cars.cars.cars...

some russian ladas

my cool '57 chevy

on the way to dinner at a paladar at el morro

Hotel in Santiago de Cuba

in Santiago de Cuba stayed at the Melía...

view of the mountains from my room

view from the cocktail lounge

in Havana stayed at the Parque Central...

Artists: Fuster and Manglar

José Fuster is an artist in Jaimanitas. I have visited his studio three times now; the last being a hosted lunch. There are many Fusters in my collection bought there and here in New York City.

three pieces from my collection at home

Manglar [Ramón Rodríguez] is my favorite Cuban artist. I have visited his studio on calle Obispo in Havana many times.

these two are by his wife, Mary Carey

the latest had just dried on my last day

blognote: Galería Cubana in Boston [and Provincetown] both carry Fuster and Manglar. Manglar also sells out of Hamburg, Germany.

Cathedral of the Virgén de Caridad del Cobre

The cathedral of the patron saint of Cuba in Santiago where I lit a candle for the deceased in my family.

picture courtesy of Kathleen

Hartford Belle

Spent a wonderful afternoon on the Hartford Belle going up and down the Connecticut River and into the Wethersfield Cove. This was a livingsocial coupon so it cost us only $20 for the two trips of an hour and a half. The weather was magnificent!

entering the Wethersfield Cove...

Bilbao Moon

Didn't even know this song existed. Hope I see the Bilbao moon on my coming 'Tasting New Trends: Cataluña and the Basque Country'  trip in April.

colgante bridge

That old bilbao moon, I won’t forget it soon
That old bilbao moon, just like a big balloon
That old bilbao moon would rise above the dune...

blognote: My good friend and blogger, Amiable Amiable, introduced me to the song. Thanks...

Schengen Area

Arriving at CDG/Paris last week I noticed the signs stating Schengen Area. There was no paperwork to enter the country only the showing of a passport. We lined up at the Foreign Passport line and not the Schengen Area Passport line. The entry through Immigrations and Customs was very simple. No papers to declare what you were bringing into the country. I did not understand the concept but since the question of immigrants from Italy into France from North Africa but now do. Travel between countries in this agreement is without immigration restrictions.