Dearest Sjogren's Angels,
Spending the last five days at a five star PLUS hotel. With internet, free. Well, of course it is paid for. This is an all inclusive hotel with everything available 24 hours a day. But we KNOW there's no free lunch. We know that well!
I've been doing pretty well, just hot hot hot. And spent three days with very minimal AC, holed up in our room in a Casa Particular, which is a sort of bed and breakfast, living with a family.
My health has been reasonably good, and I have gracefully bowed out of horseback riding and treking down the mountain side to see the gorgeous waterfall, then treking back UP. All in 95 degree heat and 99 percent humidity.
Here at the resort the pools are unheated, AND uncooled! So they are at about bathwater temperature,, or even hot tub. And I hear the ocean is the same!!!
So much for refreshing exercise in the water.
I thought I was careful with supplies, but left my eye spray at home (eek) and one medication bottle was less than half full (a gel I apply twice daily) and so ran out a bit ago.
But I just dabbed bottled water in my eyes in the night, and the other med isn't essential to survivial.
It is amazing to see Cuba, as surely it will experience huge changes in the next few years. Rather like our visit to China in 1985 as compared with our second trip in 2007. HUGE changes. Cuba is due for them soon. There has been zero construction and almost zero repair or restoration since the revolution. But change is in the air and on the way, for sure.
Now I just have to manage not to eat 24 hours a day (or drink) as everything is available at all times.
I've missed you guys and keeping up with what is going on.
My weird cough is still with me, not a dry throat cough but a weird bronchial thing that leaves me dizzy, but only happens occasionally. I think it may be the interstitial inflammation of my lungs, like that of my bladder, but very early stage. I only have a bit of foamy light stuff that comes up, definitely no infection or serious problem.
Sigh, another 'idiopathic' thing no doubt.
Well, will close. Looking forward to being home, seeing our cats, and family in Raleigh.
Hugs to all
Elaine (aka Carolina)
Well, your last few days sound absolutely fabulous. ;)
I'm so glad you've felt pretty well. I know you were a bit anxious about the whole trip, events planned, etc. I'm sure you gracefully bowed out of the horseback riding and mountain-trekking. That would have really been a bit too much.
We've missed you around here, too! I was just thinking about you last night, and wondering how you were. See, you go on vacation and the whole site looks different. Spring did some nice upgrades.
Thanks so much for updating us. Sure you'll be happy to get back to Raleigh, but so glad that it sounds as if you've enjoyed yourself. ;)
Take care,
Melinda
Hola, I was thinking about you yesterday too. Glad to hear you're holding up well!
Enjoy your last few days & have a safe trip home :)
Carie
I am glad that you are enjoying your trip with just minor challenges.
Hello Carolina, It's a joy to hear from you!
Rest up... we've had some Spring cleaning on the site.
And, you'll love all the new buttons and options! :o
What a great trip! My husband and I had a chance to go this fall but weren't able to schedule it in. Looking forward to hearing more about it when you return.
Genko
Glad your having a good time,, they still drive around in old american cars down there,?, they seems to last forever
They do, really!
Amazing, but they are pretty cobbled together at this point.
With hand made hood ornaments, and various parts from other cars, and Lada engines!
We've seen 46 Buicks, etc, just percolating along.
It is a sight!
Hugs
Elaine
can you bring me one back home,,,, or at least get a couple of pics,, glad your having a good time,, its cool up here in pa,, about 75 now,,
Hey Sjoggies, It's time for Carolina to be 'rolling' in home... :)
Elaine, let me be the first to welcome you home to the good ole' USA!! ;)
Looking forward to hearing from you... At least, give us a (((shout))) that you are safely home! :P
Joy
Yes, back in the USofA,
with only a few weather related snags, cancellations and general confusion. Flying is SUCH FUN! HAH.
Resting, planning stuff, making the cats happy.
More to follow.
Hugs to all, and Joy especially!
Elaine
Welcome back, Elaine!
Can't wait to hear some of your travel stories. ;D
I didn't think we could travel to Cuba on vacation. I am surprised to say the least.
I know a member of the Navy who spent 2 years at GITMO. She left there this spring and went to SanDiego and after about 3 months, she got orders for Afghanistan. She is a commissioned officer with a moving medical unit. I am very proud of my friend whom I have known since she was 4. She is 35 now. Lucy
Hi Eyeamdry:
Things are changing rapidly in terms of the USA/Cuba relationship.
While we were in Cuba there were two programs on CNN.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta broadcast his daily show from Havana every day, focusing on the Cuban health care system, among other things.
A special report was broadcast by CNN last week that featured the recently approved 'educational travel' program set up by the USA for Cuba. People traveling with educational groups can travel directly from the US to Cuba. The group that was interviewed was People to People, which expects to take about 5000 visitors to Cuba in the next year.
All that said, we had to travel through Canada, because we were meeting our family from France and not going on an educational tour. Cuba has over 2 million tourists a year, and since the fall of the Soviet Union, and no longer receiving their aid, Cuba relies on tourism for a major source of revenue.
Travel for Americans is more difficult because no American credit card company can honor charges made in Cuba, due to restrictions. We had, of course, to buy special travel insurance to cover medical and accident costs should they be incurred.
So it took some extra efforts to make this trip possible. We only went because our family was going there and we wanted to see Cuba before a single McDonalds is built! The country is amazingly preserved as it was in the late 50's when the revolution succeeded. Everyone is educated and has health care, and there are several World Heritage Sites to be visited, and the country is very very safe to visit.
But over half the road traffic is horse and cart. Motorcycles with side cars, bicycle carts, and ancient American cars from the 40's ad 50's are everywhere!
We stayed in fancy hotels in Havana, with a family in the very old city of Trinidad, drove on roads with no shoulders and huge pot holes, and drove everywhere with no road signs stopping to ask for directions through every town and village.
Some of the experience was very reminiscent of our summer spent in Mexico in 1963. And our summer in China in 1985, where there wasn't a single McDonald's or private car to be seen. When we returned to China in 2007 the changes were astounding. I doubt if we'll get back to Cuba in 22 years to see those changes, however!
It was a trip to be remembered, especially since we travelled with our son (46) daughter-in-law and grandson (18) and granddaughter (16) who live in Paris. My daughter-in-law had a Spanish nanny in Paris, and I am a former Spanish teacher, our granddaughter is studying Spanish. English, French and Spanish were mixed and matched constantly.
Soon it will be easy to fly to Cuba from Miami and Americans will flock to Cuba.
HUGS
Elaine