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.

Paris in May

Went off to Paris for a week and have a few thoughts, pictures, details and stories to share:

The Air France flight over was uneventful for me but not Dominique Strauss-Kahn. I didn't see him taken off the plane but row 35 doesn't have quite the view of first class. The flight back was even nicer with Sean Penn on board but didn't see him either until baggage claim in JFK. Even row 11 doesn't have a good view of first class. The only solution to that problem is money! 'It doesn't cost any more to travel first class you just can't go as often.'

Had a wonderful week with excellent weather. Walked around the city, took the metro many times and the bus once [a first for me]. The Hotel Villa Luxembourg is on rue du Montparnasse, a section of Paris that I had never visited. It was a great place with numerous restaurants and cafés. My restaurant blog is filled with places to eat in that area.

Aside from restaurants, two highlights of the area are the Montparnasse Cemetery and the weekly market. The cemetery, though no way near as large as Père-Lachaise, is filled with the graves of important people in French history and pop culture.

Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir

The weekly market is held at the Place Fernand Mourlot in the 14eme. This is at the Edgar Quinet Metro stop. There were stalls with fruit, vegetables, clothing, cheese, soap, handicraft, hats, etc.

This was a great experience. Being able to see what everyday people have within their grasp. Fresh produce and the best of merchandise for one's daily life in Paris.







Another market we ran into was the biannual antique and used furniture in the area of Montmartre.

And then there is just walking around...my favorite pastime in Paris. So here is a mix of pictures, some labeled and some not. Enjoy! Go and see this wonderful city on your own.

...and how do I get out of this parking spot...

DaVinci Code stuff.....

Rose Line in Ste. Chapelle

North Point at Palais Royal

The short version of the Louvre Museum tour. 

Staircase in the Pyramid

Inner Courtyard

Mona Lisa

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Venus de Milo