A wonderful Mothers Day

Well, Jorge wanted to show me what a great Mother I've been (I hope :) ) and treated me to my favorite breakfast, he made me french toast with fresh berries and real maple syrup, yummie.   We did have to rush because he took me to Hill City for the 1880 Train which had a Mothers Day Special.

And special it was, after we were settled, and the lovely old train with the refurbished train cars began its 10 mile an hour, 10 mile trip to Keystone,  the nice young ladies on board began serving us Barefoot Sparkling Wine in pretty champagne glasses that we were able to keep!  Fruit and cheese on skewers was served to accompany the wine. 

We only had 15 minutes to spend in Keystone, a town that takes about that much time to walk through it, but much longer if you want to enjoy the shops of this quaint place. 

The train doesn't turn around, the engine car unhitches, and then goes to the other end of the train and pulls you the other way.  I was thrilled when we found out one of the 'modern' conveniences of this car was the backs of the seats flipped from to the other side of the bench to have us facing forward in either direction! 

On the way home we each got a pretty cupcake, and Pink Sparkling Wine from Barefoot Winery, again, they didn't hesitate to refill glasses!

 Here are some pictures we took.

Standing in front of the car we would be riding in.Jorge relaxing in a seat, the same seats that the back, flips over and moves to the other side so you can face either direction!My one and only glass of champagne, they were very liberal and kept offering to refill glasses.

An old abandoned mine we passed on the way up, one of quite a few.Our engine train.Jorge in the town of Keystone.The glasses they gave us that said, "1880 Train, Mothers Day Express, An adventure she'll never forget."Some of the fruit and cheese skewers, the glass and the cupcake), no they didn't serve it on plates, this picture was taken at home.Each cupcake came in it's own little box.

TROPICANA

Last year Tropicana celebrated its 70th anniversary. Seventy years of cabaret: music, dance and glamor. It was the happening place in the 1940's and '50's when American tourists flocked to Havana for a weekend, or a week,of sun anf fun. I heard about it as a kid, but did not understand it until, as an adult, my parents reminesced about it.  Tropicana is spectacular. It is a fairy tale in the midst of a society lacking a much needed stable infrastructure. It is a fabulous show, unafordable to Cubans and pricey for most tourists, but what, the heck, there is only one Tropicana!

For 80 CUC's (about $85) per person, we had very good seats (best is 90CUC's, worst is 70CUC's). The ticket price includes a 1/4 bottle of Havan Club rum, a can of cola, a glass of Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), and "entremeses" (a small plate of apperizers)

Tropicana has a main stage with an elevated stage above it, and a 3-tiered narrower stage with tropical foilage and waterfalls sorrounding it. Dancers wear exotic colorful costumes, which change with every new musical number. Like I said before, spectacular! 

By the way, Tropicana is an open-air cabaret, which adds to its tropical mystique, but puts it at the mercy of bad weather

THE FAB FAM IN CUBA

The first night in Havana we ate at a "Paladar" (private home restaurant) by the name of "El Gringo Viejo" (The Old Gringo). Our smiling faces reflect the relief of having finally sat down to eat after walking at least a mile to get to the Paladar. In the other picture Linda uses the sink in our beautiful antique bathroom in the first "casa particular" (B and B) we stayed in 

Our first casa particular is in the background

As usual, Linda is ready to protect herself from the sun. Notice the beautiful "amapola" (hibiscus flower) hanging from her ear

The Fab Fam poses with the "Plaza de la Revolucion" (Plaza of the Revolution) in the background 

On the third day we ate lunch at "Los Nardos" one of a few Spanish social clubs that have survived the test of time and the revolution

Steve at the entrance to the Cuban Society of Engineers

El Morro in the background

We had to stop at "El Floridita", the famous bar in Old Havana made famous by Ernest Hemingway, who downed countless daiquiris there

Catedral de San Cristobal de La Habana

Nothing like a colorful bouganvillea to serve as the backdrop for a beautiful family

Early morning bus departure for Trinidad-notice the map of Cuba in the background

Just showing you where we are going

Getting comfy on the bus

Christina and Steve displaying their Wyoming winter tan at Playa Ancon near Trinidad

The Fab Fam finally gets to try a Coco Taxi between Trinidad and Playa Ancon

Muscle man shows off his bathing suit at Playa Ancon. Needless to say, Cuban babes who had been enjoying the sun and surf quickly gathered around me to admire such unique bathing attire, as well as the stud wearing it   

More smiling faces waiting for a dinner table in Trinidad 

 

I had no doubt the quilter would find a Cuban quilt

Standing around in Trinidad waiting to excahge currency at the "Cadeca" ("Casa de Cambio"-house of exchange)

Two beautiful women shop at the artisan market in Trinidad

Dinner at Mila's casa during our last night in Trinidad

Back In Havana, my second cousin Anelisse picked us from the bus station and brought us over to Teresita's (my cousin) house for coffee, snacks and to look at old pictures

Smiling faces at Teresita's house

For our last night in Havana we decided to head back to where it all started. We walked (at least a mile) to "La Torre" (The Tower), the restaurant/bar that overlooks the city from its 33rd floor location. We watched the sunset and then walked to the restaurant at the "Sociedad Francesa" (French Social Club) for dinner