Thursday, March 9 People we meet were slightly surprised to find out we are staying in Havana for a month. The daily routine which seemingly everyone must approach is to find food. There are lots of restaurants, but it would be expensive to eat both meals out every day. (One does not think about 3 full meals). But we are becoming resourceful. Our new plan is to have breakfast across the street. It starts with a fruit plate and coffee, then juice, two scrambled eggs, a thick round bread in two slices, ham, and cheese. We eat most of the egg, fruit, juice, and one slice of toast and make what is essentially an Egg McMuffin with some of the egg adding the ham and cheese with the other slice. It will be tomorrow's breakfast – we make our own coffee. For dinner, we have started to do take-out. One meal and share it. It is usually easily sufficient for two. You can then skip the in-house drink and tip. (Water is not free anywhere – and it’s all bottled). That is the plan – I will report back to see how it works. Results: We tried the breakfast twice, but preferred a large bowl of fruit, which is easily obtained. Friday, March 10 Making it into the double digits - an achievement! Tuesday, March 14 Where did the weekend go? The air quality here is poor, you can see a dark brown haze on the horizon. We know the old cars don’t have catalytic converters and wonder if the new ones do. It has not rained yet but there is some in the forecast. Each day our food sourcing improves. Our options expanding - pineapple, watermelon, guava, some apples, tomato, cucumber, bread, chicken, shrimp, sliced ham, cheese, pasta, some rice and beans, and onions to name the bulk of it. Wednesday, March 15 Our unofficial halfway point. We went out to the little market near us and were pleasantly surprised at the selection. Our usual pineapple, guava, tomato, and cucumber were sitting next to onions, carrots, and radishes. There was also fish for sale, but we didn’t buy any. In another store, we found canned beans, and in another, mortadella for sandwiches. Not sure if mid-month sees a re-stocking of the shelves, but it was certainly a noticeable change. It was overcast and good-sized white caps could be seen on the gulf. I’m reading John Steinbecks’ “East of Eden” and enjoying it immensely. The hotel in the photo is the Havana Riviera. We look out at it every day and walked up to the doors, but it appears closed under renovation by Iberostar. Exterior and interior photos of what it looked like at its opening are amazing. A brief history of this interesting building. FTW (edited) “The Havana Riviera was originally owned by mobster Meyer Lansky who had been inspired to build it after visiting his friend, Moe Dalitz's nine-story Riviera Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It was intended to rival the comfort and contemporary luxury of any Las Vegas hotel of the era. The choice to build in Havana was because Lansky simply did not want to be subject to U.S. laws or the scrutiny of the FBI. The hotel was officially operated by the "Riviera de Cuba S.A. company", established in 1956. The original incorporation papers also listed the names of certain "Miami hotel operators", a Canadian textile company, and several others. It was built at a cost of US $8 million, most of which was provided by the Bank for Economic and Social Development (BANDES), a state-run development bank set up by then President, Fulgencio Batista. As with all of Lansky’s dealings, he and his underworld associates’ ownership of the Riviera were hidden behind layers of managers and frontmen. Work began on the site of a former sports arena in December 1956 in the midst of the revolutionary upheaval. Already envisioned as "The Riviera of the Caribbean", it was considered the epitome of resort construction, and certainly was one of the more costly hotels in Cuba. It was also the first of its kind in Havana to have air-conditioned rooms. When the Havana Riviera opened on December 10, 1957, it was the largest purpose-built casino-hotel in Cuba or anywhere in the world at that time outside Las Vegas (the Havana Hilton surpassed its size a few months later). The opening act that night at the Copa Cabaret was Ginger Rogers and her music revue directed by Jack Cole. Lansky complained that Rogers could "wiggle her ass, but she can't sing a goddam note!" Within days the hotel became a symbol in Havana, attracting such acts as Abbott and Costello and Steve Allen who taped an episode of his prime time Sunday night show, The Steve Allen Show from the hotel featuring Mamie Van Doren swimming in the pool. Other celebrated guests included William Holden, diva Jean Fenn, Nat King Cole, and Ava Gardner who was rumored to have dragged a bellhop into her bed. After the hotel was finished, Lansky installed himself in the Presidential Suite on the top floor as his command post, appointing Harry Smith, a prominent hotelman from Toronto as president of the hotel and T. James Ennis, who was well known in Cuba hotel circles, as the managing director. Lansky's official title was "kitchen director," but he controlled every aspect of the hotel, especially the casino. Since Cubans had never been trained for gambling operations on such a large scale, pit bosses, dealers, and stickmen were brought from the States as "technicians" and in that category were allowed to stay on two-year visas. These men, veterans of the working class of illicit U.S. gambling, eventually turned into tutors for the Cubans. The casino would make over $3 million in its first four months of operation. Unfortunately for Lansky, the revolution caused all of the Americans' properties in Cuba to be seized. On January 1, 1959, after formally resigning his position in Cuba's government and going through what historian Hugh Thomas describes as "a charade of handing over power" to his representatives, remaining family, and closest associates, President Batista boarded a plane at 3 a.m. at the nearby Ciudad Libertad Airport and flew to Ciudad Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. In a pirate radio broadcast from the mountains, Castro stated that he preferred executing gangsters to deporting them. Now his bearded battalions were less than 500 miles away from Havana. By now suffering from ill health, Lansky chartered a plane that same New Year's Eve headed for the Bahamas. With him went his dream of being at the center of Cuba's gambling operations." If you're interested, this links to the Steve Allen Show that was broadcast from the hotel opening night. Friday March 17 “A Trip to the Park” We decided to walk west, a direction away from the popular sights, but still along the Malecon, following the shoreline. We’d go as far as felt comfortable and take a cab back. We were also searching for a large art incubator, which we never found. Turning away from the shore as we approached the river, knowing we’d have to cross using the bridge, we hiked through neighborhoods far from tourist activity and it was then we were approached by our real first panhandler. He spoke some English and told us he was to become a father that day – his wife was due any moment. He then showed us an inhaler and what might have been empty cartridges. The language barrier rose, and we could not “get” what he wanted, besides money - $500. It cost us $100 to extricate ourselves from the situation. Panhandlers in Cuba in our experience, are rare. There are lots of people asking if you need a ride or a tour or wish to exchange currency, but few “beggars” (if you’ll excuse the term). We reached the bridge and crossed the river and were thinking this might be as far as we’d go, when looking below we spotted a conservation area. It was a nice reprieve from the heat and bustle. Back up the hill we climbed and crossed the road to hail a cab. One stopped and quickly explained he had two family members in the cab who were on the way to the hospital. If we wouldn’t mind going there first, he’d take us back to our apartment. I said, “No problem, we enjoy sightseeing”. We arrived at the hospital and noticed as the lady sitting with us got out, she had a full back brace. In hindsight they may have been just another fare as he made very few comments to them as they left. There is a joke in the title. As we were descending the steps to the park, Barbara tripped, and a boulder kept her from rolling down the hillside. A slight bruise but no damage. Saturday March 18 We decided to get back on the “on-off” bus and make our way to the Old Section, stopping at some of the sights of interest, and then visit the National Museum. We walked to the Malecon (the main coastal road) to where we were dropped off the first time (we took the bus). We saw the bus pass from our window just before we left, so figured if it comes by every 20 minutes, we’d be fine. Getting down to the location we sat and were soon approached by a taxi driver who explained (in broken English) that we just missed the bus, and it would be an hour before the next. This was not good news. We’d been told it runs every twenty minutes. We waited about 30, but no bus. My guess is that the numbers of tourists have dropped so much that it’s not cost efficient to run that many buses. We had to change our plans and take a taxi. We went to the taxi line and the drivers kept pointing us to the front of the line. We went to the front, and they pointed to the back. Somewhat perplexed we said, “Forget this” and headed out to the road and raised an arm. Locals will stop and you make a deal. We got a ride almost instantly for $500, half what the taxis charge. Dropped at the Parque Central we crossed the square to the museum. The building is quite beautiful. Inside hang a lot of very old art, nothing too spectacular and a large collection of Roman and Egyptian artifacts. Seemed a little odd to be looking at that stuff in Cuba. At one point while looking at one of the large portraits I said to Barb, “I bet I’m related to this woman”. Sure enough, on our return I checked online. (Anna Van Ewsum is my first cousin 13 times removed husband’s daughter’s husband’s son’s wife, and Elizabeth Dormer is my second cousin 13 times removed.) We were disappointed as we did not see (could not locate) the collection of modern art. We will try again. Emerging from the museum we ran smack into the 200-year-old “El Floridita”, Ernest Hemmingway’s favorite Havana bar. We popped inside to take a look, it was very crowded with tourists and loud enough we almost had to yell to hear each other. I took a quick snap of Ernest and we left. We again walked the Old Section; the narrow noisy streets are fun and filled with tourists and Cubans in equal numbers. It had been a long morning and now almost 1, so we found a nice restaurant and split one of the daily specials. Having had a good rest, we were up again and made our way down the Paseo del Prado to view the dozens of art stalls as we headed to the Malecon (shore road). Again, up goes the arm and a local stop, and home we go. Sunday morning was sunny and we shopped, later doing some yoga and then ducked out for dinner as the clouds were moving in. By 5 the storm hit, and it poured. It went on for hours and Monday when we woke the skies were dark and waves were breaking so high along the Malecon (shore road) that the six lanes were flooded, no traffic was seen. We’ve been watching the 2023 World Baseball Classic, something on TV that language is not required. It rained for two days (19th and 20th) as a north wind blew hard, and waves broke 30 feet over the wall along the Malecon – there was no traffic, it was dangerous. We popped out between downpours for food, water and sweets. We read, did some yoga and watched baseball at night. Japan beat the US in the championship game (Tuesday). Later in the week we ventured back into the Old Section. We now just stick our hands up and negotiate a cab for $500. If they say more, we refuse, and they come down. We were dropped off in front of our destination – the modern art gallery, but it was closed. Instantly two locals appear (they must have been waiting) to tell us it is closed because of economic conditions, but will be open tomorrow. We got trapped by one young man who was trying to explain (as best I can tell) that there was a special exhibit inside which you needed a ticket for and he would take us to the place to buy that ticket. This made no sense to us be we followed him to see what would happen. In a few minutes we were at a bar but did not let him continue with the ticket charade. He then decided he would show us the best restaurant for local food. Again we followed deeper into the Old Section. Reaching a set of stairs he wanted us to follow, but we finally said enough, thanked him and continued on our way. It seems everyone in the Old Section (who speaks a little English) has a relative (or has visited) Montreal or Vancouver, none mention Toronto. This usually happens after they ask “Where are you from”. When you say Toronto, then comes the other cities. Is it part of the con – who knows? So what to do now that the gallery is closed? We started walking and arrived at a very lovely section which had a very old cathedral and the fort on the west side of the bay. There is a much larger fort on the east side which you can access using a ferry, but we’ve yet to see the ferry in action. FTW: “The history of Cuba is characterized by dependence on outside powers—Spain, the US, and the USSR. The island of Cuba was inhabited by various Amerindian cultures prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. After his arrival on a Spanish expedition, Spain conquered Cuba and appointed Spanish governors to rule in Havana. Havana became the port where gold, silver and various riches plundered from the Mexicans and other regional peoples, was collected and prepared for shipment back to Spain. The administrators in Cuba were subject to the Viceroy of New Spain and the local authorities in Hispaniola. In 1762–63, Havana was briefly occupied by Britain, before being returned to Spain in exchange for Florida. A series of rebellions between 1868 and 1898, led by General Máximo Gómez, failed to end Spanish rule and claimed the lives of 49,000 Cuban guerrillas and 126,000 Spanish soldiers. However, the Spanish–American War resulted in a Spanish withdrawal from the island in 1898, and following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule,[2] Cuba gained formal independence in 1902.” During the American Civil War, Cuba was an important source of arms, ammunition and basic supplies for the Confederacy. Foreign agents (Spanish, French etc) could trade there without appearing to take a side in the conflict. After the war many southern plantation owners moved lock, stock and barrel to Cuba, one consisted of 400 wagons seen leaving Texas. Cuba was also the last bastion of the slave trade. Even when it was condemned in the US, plantation owners in Cuba continued the practice.
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Well…what a start. We tried to check in “online” for our flight from Merida (in the Mexican Yucatan) to Havana Cuba, but for two days the computer system would not allow it. Then, 48 hrs. ahead of the flight the message said to check in at the counter at the airport. The morning of our flight I decided to check departures from Merida and arrivals in Havana - nothing. I then checked the website of Areomar, the airline we were flying with – it had gone bankrupt on February 19th, we didn’t know. (We purchased the tickets in September of last year.) What to do? Searching online (as we sat in Telchac Puerto) for flights, we found a same-day 9-hour (including layover) from Merida, connecting in Monterrey, Mexico, and then to Havana. It would work. After filling out all the flight booking details, we could not get the system to accept the online payment. The flight did not leave Merida until just after 10 pm so we decided to keep our Uber which would arrive in Merida by noon, giving us time to iron out the details and hoping the flight would still be available. Our Uber driver – Carlos (the same one who took us to Telchac) - arrived earlier than expected, around 9:30 am. He also had jacked up the price, for reasons that are too complicated to explain. Suffice it to say, we could have found a new Uber driver for around $65 Canadian, as this cost $130. But Carlos knew us, knew where we were located, and had printed out some forms we required (printouts as a backup in case phones were not functioning) to enter Cuba (online visa and health insurance). About an hour later, we arrive at the Merida airport, and knew our task - buy two tickets to Monterrey and the connecting flight to Havana. We’d seen them online - which was lucky (in that it was the same day we’d originally wanted to travel), but as mentioned could not purchase them. We approached the Viva Aerobus (a Mexican WestJet if you will) ticket window (Aero Mexico does fly to Cuba, but from Mexico City - a longer wait time and more expensive – Aero Mexico is like our Air Canada) and found the agent understood some English. After a rocky start, we managed to purchase the tickets we wanted - it took some effort as he could not find the flights we had seen online. Chris jumped behind the counter to navigate the computer as Barbara looked on, horrified that guns would be drawn. We did eventually find the preferred flight and bought the tickets which turned out to be cheaper than the online tickets - $12,000 Mex vs $17,000 Mex (or $900 vs $1200 in total for both of us for the two flights). In hindsight, we were glad the “online” purchase could not be completed as it appeared the flight did not actually exist - the times were different. Our flight to Monterrey was earlier than the online flight - 7 pm as opposed to 10 pm, so our airport wait would not be as long. However, the best connecting flight was not until the next mid-morning, so we got a hotel for overnight in Monterrey, which was fine as it would give us rest after the long travel day. While waiting for the hotel shuttle we met a man from Monterrey who raced bikes. He gave us some tips for visiting Cuba. The next morning and I was feeling off, I could not figure it out - not nauseous, bowels fine (TMI?), no fever - I chalked it up to stress. Downstairs for the extensive free breakfast but I ate sparingly. We boarded the hotel shuttle to the airport where I’d planned to exchange the extra Mexican pesos we’d withdrawn for Cuban pesos before our flight. It was not till much later I found out that you cannot get Cuban pesos outside of Cuba, it’s not allowed. In our limited experience in Mexico, we found the lines at the airport move quickly. We walked right up to the check-in about two hours before our flight. An agent at the head of the line indicated we needed to complete a Cuban visa and pay $700 pesos each. Fortunately, I’d not had time to exchange our excess pesos, (couldn’t have anyway) so we had the money. After filling out the entry cards and paying him, we were allowed to the check-in counter. Due to a minor error and the lost flight, we exceeded our visa stay period by a day. We were taken to another customs booth, filled in more papers, paid $1,300 pesos ($100 CDN), and returned to the check-in counter to get our boarding passes. Then through the usual security check and into the waiting area. The flight to Cuba was shorter than expected and the plane was about half full. Customs into Cuba was probably easier than at Pearson. There was another security check after customs, but our large suitcase was not searched. It was quick and easy. Outside we handed our destination address to a woman who managed the taxis and started our twenty-minute journey. A real eye-opener. Yes, there are old cars, but also new ones. Lots of the old Russian Lada’s too. There were several cars broken down along the way, lines at the gas stations, posters of Fidel Castro, and the main highway was almost empty of traffic. We later learned that gas is expensive and in somewhat short supply, but everything seems in short supply. Arriving at our Airbnb on the west side of the city, we met our host – Olga, and she took us to the apartment. It’s on the 7th floor - a corner unit so we have windows that look to the sea on two sides. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a living room. Both bedrooms have air conditioners and ceiling fans. The living area has its own air conditioner. It is easily the nicest place so far on this vagabonding adventure. However, Cuba is going through a difficult phase - food in the shops is very limited. After getting introduced to our host and surroundings (how things work) we needed some food. We tried a small local spot and asked if they would take Mastercard (I took it out and showed her). She said “Yes”. We had 3 beers and a plate of roast pork, salad, chips, bread, and tomatoes. Barbara chose to only eat some of my chips. (Possibly yam chips) The bill came to $1,600 pesos but when I gave her the card, another person said “No - cash only”. OK then. I had taken along all the US cash we had - about $30 as it is accepted. The conversion to US came to $13. I had a $10, a $5, and a lot of $1’s. They would not take the $10 as one of the corners had a tiny rip. Fortunately, the $5 and $1 were almost mint - we managed to pay the bill and exit. You might wonder about the $10. The Cuban government will buy US dollars from locals at several times the normal exchange rate, but only if the bills are in good condition. I have no idea what we would have done without the US cash. Just as in Mexico, the next day was to hunt down cash - ATM’s or banks. We headed down to the corner (the ocean is 3 blocks away) to a huge luxury hotel. We asked the concierge about ATM’s, and she did us one better - they had a currency exchange office. We entered but did not have our passports so would have to come back. We then tried one of the restaurants in the hotel and asked it they would take Mastercard. “Canadian credit card?” they asked, “Yes”, we said - and yes, that would be fine. (American credit cards are not accepted). A nice middle-aged waitress brought us lunch menus (it was probably 11:00 am) but Barbara asked if we could still get eggs of any kind. “Yes”, she said, asking us more questions about what we’d like, and then brought us coffee, two eggs, toast, a fruit plate, and juice of our choice. I suggested to Barbara that she try her VISA card as I could not get my BMO Mastercard online page to open. I wanted to see what the currency exchange was - a credit card entry would show that. The previous experience had left me wondering if we would again have trouble paying. Her card worked. (you need to write your passport number and sign a copy of the receipt). The big breakfast at the fancy hotel cost $35 CDN - more than we planned to spend on a regular basis. While we were still in Mexico, Barbara researched the Cuban currency situation. Facebook had a few groups – “Canadians in Cuba” for example. Feedback was confusing, and more frustrating was the assurance that Canadian currency would be accepted, however, this was not true, and there was no interest in our cash. Exchanging on the street seems a common thing as people know you’re a tourist and when they pass say “exchange?” Again, they are looking for US, not Canadian, and it is risky. In the hotel, the rate converted to basically 84 pesos/$1 Canadian. So back to our place, we went as we had a guest, Sergio arriving at 3:00 to answer questions we might have about Havana - the currency, the food situation, etc. Sergio arrived, a medium-height, light-complexioned Cuban, around age 66, who was born, raised, and lived here all his life. We talked of many things - Cuban history, the revolution, Castro, the Americans, Obama, and pressing issues such as the currency and food. He did not remove all our concerns, but we felt much better having spoken with him. He left around 4:00 so we decided to go back to the currency exchange with our passports. How much to take out is always a question. We would try for $50,000 pesos ($25,000 each) We’d been in the office previously and while we were there our breakfast waitress came in with ice cream for the young man at the credit booth. He gave us each 50 - $500 peso bills. So, we had a “wad” - 100 bills, to take back to the apartment. It seemed strange to have such a large bundle of cash - so we spread it on the table and took a picture. We were still unsure of the exchange rate, but from our online accounts, the $25,000 pesos cost us each $300 CDN. We will attempt to make it last two weeks. We then headed out to the small shop almost directly across from our apartment building and found coffee, some cookies, rami noodles, and two small water bottles. All for about $2,600 pesos. We took the purchases home and then went out for dinner. I had the seafood with noodles and Barb the same with couscous. It was delicious - lobster and loads of shrimp in a nice sauce. It was a bit of a wait but worth it. When it came time to pay, I was $500 pesos short, so Barb stayed, and I went back to the apartment which was five minutes away, for more money. It was an expensive day, but we had accomplished a lot - I could rest a little easier. (photo - looks towards Florida from our window) Saturday, March 4 We had our first homemade coffee and it was good, but there was no other food in the house, that would be our mission for the day. Sergio had mentioned a market and we would go looking. We also remembered a store that seemed to sell all kinds of soaps and we were looking for shampoo. We went to the soap store, but a somewhat irate lady dramatically pointed at me to get out. I think it was a shop for Cubans only which does not take cash but debits their “pay cards”. Off we went along the famous “Malecon” (the 6-lane roadway along the shoreline) all the time seeing many brightly painted 1950’s cars go by. They are driving tourists or looking for fares. We came upon a restaurant - there are many - and we asked if they were still serving breakfast (this was around 11:30) They said no at first but then yes, so we decided to split the cheapest - two eggs, toast (if you could call it that) some small bits of ham, a nice fruit plate, and two cups of coffee - $1,000 pesos and I left a $50 peso tip. (I found the bill as we were walking). We continued looking for the market and walked for about ½ hour. We also needed water. We found two small bottles for $240 pesos and then Barbara suggested we try some side streets as we made our way back to our apartment. Surprise! We found the market. We bought a watermelon, a pineapple, and some mangos. Our purchases were a little over $1,000 pesos - we will have fruit in the morning. (There are no eggs or oatmeal for sale, our usual breakfast in Mexico). Then we stopped at our corner store and bought two large bottles of water - each would last two days if careful and cost $320 pesos for both. That night we ate some ramen noodles, then took a short walk to a nearby pastry shop for some sweets. Sunday, March 5 Our plan for the day was the double-decker red bus which tours Havana. We’d seen one of its stops on our travels and headed in that direction. About a block away we saw the bus go by. Not to worry we thought, one comes by every 20 minutes. We learned not so on Sunday, once every hour. We took a short look inside the Presidential Hotel (where the stop was) and waited. It was $2,400 pesos for both of us, a little more than we’d expected but you can get off any of the 20 or so stops and then back on, from 9 in the morning till 7 at night. This is a good deal during the week and we will do it again. We stayed on the bus to see the full tour and it was worth it – we now know where we want to take a closer look – mostly in the old section. The bus took us quite close to the apartment on our return (now we know the closest stop) and we went in to freshen up. We keep trying different restaurants for our main meal of the day. We tried an early afternoon meal at “Eclectico”, a boutique hotel two blocks up the street, and shared a delicious pasta carbonara (trying to keep our costs down). After getting directions from our waiter, we made our way to the John Lennon statue in the park. We will go back with the camera as the houses along the way – though old and in need of repair – are beautiful. Again, that evening we had some sweets from the pastry shop. A few days later while talking with Sergio we mentioned the various restaurants we’d tried. When “Eclectico” came up he raised his eyebrows, saying it was very pricey but had a reputation as the best restaurant in all of Cuba. Let’s Take a Break Cuba has supply issues. Things we take for granted – toilet paper, (though covid had its toilet paper run), paper towels, toothpaste, any kind of protein (no beef, some chicken, cold meats, mostly pork, and seafood but these for the most part only in restaurants), regular internet, food shops, fast food, and in general the availability of everyday items. Things are not overly expensive, (from a North American viewpoint) but we must live on cash, with no credit unless in expensive hotels. Fortunately, as mentioned the Melia Cohiba is near us and they have a currency exchange. There are high-end stores with expensive jewelry, clothes, artwork, shoes, etc. but they appear empty of customers. Last year some 220,000 Cubans fled, the most since the 1993 raft exits and more are expected to leave this year. Those who have means make their way by air to the US, Canada, or Nicaragua. Their ultimate destination is the US. A waiter makes more money (due to tips) in a month than a doctor (for example). When you retire your monthly pension is about $1,500 pesos, which is enough for 2 pounds of coffee, or one entree at a restaurant. It’s not enough for a taxi from our location to downtown and back. The Cuban government doesn’t mind that people are leaving. Many are considered dissidents and the government makes money when they leave (the government owns the transportation systems), and these emigrants send money back to family – which increases the island’s coffers. Monday, March 6 We spent the morning with Olga who owns the Airbnb. She had a Wi-Fi router installed at $34,000 pesos ($200) which greatly improved our online availability. We feel a little bad and may give her money when we leave – but will see how things go. She also accompanied us to the store where we were kicked out – it was a misunderstanding – we purchased shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. Tuesday, March 7 We headed to the Malecon (the shore road) looking for the little train that would take us to the old Havana section for $25 pesos each. After walking for twenty minutes we did not see it so took a cab for $1,000 pesos each way. We exited the taxi close to Parque Central and began our walking adventure. We weren’t exactly sure but headed in the general direction of the action and soon found ourselves amid the other tourists and hawkers. The first thing we came upon was the Museum of the Revolution. Outside were a couple of fighter planes. The admission rate was more than we wanted to spend, knowing that inside were probably things we had seen elsewhere. There was a museum dedicated to the Revolution across the street that looked interesting, but it was closed. Down the narrow streets, we walked. Laundry hanging from the windows, people from balconies emptying buckets of water onto the street, carts loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and onions. We came upon the "Gran Theatro da Habanna" which was subtitled, Alicia Alonso. Alicia was one of Cuba’s national treasures. A prima ballerina, world-renowned she had returned to Cuba and opened her own ballet company. The theater was established in 1838 and then significantly enlarged in the early 1900s. As we waited for our guide, we struck up a conversation with an English-speaking fellow from Rochester, New York. He shared his recent traveling adventures in Algiers and we compared notes on Cuba. His name is Nigel Maister and he is head of the Theatre Department at the University of Rochester. His bio is amazing – you should take a look. The tour was just OK as the theater was being renovated from damage sustained from last year’s hurricane. Most disappointing was not being able to visit inside the auditorium – the seating area. (We did get backstage) Our tour guide spoke English, but it was questionable if she had her mic on and the echo and additional noise from the street made it difficult to understand. With heads booming and empty stomachs we returned to the apartment for water and cold pizza we’d saved from the night before. A small R & R then out for dinner to another nearby restaurant. Though the food choices on menus are limited – a lot of pasta dishes, the tastes are divine. That night Barbara had pasta with real parmesan, and I had a rice dish with generous portions of chicken and sausage. The bill is usually presented with 3 prices – Cuban pesos, US dollars, and Euros. I think it was $2,500 pesos, $21 US and $21 Euro. When our food was served, around 7 pm, we were the only people in the restaurant. Our internet has improved, and we’ve been able to watch the news and have chosen old Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies to end the evenings. This is a link to my Havana images of Cuba, including the National Theatre tour. Remembering John Braithwaite January 30, 1937 - February 13, 2023 The family of John Douglas Braithwaite is saddened to announce his peaceful passing in the early hours of Monday, February 13, 2023, at the age of 86. Beloved husband of Alice (nee Deep) for over 62 years. Cherished father of Janice Kominek (Bill) and the late Paul Braithwaite (2009) (Marilyn Fry O'Donnell). Proud grandfather of Dr. Alicia Kominek, Brandon Kominek (Heather Alp), Sarah Braithwaite, Emily Braithwaite, and GG Pops of Isabel Kominek. Predeceased by his parents Philip and Elmire "Kitty", his brothers Ken and Murray, and his sister Grace Melville. He will be missed by many in-laws, nieces, and nephews. John was an Industrial Engineer with Chrysler Canada and he retired in 1992 after 28 years of service. He enjoyed his hobbies of making stained glass lamps and creations, and playing Bridge, Backgammon, Crokinole, and other card and board games, especially with his family. He was a member of Riverside United Church and in his younger years was an active team manager with Riverside Minor Hockey. He enjoyed watching all sports and was especially a fan of the Detroit Red Wings and Lions. Special thanks to the staff of the Villages of Aspen Lake for their care and compassion over the past two years, and to Pastor Wendell Phipps for his comfort and guidance. John was father to my sister Mary’s first husband Paul. I got to know John a little. When I took Mum and Dad to church, he and (his wife) Alice always sat behind us. On one occasion John and I constructed frames for his granddaughters to hang their hockey equipment on as a Christmas present. I installed gutter filters on his house before they moved to the new one. For several years John played bridge once a week with Dad and two other retired gentlemen. He was a nice man, who never seemed to get flustered or lose his temper. RIP John. Telchac Puerto We arrived in Telchac Puerto from Campeche via Merida. As mentioned in my previous post, we were so glad we took an Uber from Merida because, in this small coastal town of 2,000, there are no cabs as such - just three-wheeled motorbikes. We would have had quite the time finding our Airbnb - it was not easy even with Uber. It says the population is 2,000, but we don’t know what that really means as most of the large modern homes along the ocean seem to be empty. We were told many people from Merida (population 1.2 million) head to the coast during the heat of summer when the average daily temperature is 94 F (in May it’s 99 F). Again we move through the process of situating ourselves - getting settled in the Airbnb, finding our food sources and banking options. As Telchac Puerto is so small there is no Scotiabank, but we did find a working ATM, otherwise, we would have to live off the credit card which might not be accepted at the small local shops. On Friday the 3rd, when we got back from a shopping trip, the pool man was here cleaning. He finished up the job and just as he was putting his pump away I noticed there was no power in the unit. He spoke no English and I no Spanish. I made it clear that there was no power and asked (in my way) if he knew where the fuses might be. Eventually, he made me aware that the entire town had lost power. I commented in English he was lucky he’d just finished. Somehow he knew what I’d said and laughed. The outrage lasted for about 45 minutes. The next day it rained, the first day in over two months we’d seen sustained rain. Something we’ve seen several times but I’ve not mentioned, is that when you cross a state line (like moving into a new province) the two-lane highway narrows to one lane and the speed bumps bring you to a crawl or even a stop. Then as you cross the line, there will be a dozen policemen (in dark blue pants and white shirts with official insignia) with machine guns at the ready. They can pull you over if they want - we have not been. It’s a bit unnerving. Saturday, Feb 10th - Meet the Neighbours A weather front was moving in and the winds off the gulf were increasing. A pool tube was blowing about the surface of the pool so I pulled it out and tossed it in the outdoor shower room. What I didn’t realise, it hit a tap in the shower and turned the spigot on. A bit later the automatic water pump came to fill the roof tank (everyone in Mexico has a roof tank) but the motor kept going, far too long. I checked the taps and there was no water in the house. Unsure what to do I walked across the street to the neighbour who was barbecuing chickens for sale and managed to communicate that we had no water. I thought this might be a common problem and everyone knew how to fix it. He went over to Erskin’s (the neighbour next door who keeps the key to our place) and told him the problem. Soon Erskin’s family - son, daughter, their baby, his wife (everyone but Erskine) was in the house contacting the Airbnb owner, walking around, and showing him things with their cell phones. They would turn to me and repeat “automatic”. It was not long after they arrived that the pump went off and water began flowing. Everyone smiled and congratulated ourselves. I guess I’d emptied the tank and the pump was slow. We had a good laugh. The gulf storm continued well into the evening with no rain but very high winds which tore at the palm trees. It was impressive. The Case of the Uncomfortable Bed When we arrived I sat on the bed and immediately said - this is not very comfortable. The next morning I was sure and started looking for a fix. There was a sleeping bunkie in the back of the lot and I could see a much better bed through the window. The door was locked but we asked the owner about it. He said the bunkie had moisture issues and did not recommend using the bed. I then found a large piece of very thin foam used for packing material, washed and dried it and cut it to fit, and placed it under the “topper” (which was not very good either). This did little. Next, I noticed a blanket on the beach and went and fetched it - I actually found two. Both were washed, dried, and placed under the topper. Not much improvement. Then I noticed the mattress had been turned - something you don’t do with modern mattresses. Over it went but still not much improvement. After two weeks we decided we had to consider something else regarding the uncomfortable bed. We let the owner know that we had issues with the mattress and he responded by letting us move the bed from the sleeping cabin into the main house. What a difference. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. This experience drove home the importance of a good mattress which is essential for a proper night's rest, which is all-important in maintaining health. A good mattress is one of your best investments. Link to Telchac Puerto images Where is Waldo? - or the Travelling Wilburys At one point during the month, my siblings were everywhere! Holly and Kim were off to Thailand and Vietnam for the month, Peter is in the Philippines for a month, Cathy and Norm were golfing in Florida, Mary, and her youngest daughter were on a Caribbean cruise and of course, we are in Mexico. Other Find thoughts that feel good, because it is inevitable that you are going to always be moving toward something. So why not be moving toward something that is pleasing? You can’t cease to vibrate, and the Law of Attraction will not stop responding to the vibration that you are offering. So, expansion is inevitable. You provide it, whether you know it or not. The only question is, what is the standard of joy you are demanding for yourself? From your Non-physical perspective, it’s a high standard. ~Abraham-Hicks On Contemplating Love A course correction can be done in an instant, no matter what has taken place in the past or why it has occurred. It is about a shifting more and more toward Love. Is that too simple for your taste? Yes, perhaps. If it was more complicated, you could begin to feel you earned your way. If it was more difficult, then perhaps you could believe it more easily. You could "do" something, like strive or compete or work harder. Yet there is no compromise to be made. There is only Love. Contemplate the nature of love in all its manifestations and let it grow in your experience. Sheila Reynolds and The Guides Returned to Source Burt Bacharach (94), Raquel Welch (82), Gordon Pinsent (92) Week 1 A bus ride from Merida to Campeche The highway from Merida to Campeche was like any you might find in Ontario - two lanes in both directions, a wide draining median, and the forest cut way in on both sides - just the vegetation was different. Very dense but very flat for the first hour. About halfway the hills began to rise. Not mountains, but large hills much like we saw along the northern coast of Lake Superior - but looked like sandstone. The bus was ¾ full and everyone but ourselves and the two bus drivers was asleep. Yes, two bus drivers, one to keep the other company - I guess. The ticket was $330 pesos or about $20 Cdn each. We hailed a cab but was not till the third one that the driver knew where we were headed. It was not far and our driver was fast. The Airbnb was as described. We are in the middle of the Historic section - which is inside the walls of the old fort built in the 1600s to protect the Spanish traders from pirates. As it was late we decide to dine out for dinner, something we never did in Merida. Restaurants are everywhere. The next day we located the nearest Scotiabank, which was not far, but we did get lost looking for the supermarket. We found it (Super Aki) in the afternoon but learned you can’t buy beer in the Historic zone - an agreement to protect the tourist industry - only at the restaurants - which are everywhere. This video (HERE) approx. 24 minutes (turn off the sound and turn the subtitles on) gives a nice overview of where we are. Something that has come to us now - moving to a new spot for a month has an evolution. It begins with getting settled, discovering your food sources, and developing a routine. A few weeks later you will pack up, travel, and then move through those same stages. It’s slightly annoying but a learning process - a bit of skin shedding. On Friday the 6th, we hired a friend of the Airbnb owner to take us to Edzna, which is a large Mayan ruin about 1-hour southeast. Pepe picked us up at 9 and he spoke no English and Barbara knows only some Spanish - it was a quiet ride. We arrived around 10 and paid our $85 pesos (each) entry fee - about $20 Cdn for both. Unlike Chechen Itcha (the famous ruin) which allows only 3,000 people a day, we really had the place to ourselves. We spent a good hour walking and climbing the ruins but you could not climb the main one - not sure I’d want to. The site is impressive. We were back by noon. We paid Pepe $1000 pesos which was much more than he quoted. Trips to Chechen Itcha run on average $1,500 pesos per person plus the entry fee and they take about 10 hours. We didn’t feel at our advanced ages that we could do the 10-hour tour so thought we might see some ruins elsewhere. Done! Having seen these we don’t think we need to see more. (see my photos of Edzna here) From my photos (follow this link) you will see several of a large church. It’s Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral or Campeche Cathedral. It's the main church of the diocese of the same name and the seat of the bishopric. It's located in front of Constitution Square . FTW: "It is a Baroque-style building with features of the neoclassic, famous for sheltering in its interior figurines of sacred art, highlighting a monument called "The Holy Burial" that represents a coffin with the figure of Christ and that during Good Friday is carried through the main streets of the city. The cathedral was built between 1540 and 1760." If we walk out our door and turn right, go for 3 short blocks, we stand in front of it and use its spires as a landmark to see where we are from other locations in the town. Week Two On January 12 we visited Fort San Miguel. We headed out on foot for an estimated one hours walk after checking google maps. Taking a wrong turn we ended up at a heavily guarded military base. We approached one of the half dozen machine gun-armed guards and asked for directions. He did not know. A little frustrated we headed back down the road but immediately were able to hail a cab. We were close to the fort, but I would have turned back had we been on foot - it seemed too far. FTW: “The Fort of San Miguel is a fortification built in the city of San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche, Mexico, and, due to its dimensions and its history, it is one of the most representative buildings of the city. Together with the Fort of San José El Alto and the wall (the enclosed area where we stayed - see below), it integrates the set of fortified buildings built between the 17th and 18th centuries to defend the city against a possible attack by pirates. The construction of the fort began in 1771, under the command of the engineer Juan José de León y Zamorano, and the work was completed in 1801. This building was part of the Campeche fortification system that began in 1663 with the start of construction of the first forts: San Benito, San Bartolomé, and the so-called Bonete. The building was established on a pentagonal plan on a raised embankment, bordered by a moat that is crossed by a narrow curvilinear corridor that leads to the main door. It has a central patio, with a well at its center, and side ramps that lead to the roof, where twenty cannons were placed on the battlements of the building, to carry out its defensive mission.” Though the collection of Mayan relics was not as extensive (though not insignificant) the quality of pieces was superior to those in Merida. The pieces in the collection are all from ruins in the state of Campeche. The setting - the old fort - is more interesting than the modern one in Merida. We were pleasantly surprised. The fort was on the first hill we’d climbed in Campeche, which is very flat. Returning to the highway below we had trouble hailing a cab, but eventually, we did. Off to Walmart for some planning shopping and then another cab ride back. A three-cab day for a total of $150 pesos - about $10 Cdn in fares. We had rain one morning near the end of the second week - it does not rain often. After it stopped we took some clothes to the laundry - charged by the kilogram. Then we decided we needed to take some photos of the walls of the town, built by the Spanish some 400 years ago to protect against raiding pirates. It was a pleasant surprise especially a museum with more Mayan relics - all from sites within the state of Campeche. Pictures of a walk around the Historic Zone and Walls Week Three We were thinking that next season we might head to New Zealand, but now we think that might be a little too ambitious this early in the experiment. Now we are considering perhaps Ecuador for three months and then Costa Rica for three. To keep your airfare under control you need to plan where your international airport flies directly to. When looking for an Airbnb we filter (required amenities) for Wifi, kitchen, full place, and air conditioning. This experience has also made us think a view should be high on the list, if not a necessity. In Mexico, where we have been and as you can see from photos I’ve posted, most homes are behind a wall. The interiors can be very beautiful, but you do not look outside. This type of living in (my way of thinking) is slightly more insular than we are used to. To be able to sit and look out at a vista - I think of my views at the cottage, is a luxury. Seth says: "There is no fulfilment on your plane without commitment. ... you must of necessity then feel, experience, become involved in the world of growth and change, which is your plane. For those who have chosen to become entities (my edit: that would be all of us) the way is not easy, but I am here to tell you that the way is worth it. Without the involvement, as contrast, and as experience, then the self has no way on your plane to experience its own uniqueness. Commitment and involvement become the ingredients from which your own work will achieve genius. The synthesis is yours, and yet the self must be plunged into chaos even to find order, to find itself, and to find a comprehension and understanding that will bring original insight and knowledge into your plane. And this original insight, original comprehension, are the requirements of an entity." - TES2 Session 58 June 1, 1964 A Walk Along the Water On Monday, January 23 we decided to do the half-hour walk to a spit of land to see if we could get a good shot of the town. It was at least 90F and there was no shade as we walked along the ocean. The sun was behind us and I could feel the back of my legs getting hotter. Nearing the spit we came across a giant mall and decided to cool off inside. It was very impressive, nothing we’d seen so far in terms of consumerism. I decided to try a Burger King combo and it tasted pretty much as I was used to. From the third story of the mall we could see that there was nothing much on the spit so changed our minds - it was still very hot and we had a hike back to our flat. The last day of the month is moving day. We are headed to Telchec Puerto. The first leg of the journey is a two-hour ride by Pepe, (who took us to the ruins at Ednza) to Merida, where we first stayed. From Merida, we get an Uber for the one-and-a-half-hour ride to Telchec Puerto. Pepe spoke virtually no English and we (Barbara) very limited Spanish. He had the wrong address for our rendezvous (he was close). We got him to stop where we knew the spot was and we did meet up with Carlos - our Uber driver, and were on the road by 1:00 as planned. We did have a little trouble finding the next place. So glad we decided on Uber and not the bus - I have no idea how we would have found the Airbnb.
Return to source in January 2023 Jeff Beck (78), Lisa Marie Presley (54), Lisa Loring (Wednesday Addams, 64), Annie Wersching (Borg Queen on Picard, 45), David Crosby (81), Gina Lollobrigida (95), Bobby Hull (hockey player 84), Barrett Strong (Motown songwriter “Money” 81) On November 27th we loaded a small UHaul (which brother-in-law Kim drove to Markham) and then made our way to St Catharine's to stay with younger son John and Laurel for a few days. We had a lovely celebration dinner with son James and Anthea (my x) and John and Laurel and Mabel the dog (Sunday) and I had a few gifts from the house closing for them to open. Monday I bought some new shoes for Mexico and did some banking. On Tuesday, there were problems with the house deed, so Holly (from Brampton) and I met our lawyer in Woodstock to sign an updated submission for the land registry. On return John, Laurel, Barbara and I had planned to visit Niagara Falls and see the lights, but we decided just to go for dinner - In Virgil at Brick's and Barley. The next day John drove us up to Brampton for an overnight at Kim and Holly’s and Kim drove us to the airport the next day. December 1 Thursday - The Travel Day Toronto - Mexico City - Merida Lines and more lines! Line up to check-in, then a line for security, then line up to get on the plane, then line up for the toilets, then line up to get off, then line up for immigration, then line up for another security check, then line up to get on the plane (short flight no washroom break needed), the line up to get off - but, low and behold - no line to go through customs, We picked up our luggage and walked out the doors (no one asked to see if they were our bags or what might be in them). It was a long and tiring day. AeroMexico has much better inflight service than Westjet or Air Canada - lots of food and drink. The only minor hitch was that as we were at the back of the plane (to Mexico City - we connected there for Merida) the overhead storage was full so they put our carry-on luggage in the belly of the plane. They assured us that the luggage would make it to Merida. It all happened quite quickly and I managed to grab our passports and boarding cards for the next flight. All our luggage made it to the final destination with no damage. December 2 Friday - Stock-Up Moira, our host, drove us about - to Costco and then a Zhers-like grocery store for some supplies. Then we tried to get money out of the Scotiabank ATM’s but they didn’t want to cooperate. Finally, we stopped at Moira’s bank and had success. It was a good learning experience as there are additional questions the machines ask - “do you want to donate” (decline) and “will you accept your bank’s conversion” (decline). Moira commented that never again would she shop on a Friday afternoon - the traffic is like in any big city. In Mexico, there is a very limited social safety net - no old age pension. If a man helps you back out of your parking space, it’s polite to give him a few pesos. Currency - to convert $1000 pesos to something you can understand - move the decimal once to the left. $1000 becomes $100. Then divide by 2 and you have $50 American dollars or about $68 Cdn. That night we drank a bit too much, but it was fun. December 3, Saturday - we took the day easy - ha! Unpacked more and organised our space. December 4, Sunday On our first day, we were walking about. Our destination was a Scotiabank ATM, and we hoped not to get lost. The streets go by numbers - even numbers go one way and odd numbers are perpendicular - the city is a grid. The streets go up and down by two. We are on C49 (C - means central area) The next streets parallel to us will be C47 and C51. There appear to be a number of C49 roads, so I’m assuming you need to add your neighborhood. When telling a taxi driver your address you say C49 between 78 and 80. We are “Centro” which means the center of the city. Started yoga today. December 5, Monday Another day out with Moira, to get fish and coffee. We stopped at the Merida English Library for information on a walking house tour. After we walked to the local vegetable stand beginning to get our bearings. I tried the pool for the first time - lovely! December 6, Tuesday Back to the old town center - the church and the statue Manuel Cepeda Peraza was a Mexican soldier, and defender of the republic in the time of Benito Juárez. He was later Governor of Yucatán. He was born in the City of Merida, in the year 1828 and died in the same place in 1869. He liberated the City of Mérida from the French Imperialist troops on June 15, 1867, and for this reason, he was declared Meritorious of the State of Yucatán. The French were brief interlopers during the American Civil War. December 7, Wednesday Shopping - located the closest large shopping store December 8, Thursday Mayan Museum - long taxi ride there, short one back - ha! Taken as the tourists we are, but we are learning. The Museum said to be the premier Mayan Museum in the world - was just ok. You can do a tour for free by following this link. Museum Tour December 9, Friday An easy day. We walked to a drugstore and then tried some street food. The sample was great, but what he put in our takeaway was not as good. Did some yoga (five days straight now) a dip in the pool and tried some of the large scallops for dinner. They were “fake” scallops and really not edible. The shrimp however is better than most of what we get up north. December 10, Saturday We did a long walk, just over two hours - from where are staying to the main avenue and up to the giant memorial Mayan wall and back. We toured one of the old homes - “El Minarete”. FTW: “built by Dr. Álvaro Medina Ayora in 1908. His brother, Engineer Miguel Medina Ayora, who served as Director of State Public Works, directed the construction of the work. In 1971, the heirs of Dr. Medina completely remodelled it, still maintaining the plaster decorations on the interior panels, which draw attention due to the agricultural theme of flowers and corn, perhaps alluding to a time that thanks to cultivation reached such splendour. The porcelain toilets and the spiral staircase that leads to the viewpoint have also been preserved.” If you follow the link to my photos you will see a number of large homes along the avenue. All these “mansions” were built in the early 1900's at the height of Merida prosperity. December 11, Sunday Moria took us and a friend - Kathleen - for an hour's drive north to Sisal. Sisal was an old port city that was an export point for the main product of the area - rope. This would have been in the mid-18th century when sailing vessels needed a lot of rope for the rigging. FTW: Sisal was historically the main port of Yucatán from the 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century when it was replaced by the port of Progreso, founded to absorb the management of the then main industry of the state, which was the henequen industry. Historically, however, the port of Sisal was founded by the Mayans who used it during the Ah Canul chiefdom as detailed in the Calkiní Codex . During the colonial period, inclusive, a fort was built to defend the port, to which a lighthouse was added in 1845. Both the fort and the lighthouse remain to this day, constituting a tourist attraction. Following the independence of Mexico, Sisal, freed from colonial trade restrictions, flourished further, which would contribute to the political tension that led to the separation of the state of Campeche from Yucatán in the mid-19th century. Later, when the new port of Progreso was established, officially called Progreso de Castro, Sisal declined significantly until it became the small fishing town that it is today. December 12, Monday We went looking at a new shopping store but was not really good. Bought some BBQ chicken at a local store. They are not really stores as we know - but small kiosks or single rooms open to the street. December 13, Tuesday We went back to the Super Aki (food store). It’s not as good as the bigger stores which are the same regarding selection as what we have back home. The Super Aki is just ok but it is within walking distance - about 15 minutes. Seems we do a lot of shopping but close stores with everything are not common around where are staying. We wonder what Cuba will be like. December 14, Wednesday We went off on foot downtown to a Walmart. We had a little trouble when we approached as it does not have the same big store sign as we are used to. I stopped a man and said “Walmart”. He pointed then indicated to follow him - that’s where he was going. We had walked right past, as I mentioned - the signage is different. December 15, Thursday A lazy day - social media, yoga, and reading. December 16, Friday We’ve been doing a lot of yoga (about an hour a day, most days) but tried doing it in the morning rather than the afternoon - much better. Will try to keep that up. Found a new pair of headphones on a walk downtown and back. We walked to the main square of the old town, about 20 minutes away. Stopped for ice cream and watched the tourists. Beginning to feel more comfortable and can take in more of the activity. We have not gone to Chichen Itcha yet, it’s quite expensive - around $250 Cdn each. This includes a two-hour bus ride in both directions, two hours at the site, and then another stop on the way back. Looking at other options and other sites - there are many Mayan ruins in the area. December 17, Saturday The adjustment period continues. Often in the past, a holiday was a week or two. You had an agenda - to see this and that, and time was limited - you would often cram things in. That is/was the way I travelled. Now even though we are away, we are not travelling, we are living. There is a difference and it requires adjusting one habit and expectations. Walked to the local zoo today - lions, tigers, hippos, apes, snakes, giraffes, zebras, flamingos - very interesting. The above video is walking back from the old city center (Thursday Dec 22nd) where we had gone to purchase bus tickets for our next location - Campeche December 18 - 21, Sunday - Wednesday After coffee and a light breakfast, we both spend time on social media. Around 10:30 we do yoga till noon. After a brief rest we have some lunch and then scout about for food or supplies. We return and I often take a dip in the pool. Then a nap, more social media, a cocktail around 5, and then dinner. As many will know, the sun goes down every day, all year long, around 6. We have yet to venture out at night. I am working on transcribing one of our cottage log books. When I have all the words I will begin designing the book - asking my siblings for appropriate photos which pertain to the entries. Composing some music but those efforts are slow. One of the main reasons is that we are both experimenting with AI-generated art. There are many sites and each is a little different. It’s addictive and fun. December 22 - Thursday On Thursday the maid comes to clean our room, and we decided to walk down to the old section and purchase our bus tickets to our next rental. I made a few videos that have been posted on my Facebook page. Our next rental is in Campeche, about 2 hours southwest. We have yet to visit any Mayan ruins. December 23 - Friday It rained hard the night before and was partly cloudy in the morning. We decided to buy groceries for the weekend as most shops would be closed Sunday, Christmas Day. On our way back it started to sprinkle. It rained hard in the evening. December 24 - Saturday Moira, the owner of where we are staying, headed out to Progresso on the coast, to spend Christmas Eve with friends. It was overcast all day and drizzled. It stopped in the afternoon so headed out for some BBQ chicken to get us through a few days. December 25 - Christmas The rain continued and it was cool. I did a Facebook face chat with James, John, Laurel, and Anthea - they were all in St Catharines. Southern Ontario had a bad storm but didn’t hit the driving corridor from Mississauga to St Kitts too badly. We stay hunkered down in our room for the day, only emerging for meals. December 26 - Monday Boxing Day was again overcast and we stayed put. We did yoga, and played with AI art generation. Last week I’d posting a 1959 photo of Mum in front of the Christmas tree (of that year) on a Facebook group - “Mid Century in Color - Amateur photographs and prints, 1932-1965” As of this entry, there are 1,003 likes/loves and 63 very nice comments. December 27 - Tuesday My sister Holly’s 64th birthday. We walked to the Super Aki and visited the Zoo again, to see the big cats. The last time the park was closing so we missed them. We shopped and back to the house. December 28 - Wednesday The heat fully returned and we did yoga. At 4 we left for Moira’s brother - Stephen’s - birthday party. We picked up Cliff on the way. Stephen was turning 72 (I think) and he and his wife Elaine have a very nice home. Turned out Cliff, Elaine and Barbara are all retired nurses. There were about 25 guests, mostly Americans, some staying for a few months and some permanent residents. Later we stopped at Cliff’s home - a gorgeous place, and we met his partner Joe. Joe is a retired librarian. They are an interesting couple. December 29 - Thursday We walked to the tourist district, looking for the hairdressing shop where Barbara got an appointment through one of the party guests (last night). We found it and found the prices for her appointment, then strolled home - about two hours and 10,000 steps. December 30/31 OK, down to the last few days of blog entries like this. I feel it's probably tedious for a reader and will only mention highlights next month. We walked back to the hairdressers for Barb's 12:30 appointment. Friday and Saturday we ate as much of our food stock as we could, we also packed and cleaned up our space. We stayed in on New Years Eve as we were too tired to venture out. Sunday - January 1, 2023 would begin a new adventure. Stay tuned! Pictures from our Merida stay linked here |
AuthorI believe we are what we think. What we think depends on what we feed our brains. This is a partial record of what my brain has been eating. Archives
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