Here it is, Sunday, March 20, 2011 already and supposedly, spring has sprung. I sure don't know where! It's snowing where I live and the temperature is -6C. Perhaps I should book another flight to Cuba!
Anyway, in spite of continued winter-like weather, I had a good week. I have taken up the challenge offered by Barefoot Deliberations and this past week, my dresser and armoire received a thorough revamp. I even lined the drawers with beautiful, lavender-scented paper that I had purchased from Avon two years ago! Now things not only smell wonderful, but I can find my favourite pair of brown dress socks and a sweater that I love to wear but could never find. How's that for organization!
I also make a vow this week: do something about my weight, which has been steadily creeping upwards. I signed on to liverightnow.ca and issued a challenge to lose 15 pounds by June 30, 2011. Since Wednesday, March 16, I have been tracking everything that goes into my mouth and I have been exercising daily in 10-minute increments to total about 40 minutes/day. I do "counter" push-ups and leg raises while supper cooks, I get off my butt and do side bends during commercials on TV and I've been walking around my house 5 or 6 times every hour. I've been going up and down my basement stairs several times a day, even if I don't need anything in the basement. I already feel better and I swear the bra I put on after my shower this morning felt looser! Yahoo!
I am also planning a birthday party for hubby, who turns 65 in May. I have about 51 people (so far) on the guest list and I have a tentative menu: roast baron of beef, baked or roasted potatoes, potato salad, assorted other salads and other vegetables, and, of course, birthday cake. We live in the country and we can make noise and play music all night long if we wish. Many of the neighbours will be invited!
I am looking forward to doing this for him and although it will not be a total surprise - after all, how can I cook a 30-pound roast without telling him something? - I hope some of the guests will surprise him. That's what it's all about, no? Spending special times with people who mean something to you is the best gift I can give him.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
THE RETURN
Hello everyone! We had a wonderful holiday in Cuba. We left on February 28 and returned on March 7 and the week we spent in the sun, sand and surf was most restful. We really didn't do much: one day we hopped a double-decker bus and got off at a small flea market where we browsed for about two hours. We took a horse-drawn carriage back to the hotel (Breezes Bella Costa in Varadero). One other day, we took a bus tour to Old Havana and were gone from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. What an amazing city! I was overwhelmed with all the 17th. and 18th. century architecture I saw. We walked on cobblestone streets and toured the oldest stone fort in North America, a former presidential palace, now a museum, and an old cathedral. I couldn't stop looking at everything and I had a hard time remembering everything our tour guide imparted to us. We had brief stops at some older hotels, which are famous for certain guests: Ernest Hemingway and former US president, Jimmy Carter. Our adorable guide called him the "Peanut Farmer". We passed one fairly posh residential area on the way to Havana where, apparently, Al Capone had built a mansion. There was no evidence, however, to support the fact that he had ever lived there or visited Cuba.
The beach was wonderful and we spent most afternoons there, lazing around under a cabana and talking to fellow-Canadians. We met people from Ontario, the Maritimes, Quebec, Saskatchewan and BC. We attended the nightly shows which ranged from singers and dancers to animal performances. Cuba has its own Rita McNeil! This gorgeous woman entertained us for two evenings and even though you were unable to understand the Spanish, her voice alone mesmerized every listener. She was stunning and captivated all of us.
We had great food, too. The buffet was full of what I called "at home" choices, and if you went hungry, it was your own fault. The a la carte restaurants were excellent and I had the best spaghetti and shrimp scampi I have ever eaten.
And the temperatures! Wow! Most days, it was +28C on average; one or two days, we got to +31C. We had no rain until the morning we were due to leave, so at least I came home with a toasty tan - which is already fading!
Cuba is a poor country, sad to say. We saw no agriculture to speak of: no fields, gardens or orchards. We saw a few scrawny cows and several chickens, some skinny dogs and cats. There were several run-down fishing villages along the coast where we were and I think the majority of the people in the province of Varadero work at the hotel strip. I don't recall how many hotels there were, but they can accommodate 35,000 tourists at any given time. When we were there, there were 30,000 of us sun-seekers!
The Cuban people are beautiful, talented and friendly. They sell their wares, but they are not pushy, except at the huge flea market we went to in Havana. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and yes, I would definitely go again.
My husband (and I, as well)was captivated by all the old cars on the roads. And I mean old! We saw 1957/1958 Chevrolets, Fords, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs. Most were repainted and in good repair and the mechanics work miracles to keep them road-worthy. They will replace original engines with either diesels or Toyota or Honda engines. Amazing! You will see newer vehicles, but they are imported from Russia or Germany, of course.
Although I nearly froze to death when we got off the plane in Edmonton, it was good to be home. There's nothing like your own bed, shower, and coffee and as much as I love to travel, those are things I miss the most. However, if you ever have the chance to visit Cuba, go. It's a memorable experience!
The beach was wonderful and we spent most afternoons there, lazing around under a cabana and talking to fellow-Canadians. We met people from Ontario, the Maritimes, Quebec, Saskatchewan and BC. We attended the nightly shows which ranged from singers and dancers to animal performances. Cuba has its own Rita McNeil! This gorgeous woman entertained us for two evenings and even though you were unable to understand the Spanish, her voice alone mesmerized every listener. She was stunning and captivated all of us.
We had great food, too. The buffet was full of what I called "at home" choices, and if you went hungry, it was your own fault. The a la carte restaurants were excellent and I had the best spaghetti and shrimp scampi I have ever eaten.
And the temperatures! Wow! Most days, it was +28C on average; one or two days, we got to +31C. We had no rain until the morning we were due to leave, so at least I came home with a toasty tan - which is already fading!
Cuba is a poor country, sad to say. We saw no agriculture to speak of: no fields, gardens or orchards. We saw a few scrawny cows and several chickens, some skinny dogs and cats. There were several run-down fishing villages along the coast where we were and I think the majority of the people in the province of Varadero work at the hotel strip. I don't recall how many hotels there were, but they can accommodate 35,000 tourists at any given time. When we were there, there were 30,000 of us sun-seekers!
The Cuban people are beautiful, talented and friendly. They sell their wares, but they are not pushy, except at the huge flea market we went to in Havana. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and yes, I would definitely go again.
My husband (and I, as well)was captivated by all the old cars on the roads. And I mean old! We saw 1957/1958 Chevrolets, Fords, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs. Most were repainted and in good repair and the mechanics work miracles to keep them road-worthy. They will replace original engines with either diesels or Toyota or Honda engines. Amazing! You will see newer vehicles, but they are imported from Russia or Germany, of course.
Although I nearly froze to death when we got off the plane in Edmonton, it was good to be home. There's nothing like your own bed, shower, and coffee and as much as I love to travel, those are things I miss the most. However, if you ever have the chance to visit Cuba, go. It's a memorable experience!
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