Cuba Trip 3/19 Day 2

In Toronto airport we had about a 2 hour wait to get on the next flight to Varadero, Cuba. Here we met up with Dave and Carmen (yep my daugther Carmen's friend is named Carmen too) who are the best man and maid of honor for the wedding. They had flown in from Saskatoon, having driven from Grande Prairie with their 3 year old daughter. The grand parents were babysitting while they joined the Cuba trip. 

I took a long walk around the huge airport gates area, did a couple of crossword puzzles and we soon proceeded onto the plane.

In the breezeway just before getting on the plane, you could see into the cockpit and the co-pilot was reading some sort of manual. I joked with Janet that he was reading the instructions. Janet is a nervous flier and always grips my hand really tight during the take offs.

Once on the plane, the steward said "Papers" and I joked with him saying in a German accent " Papers, you have papers" , just like they do in the WWII movies. The pilot was standing right there behind the steward and he couldn't help chuckling and turning away.

We took our seats and and had this view out the window.

Just as we were taking off the sun starting peeking over the horizon.

We were now heading due south across quite a bit of city and part of the Great Lakes. Next was some really rough looking country with next to no development. A while later there was a really interesting looking 3 large mountain ridges that ran parallel as far as you could see angling out to the west. I think this is part of the Appalachian mountains. Most unusal terrain.

Being that this is the eastern US, I was surprised that such little development could be seen from the air. Next we were over Florida and a lot more development here with lots of potholes scattered around on the flat land. It looked like there had been a big meteor shower that made these holes all over. Quite a few looked perfectly round from our 35,000 feet.

Then everglades and the islands and bridges of Key West. Finally nothing but water and maybe 200 miles to get to Cuba.

Here is our first view of Cuba.

Landed in Varadero at this tiny airport terminal painted a bright kind of yellow orange color. Now off the plane down onto the tarmac and about 20 steps to get onto the most unusual bus you've ever seen. This thing was ancient, about 12 feet wide with no seats, just poles and railings to hang onto. This bus was so rusty and beat up it was unbelievable and the terminal was only about 300 feet away. We had to stand in this bus and wait for the whole plane to unload. Finally we moved towards the terminal and half way there the guy in the little tractor pulling the baggage carts pulled right in front of the bus and the driver had to brake fairly hard putting everyone standing in the bus off balance.

The driver was yelling at the other guy and this was a great example of culture shock. We weren't in Canada anymore !

Next, the baggage guy turns sharp and some luggage falls off the carts, so he has to stop and pick it up right in front of the bus. Some woman on the bus exclaims "Thats my new hard luggage". What a gong show.

The decrepid bus can finally proceed to the terminal entrance and we file off. We could have walked to the terminal maybe 20 times by now and the whole procedure was just so bizarre.

Once inside, we wait for the passport check in long lines of passengers from other planes as well. Less that half an hour and we are through the buzzer door into the baggage pick up area. We get our bags and thankfully they all are there because the suits and wedding dress, etc. might come in handy.

No security or customs/duty check of any kind. Outside we met the Air Canada rep. who directs us to walk to the resort buses around some construction area for the ride to the resort. I'm hoping for a better bus than the last one.

This walk now with all our luggage over the shoulders and in tow is considerably longer than the bus ride to the terminal. I still can't get over this one.

The resort buses are ultra modern with the big bug like mirrors out front with a wild paint job. Such a contrast to the airport bus you have a hard time believing this is all side by side. The haves and the have nots.

Here's Steve getting the baggage aboard.

Now we are in for a nice drive along the coast to the resort town of Varadero and the Zona Tourista, the hotels on a spit of land 11 km long out into the ocean.

The old cars on the road are so cool, mixed in with horse drawn carts. The area seems quite clean though and lots of people standing by the roadway waiting for rides or buses to come along I guess.

We got to the resort, the Breezes Bella Costa without drama  and check in was fairly quick. Only 1 of the 4 rooms was ready though so we put all the luggage into one room and headed for the buffet. We had been awake now about 30 hours. The foods are different and seem a little oily. I think they use a lot of olive oil in most things they cook. The bread and the beer is good, so no problem, eh !

Had a glass of wine with lunch also and this was really quite good. Janet and I took our Thermos brand stainless steel water bottles which keeps drinks cool for up to 12 hours, and headed for the beach. They mix a pretty stiff drink in these bottles and we exlore the resort and several types of rum drinks. A few glasses of beer and pretty soon life is good !

We get our room key and unload the luggage. King size bed and a towel sculpture.

We head back to the beach. I'm walking straight for the water and the lifeguard stops me. No one allowed in the water. Seems there is jelly fish and the ocean is closed all day. Bummer !

I go back to the pool and wade in, seems cold at first but refreshing and sobering. I take a quick swim and get another drink and sit down to relax.

I hear some shouting and go over to investigate. Seems they are having a combination sing-a-long and darts contest. We get in on it and after maybe half an hour of singing dancing and throwing darts, I end up with the high score. High 5's from everybody and I win a whole bottle of Havana Club - the rum of choice. I'll take it home because all the rum I can drink here is free anyways.

We start heading to the room to put the rum away and I can't find my prescription sun glasses. Oh no, I think they must have fallen off when I went for a swim in the pool. Back to the pool. Not in the pool, but I find them sitting on a poolside table. Someone had found them and put them in a safe place for me. Thank you whoever you are. I am reminded that bad things can happen when you drink too much. Go swimming with glasses and you'll find out this to be true !

After supper we are strolling the resort and find a laptop in a leather bag that someone has forgotten  on a sofa. We wait aroung for a while hoping to see some frantic face but no one shows up. We call security and they place it behind the check in counter and log it into their lost and found book. We got our chance to pay it forward for our good fortune of getting my sunglasses back. One good turn deserves another don't you think. Maybe they were drinking too much and making bad decisions too.

It's been a long 2 days without sleep so bye for now.

Cuba Trip 3/18 Day1

Travelled to Kelowna airport with Janet's brother, Ron, who will be staying with Janet's Dad while we are away. Ron will bring our SUV back to the airport the day before we return when he flies back home to Dawson Creek, BC.

Check in clerk at the airport seemed surprised that I had completed the online check in which made his job considerably easier. Next was the security check in and after taking everything metallic and placing it in the scanning tubs, I of course still set off the alarm because of all the metal in my leg. So I got a pretty complete hand scan while they tried to ensure that I wasn't packing a weapon somewhere. While you are standing there like an Inukshuk, other people are passing through and grabbing their stuff before you can and while your back in turned they could take your stuff too.

We got on the plane close to take-off time but then for some unknown reason we sat on the runway for a least 10 minutes or more before we could take off. The ride to Calgary was a little bumpy but I got to see a lot of snowy mountain tops on the way. The landing was good. We then faced a 4 hour wait for the next connection flight to Toronto.

We were met by our excited daughter Carmen and her groom to be, Steve.

They had already been there about 4 hours after their flight from Grande Prairie. Steve's Mom from Dawson Creek and Sister from Newfoundland were there as well. They had an 8 hour wait for the connection, so it was a long day for them already.

The flight to Toronto left about midnight and was uneventful and we arrived in the middle of the night. I read 5 chapters in a new book about the life of Genghis Khan, starting with his boyhood challenges of being the second son of 5 sons, all of whom wanted to grow up to be the next Khan. Then I watched a movie and when that was over we were descending into Toronto and there were lots of city lights to look at.

Me Bad

Me Bad.

Me not blog lately.

Me Busy.

Me taking a holiday.

Me travelling tonight to Calgary, to Toronto, to Varadero.

Me marrying off #1 daughter on beach next week.

Me probably eat too much and drink too much.

Me likely to get sunburn.

Me will walk in powdery white sand and warm ocean water.

Me will have lots of fun in the sun.

Me need to finish packing.

Me say goodbye now.

Where are the keys ?

Last year, between Christmas and New Year's, due to my uncle's death, I drove my parents and my aunt north through the winters snow some 500 miles to Prince George , BC. I drove Janet's SUV and she had my truck to drive while I was away.

The roads were snow and ice covered most of the way and while the trip was uneventful, it was stressful and lots of concentration on the road ahead. We stayed at the Ramada in Prince George on Dec. 30, attended the funeral on the 31st, back at the hotel for night in the boys room (Dad and I)  and then drove back on New Years Day.

This 2010 New Year's, Janet and I had planned a nice evening out for a change and had tickets for a New Year's Dinner and Johnny Reid Concert at the new event center in Penticton.

Of course as soon as I make plans, the plans always seem to go out the window. Consequently, I seldom make plans and am criticized occasionally for this.

Anyhow, during the local snow storm, Janet went to the concert with our daughter Shannon and by all accounts the drinks out before the concert and the concert were great. Johnny came out to the crowd during the show and Shannon got a big hug from him and Janet got to say Hello and a handshake. Happy girls.

The day after I got back from Prince George, we could not find Janet's truck keys. We turned the truck inside out and the house upside down, but no keys. Where were the keys ?

Now I told you the above three stories so that I could tell you this story !

Today the phone rang and from the call display I could see it was our local grocery store calling. They asked for Janet and while she was walking to the phone, I asked Janet why the store would be calling us. She makes the I don't know face and shrugs her shoulders and says "Hello".

A pause and then "Yes this is Janet". Now a really long pause and Janet starts laughing saying " No Way" and "You're Kidding". Meanwhile, me with the puzzled face.

Finally she gets off the phone and says "The store has my keys"

I say "How does the store know they are your keys and what took so long in letting us know ?"

Apparently a customer of the store was just at another event at the event center and had parked in the back corner of the lot. This was where the snow gets piled when they clean the parking lot over the winter. I guess now with the recent warm weather the snow piles have melted away and this lady spied the keys on the pavement !

Now for the keys to get to us, this woman recognizes a small customer tag from the store that Janet has on the keychain with a barcode that is scanned when she buys the groceries. The lady takes the keys to the store, they look up the barcode and our phone rings. How about that !

Apparently, Janet had both my keys and her keys with her and one pair must have fell out of her coat when she climbed into or out of the truck. Then when the parking lot got snow plowed into a mountain of snow, the keys were safe in this ice chest. A couple of months of warm weather  and there's the keys !

Memories

Have you ever written poetry ?
You have to use your brain

They say just let the words flow
So this it it - here I go.

I was going to call it - Poetry Please
But I think I'll call it - Memories

-----------------------------------------------------------


We've all got memories
But they're not the same

We've all been playing
But not the same game

We've all been places
With a different name

We've all held our hands
Too close to the flame

We've all made mistakes
And we know who's to blame

We've all wanted sunshine
But the rains, they came

We've all wanted riches
But maybe not the fame

We've all told jokes
And some of them were lame

We've all watched wild horses
And wished they were tame

If you are getting tired of this
Then I'm the one to blame


Ha Ha Ha. He's a poet and didn't know it !

Nice Buns !

Have you ever had a craving that just would not stop ?

I've been thinking about some fresh, hot homemade buns with butter and strawberry jam (from the garden of course) for a few days and to make that itch go away, I just had to scratch it !

And here is the proof positive that this man can cook !

The photo may have been better without a bun missing, but you know that is what happens when fresh buns come out of the oven. They are immediately eaten by the half crazed cook !

Can you smell the fresh bread, taste the butter on your lips and just enjoy this most basic comfort food ?

And that's not all, a second pan was baked and this time the photo was taken first !

Now I'm looking at this photo and getting that old feeling back again. I want to reach in and break one apart and enjoy.

My mother is always right and she says " You are a man of many talents."

When Janet gets home she looks at the table and she says " Nice Buns ". I turn around and pretend to pick up something off the floor and she says it again.

Nice Buns.

Kids at the Park

Yesterday we arranged to meet with our daughter Michelle and her two daughters, Megan and Kaitlyn, at the park here in town. The kids rode in their side by side stroller and Michelle walked and pushed them the half mile to the park. We were in town running errands and it made for a nice break in the day.

I got to hold baby Kaitlyn for a while and make silly faces and strange noises so she would smile. Or maybe she just thinks I'm a crazy man at the park !

She is a sweetie and while we all thought Megan was a happy and calm baby, this little sister is ever more so. Quite content to look around and amuse herself. Something definantely needs attention before she will express herself. You know how it goes, it's either one end or the other. The feed bag or the diaper bag.

Of course she was held by her Nana too.

It was a sunny afternoon but still a cool breeze and relatively cool out.

Megan was very happy to get back to the park playground and she is very friendly with any other kids who come along.

Megan has a mind of her own and seems to take pleasure in not doing anything I suggested on the playground. I will have to spend more time with her outside now as the weather improves.

Here she is having fun on the slide.

It's always fun to go and play at the park no matter if you are my mom's kid, my kid, or my kid's kid. We are all kids at the park.