Just LOOK at the sky and water!

It is exciting to see the newest people who are just arriving to these views with fresh eyes, 

lending me their perspectives.

BUY!

At home, almost every surface that could possibly bear advertising, 

does. 

There is very little of that kind of thing in Cuba, obviously 

and NO American ads anywhere.  

It is kind of nice.

The birds are adorable.

...but I hate the way they fly away when I try to watch them too long 

...or even take a photo.

sigh

Windy.

There are times when the ocean breeze can be rather intense. 

I have no trouble imagining how frightening a hurricane must be around these parts.

What? No high speed internet anywhere there?

Because education is free in Cuba, 

everyone is well educated.

At this point though, high speed internet is not available on the island and modem access is still way more expensive than what average Cubans can afford.

Is this the NEW wave?

Even thought the waves tossed us upside down and pulled us apart from one another we kept on going back for more.

Play ball!

Celeste joined a game of beach volleyball while I pondered my toys some more.

I love the birds

We hear songbirds all the time here. No wonder this is such a musical place.

Luis caught lobsters on the morning we met him. 

After a little conversation on the street of Veradero City, 

he invited us for lunch at his mother's home. 

They were so hospitable and the meal was so lovingly prepared, 

and included radishes and the most flavourful tomatoes I have ever tasted. 

She grew them in her little garden before marinating them with green beans for us.

Toilet paper with that, ma'am?

In almost every public toilet that I went to in Havana, 

there was a toilet-paper seller. 

I wonder if men's rooms have such an attendant.

Hello Havana

Our new friend Alfonso drove us around Havana.

I love being able to peer into other people's worlds.

Hola!

Every Cuban we've met has been friendly, kind and a lot of fun.

One peso or another

There are two kinds of Cuban Pesos; one for Cubans and one that tourists use. Foreigners must take care to exchange the right amount. We are not allowed to change the money back and it is AGAINST THE LAW to smuggle currency out of their country.

I love how happy I feel being here.

I love how happy I feel being here.

Coconut?

We made friends.

A nice handsome man lopped a coconut from a nearby tree top. 

With a machete, he hacked off the top, put in a straw, and handed it to Celeste.

He put rum into the one for me.

Yum!

vacation?

In General, I am pretty relaxed, the concept of VACATION is working for me. 

I like this... though I am not quite myself.

Doctors and teachers don't get paid all that well in Cuba.

In most parts of the world, doctors and medical professionals are the most respected folks in the community.

Since everyone earns about the same thing in Cuba, a doctor or lawyer ends up with terrible pay. The best money goes to those in the service industry who meet tourists and get easy tips and gifts.

Cuba is a country of proud people.

Cuba is a country full of proud beautiful people. 

I don't think their system works well. It forces them into begging for things we take for granted. The US system of Capitalism isn't any better or more human.

health care in Cuba

I met a wretched complainer in my version of paradise. "Don't let anyone tell you health care is free in cuba. It isn't. I have been paying a fortune. It isn't like it is back home" "..Want to know where I left my diabetic supplies? On my bed! Can they help me here?" "Nope!" I told her it was bad she has to feel ill. at least the sun and ocean are better than dreary snowstorms. Sigh.

These shoes

The women in Havana seem to wear very high heeled shoes all the time even though the roads are unbearably uneven. 


I wear flats and stumble all the time.

NOT -born in the USA

I made friends with a Cuban man. He got a little different when we played music from the US.

-not strange,  just different.

What DO they think of us?

I cannot help but wonder what the locals think about us and the very strange (to them) way we do things.

17. Every musician we've heard in Cuba play the same combination of songs so far. We like them all.

Every musician we've heard in Cuba 

play the same combination of songs so far. 

We like them all.

16. In hotels around the world, there is often a problem with guests leaving with more towels, shampoo and trinkets than they came with.

In hotels around the world, there is often a problem with guests leaving with more towels, shampoo and trinkets than they came with.

Most people that come to Cuba, arrive armed with loads of stuff to leave behind.

15. Clear blue skies and clear blue water.

Clear blue skies and clear blue water.

13. This afternoon, I heard a mullet-headed guy explain the benefits of satellite radio..

This afternoon, I heard a mullet-headed guy 

explain the benefits of satellite radio to a man 

who keeps his car McGiver-ed together

with bits of string, wire and bits of pop cans.

12. In every part of the beach are little worlds who's denizens follow their own rules.

11.Tourists at this resort seem to be either complaining or drunk.

Tourists at this resort seem to be either complaining or drunk.

10.

9th in the series of drawings from Erella's cuban sketch book.

8th in the series of images from erella's Cuban sketch book.

7. The seventh in the series of erella's cuban sketch book

6. sixth one in the series

5

4

3

2. second one in the series

1. This is the first post in the series