes we have completely rebuilt here on the Island even added AC, noty too mention the coutless windows, paintings, concrete for other homes of our friends and family we have helped with. For you see with western monney and funds everything is available, for that RIGHT price... then is back to Santa Clara to spend the nighht and tomorrow at 2:00 PM we leave for Havana to make sure we check in by 6:00 for our 10:00 PM flight and back in Miami before 11:00. When we land we will have traveled not only 90 miles but in a time machine forward in time to 2011..
And although I will happy to be back, I will not be able too stop tyhinking about my family and close friends still here on the Island fighting everyday to survive..
AG Home Goods
Sunday, June 19, 2011
My Grandmother´s Big night.. 105th B'Day
Cuba Day 4
My Grandmother´s Birthday
It was indeed a big night last night. A party for 75 Cubans, all family and close friends as we gathered to celebrate the Birthday of Grandmother who turned 105 years old. Iyt was a wonderful celebration of drinks, sparklers, events, a mariahi band, singers, dancers, and everything in between.
Usually not seen in Cuba on the scale we celebrated, it was indeed a night to remember. Everyone it seemed was having the time of thier life. The entire family was up atop a beautiful rooftop dining room that overlooked the entire city of Santa Clara. This was a fully air conditioned hall, with a great set up, dancefloor, full kitchen and it seems so rare that the cuban government is not taking more oppurtunity to utilize this place as it is spectacular and one that should be promoted when talking about this city. It has 360 degree views of the entire city and of course this hotel being the only tall skyscraper in this city makes that View Priceless..
As a matter of fact it should be a mastercard commercial... Like you know.. View from the highest building ' Say 500.00, Stay at this hotel say 800.00 .. The time spent with family having a good owe time.... priceless...
Anyway getting back to reality the food, cake, drinks were all to absolutely write home about.. The flavor of food on the island being all natural and no preservatives gives it a unique taste little if any of us Americans have truly ever tasted.. its a flavor so pure and natural you just cant stop eating.. Imagine all the cheese, milk, dairy products for that matter having the same natural taste and smell not the odorles stuff we normally get in the United States.. Oh dont get me wrong I am not complaining.. We have a lot more food then they will ever see here on this island and the United is still and will remail the best country in the world, but to get this wholesome taste is something that is alone worth this trip...
Today is my Birthday and we are celebrating by going to my familly´s house on the farm, where we will also celebrate Father´s Day which falls the same date as it does in te UNited States, as does every other major holiday such as Valentine´s Day, Mother´s Day, Etc.. This is a vestage of the times when the United States and Cuba were close allies befor the 1959 revolution. Old American Cars from the 50´s are still the standard and running on the island altough tourists now have Chinese, Russian, Asian Cars with AC to travel through the island which has been remarkably free and clear to us on this trip.
Last night I went to a Cuban Disco which was a lot of fun where we danced until 400 AM.. Funny everyone there including three American Tourist I ran into said the same thing.. If this place were opened to American tourist dollars it would be a great vacation destination.. They were still amazed how a 4 days long passed trek to varadero turned out to be for them.. Their first comment I have never seen such white sandy beaches and clear water with over a mile of visibility and pristine beachfronts in my many years of travel, the same thing I shared with all of you from my first blog post from here...
Indeed Cuba is a land of many surprises.. Thanks in Part to Hugo Chavez, yes Hugo Chavez of Venezuela they have gas and petrolium here which allows the island not to suffer any electrical losses durring this intense heat wave. And although I am no fan of Mr Chavez, one thing he has done has brought about something positive on this Island. There are a lot of poor people here which honestly might not be alive if it were not for the petroum and oil products he provides in exchange for Cuban Doctors, Technocrats, who help the poor in Venezuela. A program that although has some drawbacks, still is beneficial to both Nations regardless of `peoples personal opinions on either government.
Tomorrow we head into touristville as we venture with our chinese made tourist bus to the Cuban Keys and are staying at one of the Islands premier resorts with my entire family ' all 27 of them and at 50.00 per person all inclusive inclusing lunch tomoprrow, dinner tomorrow, and breakfast the following morning, drinks at night, and of course the room, it seems a real bargain for us US natives.. What it would cost perhaps one or two people for the same accomadations for one night anywhere else we can accomodate 27 here in Cuba..
Simply Amazing and breathtaking as I always like to say...
Well lets see what surprizes we have in store for us today and tomorrow and I will make sure to let all of you know what happens.. Untill then from Cuba.. Signing off...
AG Home Goods
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| Image I found on the Internet showing Hotel Santa Clara Libre and Surrounding Area |
Cuba Day 4
My Grandmother´s Birthday
It was indeed a big night last night. A party for 75 Cubans, all family and close friends as we gathered to celebrate the Birthday of Grandmother who turned 105 years old. Iyt was a wonderful celebration of drinks, sparklers, events, a mariahi band, singers, dancers, and everything in between.
Usually not seen in Cuba on the scale we celebrated, it was indeed a night to remember. Everyone it seemed was having the time of thier life. The entire family was up atop a beautiful rooftop dining room that overlooked the entire city of Santa Clara. This was a fully air conditioned hall, with a great set up, dancefloor, full kitchen and it seems so rare that the cuban government is not taking more oppurtunity to utilize this place as it is spectacular and one that should be promoted when talking about this city. It has 360 degree views of the entire city and of course this hotel being the only tall skyscraper in this city makes that View Priceless..
As a matter of fact it should be a mastercard commercial... Like you know.. View from the highest building ' Say 500.00, Stay at this hotel say 800.00 .. The time spent with family having a good owe time.... priceless...
Anyway getting back to reality the food, cake, drinks were all to absolutely write home about.. The flavor of food on the island being all natural and no preservatives gives it a unique taste little if any of us Americans have truly ever tasted.. its a flavor so pure and natural you just cant stop eating.. Imagine all the cheese, milk, dairy products for that matter having the same natural taste and smell not the odorles stuff we normally get in the United States.. Oh dont get me wrong I am not complaining.. We have a lot more food then they will ever see here on this island and the United is still and will remail the best country in the world, but to get this wholesome taste is something that is alone worth this trip...
Today is my Birthday and we are celebrating by going to my familly´s house on the farm, where we will also celebrate Father´s Day which falls the same date as it does in te UNited States, as does every other major holiday such as Valentine´s Day, Mother´s Day, Etc.. This is a vestage of the times when the United States and Cuba were close allies befor the 1959 revolution. Old American Cars from the 50´s are still the standard and running on the island altough tourists now have Chinese, Russian, Asian Cars with AC to travel through the island which has been remarkably free and clear to us on this trip.
Last night I went to a Cuban Disco which was a lot of fun where we danced until 400 AM.. Funny everyone there including three American Tourist I ran into said the same thing.. If this place were opened to American tourist dollars it would be a great vacation destination.. They were still amazed how a 4 days long passed trek to varadero turned out to be for them.. Their first comment I have never seen such white sandy beaches and clear water with over a mile of visibility and pristine beachfronts in my many years of travel, the same thing I shared with all of you from my first blog post from here...
Indeed Cuba is a land of many surprises.. Thanks in Part to Hugo Chavez, yes Hugo Chavez of Venezuela they have gas and petrolium here which allows the island not to suffer any electrical losses durring this intense heat wave. And although I am no fan of Mr Chavez, one thing he has done has brought about something positive on this Island. There are a lot of poor people here which honestly might not be alive if it were not for the petroum and oil products he provides in exchange for Cuban Doctors, Technocrats, who help the poor in Venezuela. A program that although has some drawbacks, still is beneficial to both Nations regardless of `peoples personal opinions on either government.
Tomorrow we head into touristville as we venture with our chinese made tourist bus to the Cuban Keys and are staying at one of the Islands premier resorts with my entire family ' all 27 of them and at 50.00 per person all inclusive inclusing lunch tomoprrow, dinner tomorrow, and breakfast the following morning, drinks at night, and of course the room, it seems a real bargain for us US natives.. What it would cost perhaps one or two people for the same accomadations for one night anywhere else we can accomodate 27 here in Cuba..
Simply Amazing and breathtaking as I always like to say...
Well lets see what surprizes we have in store for us today and tomorrow and I will make sure to let all of you know what happens.. Untill then from Cuba.. Signing off...
AG Home Goods
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Cuba, an Island misinterpreted from the outside
Day 3 Cuba....My grandmother´s 105th birthday is today
It was an uneventful night in Santa Clara Cuba. I finally found a way of getting photos sent to all of you and will have them up by this afternoon. (Hopefull). Anyway last night was raining as does everyday here around 3 PM as we are in the tropics and the afternoon thunderstorms tend to roll in everyday at the same time. I think its great since it coold the island down by about 10 to 12 degrees and the breeze before the rain and after is something I would rather have then live without.
We went shoping yesterday and the unthinkable happened. The stores were full of products from the USA, Raisen Bran, Lucky Charms, Cheereos, to name a few cereals and just about everything food wise was made in the UDA. Incredible.. Of course most items were way to expensive for the average cuban family. But no matter most again seemed to get by and honestly I love the island and the people are very friendly and even the government really ahs not done anything wrong to us or anyone around us so a lot of the stories you hear on Cuba are just that stories..
Its safe, secure, the government does go out of its way to show tourists a good time, and you feel very secure where ever you go. So no matter what you have herd, don´t always believe because it might not be true, and more then likely it is not..
We ate early around 600PM and I was in bed by 1100 in a nice clean air conditioned hotel room in the middle of the colonial beautiful city of Santa Clara.. Where everyone seems to be super friendly toward tourists and there are quite a few of them here.. from Europe, Canada, United States, and a slew of other countries. The room includes breakfast which is fantastic buffet style or a la carte with just about everything you can possibly imagine for breakfast...
Well today we are busy getting ready for the big party tonight.. it promises to be a great time and evening.. more on that later and hopefully with some pictures..
Pictures found below.. just A FEW ...
It was an uneventful night in Santa Clara Cuba. I finally found a way of getting photos sent to all of you and will have them up by this afternoon. (Hopefull). Anyway last night was raining as does everyday here around 3 PM as we are in the tropics and the afternoon thunderstorms tend to roll in everyday at the same time. I think its great since it coold the island down by about 10 to 12 degrees and the breeze before the rain and after is something I would rather have then live without.
We went shoping yesterday and the unthinkable happened. The stores were full of products from the USA, Raisen Bran, Lucky Charms, Cheereos, to name a few cereals and just about everything food wise was made in the UDA. Incredible.. Of course most items were way to expensive for the average cuban family. But no matter most again seemed to get by and honestly I love the island and the people are very friendly and even the government really ahs not done anything wrong to us or anyone around us so a lot of the stories you hear on Cuba are just that stories..
Its safe, secure, the government does go out of its way to show tourists a good time, and you feel very secure where ever you go. So no matter what you have herd, don´t always believe because it might not be true, and more then likely it is not..
We ate early around 600PM and I was in bed by 1100 in a nice clean air conditioned hotel room in the middle of the colonial beautiful city of Santa Clara.. Where everyone seems to be super friendly toward tourists and there are quite a few of them here.. from Europe, Canada, United States, and a slew of other countries. The room includes breakfast which is fantastic buffet style or a la carte with just about everything you can possibly imagine for breakfast...
Well today we are busy getting ready for the big party tonight.. it promises to be a great time and evening.. more on that later and hopefully with some pictures..
Pictures found below.. just A FEW ...
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