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| Image I found on the Internet showing Hotel Santa Clara Libre and Surrounding Area |
Cuba Day 4
My Grandmother´s Birthday
It was indeed a big night last night. A party for 75 Cubans, all family and close friends as we gathered to celebrate the Birthday of Grandmother who turned 105 years old. Iyt was a wonderful celebration of drinks, sparklers, events, a mariahi band, singers, dancers, and everything in between.
Usually not seen in Cuba on the scale we celebrated, it was indeed a night to remember. Everyone it seemed was having the time of thier life. The entire family was up atop a beautiful rooftop dining room that overlooked the entire city of Santa Clara. This was a fully air conditioned hall, with a great set up, dancefloor, full kitchen and it seems so rare that the cuban government is not taking more oppurtunity to utilize this place as it is spectacular and one that should be promoted when talking about this city. It has 360 degree views of the entire city and of course this hotel being the only tall skyscraper in this city makes that View Priceless..
As a matter of fact it should be a mastercard commercial... Like you know.. View from the highest building ' Say 500.00, Stay at this hotel say 800.00 .. The time spent with family having a good owe time.... priceless...
Anyway getting back to reality the food, cake, drinks were all to absolutely write home about.. The flavor of food on the island being all natural and no preservatives gives it a unique taste little if any of us Americans have truly ever tasted.. its a flavor so pure and natural you just cant stop eating.. Imagine all the cheese, milk, dairy products for that matter having the same natural taste and smell not the odorles stuff we normally get in the United States.. Oh dont get me wrong I am not complaining.. We have a lot more food then they will ever see here on this island and the United is still and will remail the best country in the world, but to get this wholesome taste is something that is alone worth this trip...
Today is my Birthday and we are celebrating by going to my familly´s house on the farm, where we will also celebrate Father´s Day which falls the same date as it does in te UNited States, as does every other major holiday such as Valentine´s Day, Mother´s Day, Etc.. This is a vestage of the times when the United States and Cuba were close allies befor the 1959 revolution. Old American Cars from the 50´s are still the standard and running on the island altough tourists now have Chinese, Russian, Asian Cars with AC to travel through the island which has been remarkably free and clear to us on this trip.
Last night I went to a Cuban Disco which was a lot of fun where we danced until 400 AM.. Funny everyone there including three American Tourist I ran into said the same thing.. If this place were opened to American tourist dollars it would be a great vacation destination.. They were still amazed how a 4 days long passed trek to varadero turned out to be for them.. Their first comment I have never seen such white sandy beaches and clear water with over a mile of visibility and pristine beachfronts in my many years of travel, the same thing I shared with all of you from my first blog post from here...
Indeed Cuba is a land of many surprises.. Thanks in Part to Hugo Chavez, yes Hugo Chavez of Venezuela they have gas and petrolium here which allows the island not to suffer any electrical losses durring this intense heat wave. And although I am no fan of Mr Chavez, one thing he has done has brought about something positive on this Island. There are a lot of poor people here which honestly might not be alive if it were not for the petroum and oil products he provides in exchange for Cuban Doctors, Technocrats, who help the poor in Venezuela. A program that although has some drawbacks, still is beneficial to both Nations regardless of `peoples personal opinions on either government.
Tomorrow we head into touristville as we venture with our chinese made tourist bus to the Cuban Keys and are staying at one of the Islands premier resorts with my entire family ' all 27 of them and at 50.00 per person all inclusive inclusing lunch tomoprrow, dinner tomorrow, and breakfast the following morning, drinks at night, and of course the room, it seems a real bargain for us US natives.. What it would cost perhaps one or two people for the same accomadations for one night anywhere else we can accomodate 27 here in Cuba..
Simply Amazing and breathtaking as I always like to say...
Well lets see what surprizes we have in store for us today and tomorrow and I will make sure to let all of you know what happens.. Untill then from Cuba.. Signing off...
AG Home Goods
