Sailing to Miami Day 3- A ray of Hope and better conditions

Day 3: Sunshine & Hope - Things get better.. 

So day 3 started off much better after what appeared to be a bad end of day two. Jessica was crying due to the fact that the engine seemed unrepairable and after spending all day trying to fix it she had a really bad sunburn badly, I mean really badly. She was completely over it. After Wal-mart we had dinner and I was so tired I passed out with in two minutes of hitting the sack. It was a long tiresome day for both of us. One with intense heat and disappointing endings.  

Inside the cabin as you enter the sleeping chambers

Today things seemed much better as I woke up. I had a great unexpected night's rest due to our new fans from Wal-mart. Our mosquito nets worked miracles and our citronella candle was fantastic. We bought plastic bins and organized the place and the musty old smell turned into a citrus orange as we bought gelling spray fresheners and spray as well. Bought new carpets for the floor and all of the sudden the little boat looked like something different. No longer hot and humid with a musty air but nice, comfortable due to us using the fans with a combination water ice bowl that made the air blow through them instantly giving us a refreshing cool air inside. With 4 fans we thought we were in heaven and so started our laziest after noon yet. I actually slept from 3:00-6:00 and woke up just minutes ago.

Our Traveling Companion Kiva a 10 yr old Macaw

But still no engine means we will be driving down to Miami tomorrow to get a few things and run a few errands before we attempt this trip again.. At least I think. I still have to talk to Jessica, who alongside me is munching away at chips with dip. Hopefully she will have good news on our departure from this lazy old town called Smirna Beach where it seems 7:00 is the closing time for everything as downtown is deserted after 8:00 PM with not a single person in sight and it seems everyone even in their homes are sleeping for you see no light coming from inside. New concept for me coming from Miami, or the city that never sleeps.

Fresh Fruit in the cabin

Radios for emergencies and other First Aid Stuff

 So finally tonight the engine is being worked on and it looks like we will be ready to go.. Finally good news from our little sailboat.. Stay tuned for our actual voyage.. Finally I Hope.. 

AG Home Goods

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Two very modern, contemporary homes...

Two very modern contemporary homes....

House Number 1: An Elegant New Orleans Home..

Every once in a while you see a home that catches your attention and just pops out at you. Other people will call what jumps out to you maybe to flashy or over the top. I however feel this first house is not only absolutely amazing but in fact an ideal luxury home and if you can guess my favorite part is the stainless fireplace and outside main wall of the house which looks spectacular. This house is flashy but I believe in a good way and presents a perfect example of today's cutting edge designs and ideas using the modern, contemporary style in Design... 

modern bedroom design and interior in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

This the elegant house for modern living, luxury furniture, really contemporary living room design and interior with trends fireplace and comfy bedroom and kitchen with bars table. here the Hurtado Residence American designer Mark Tracy of Chemical Spaces with Located in The Ridges, an upscale custom home community to the west of Las Vegas nearing Red Rock Canyon. The home is 10,000 square feet.create a modern, hip entertaining style art gallery, young clients and party goers. The 11 meters from the front door opens as aluminum lined Italian tiles, a towering three-story elevator surrounded by custom art, and a floating staircase with stainless steel trim. A stack of 14 meters wide is the main feature of the area of the kitchen and living room, with wooden and metal cabinets Scavolini Plata plants. Blue LED lights around the ceiling light in the second layer that extends from the kitchen and the wall of the media and the chimney, but also emphasizes the main bathroom ceiling.

cool kitchen and bars table in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

living room furniture view in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

living room furniture with fireplace in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

living room interior design in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

modern and cool kitchen design and interior in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

modern room interior and lighting desgin in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

staircase design in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

cool staircase design in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

amazing Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

modern and clean Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

modern and stunning bathroom design in Hurtado Residence Design in Las Vegas

The house above in Las Vegas is a perfect example of a flashy yet very elegant house, one that shows style, class, and a sense of design that is unique and daring and definitely sticks out of any crowd in any neighborhood. Great 

House Number 2: 

A house I simply love.. Small, practical, yet completely modern

Modern House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

Here are the stunning modern house renovation and extension by Neil M. Denari Architects in Los Angeles, CA, USA. this house owner family have asked that 1,000 sf be added to the site in addition to the existing 1,000 sf house.The system leaves the house for half the rooms of his daughter and the other half includes newer extensions in front and back in a public area and a private bedroom for parents. This strategy corresponds to a new house, 16 feet wide, linear to be inserted into existing home. Multi-tones, bright colors accentuate the new pieces that suggest a graphic expression representative of the interests of the family.

Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

outdoor area design at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

kitchen layout design at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

modern kitchen layout ideas at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

room and stair layout at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

wonderful stair design at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

Absolutely small wonderful modern, contemporary home. The outside is stunning and sticks out of any neighborhood and the open glass windows are absolutely amazing. This house has a lot of class and elegance and shows the designers passion in his work. Great design concept and plan... 

Hope all of you enjoyed the pics...

AG Home Goods

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My Ideal Home.. For me..

My Ideal Home.. To live in..

This next home is what I consider ideal to live in. If I could afford it, I would buy it today.. Its simply stunning and its a dream come true for many.. I mean a private island on Miami Beach, Florida.. What else can you possibly want..

Fantastic, Luxury, modern and contemporary Waterfront Home On a Private Island located on a private island in Miami Beach, Florida, overlooking Biscayne Bay, La Gorge Estate was built in 1926, Mediterranean-style property, built for Carl Fisher, recently renovated by Touzet Studio. architectural style is not popular in the region, but this is not the only thing that make the villa special. The property has three buildings, including the main house, guest house and quarters for staff. The main building is 16,000 square meters and has two floors with 6 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. He has direct access to a heated outdoor pool and a spa, and has truly amazing views of the Bay. There are many other fresh interior and exterior design.























What else is there but AWEEEEEEEEEEEEE... I mean simply absolutely amazing estate on Miami Beach.. 


AH Home Goods

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Our Final Day...in Cuba

Cuba day 9-10
Our Final 2 Days and goodbye

Yesterday (Thursday) as an official farewell to all of us.. My family on the side of my father threw a huge celebration on the farm they own here on the Island.. In conjunction with the birthday party of a very honest little girl I have come to really enjoy talking to these past few days...She always tells the truth about everything.. and I do mean everything and when you talk to her it does not seem like you are talking to a 10 year old but to a young passionate college student involved in government or politics and on one side passionately believing in thhe issues you are discussing.

She speaks about the conditions at her school, about the way things are here, and about the residents of the Island in ways that make her seemm like a college grad student.. One thing is clear from her view and many others here that the US Embargo on this Island is only hurting the peoople and not the goovernment and on this one point I will agree... The government still has what it needs and will always have the means to control the population.. Loook at China.. There is no imbargoo and the goivernment there is a much bigger threat to the United States then the Cuban government. If the embargo were lifted it would mean a new begining for this Island, one with some hope and maybe just maybe supplies would start rushing in.. The past is the past it is time to look forward and remove the Embargo against Cuba..

Getting back to our farewell dinner... It had a huge pig, roasted in the open, goat meat, which if any of you have not tried, I suggest you do because it is the most tasty delicious meat of all in my opinion, salids, tamales, and every other cuban made dish you could think of. I of course took the beers and drinks.. sodas and alcohol are usually out of financial limits to most cubans although Cuban Rum is readily available..The party went off without a hitch until about half way thhrough the power went out buty thank god the rain because even though thehre was no electricity for about two hours, the breeze kept things very cool, cooler then before the rain and wityh only fans as most cubans do not have AC anywhere on the island. It is a luxury reserved for the most financial stable families.

Then we sang Happy Birthday to this very special girl and the one thing she says she will remember the moost is the fact that there were balloons at her party. We brouth them from the states. For you see that is one item that even with money can not be found on the island ion any store or even the most expensive hotels... She was happy too have a birthday (her first) with ballonns.. I have to remember that on my next trip proobably in December to bring lots of ballooons because they seemed to maske everyone there happy it somehow took over the air all around us. It was indeed a good, memorable farewell diner for all of us who today at 10:00 PM will travel back to Miami and be there befor 11:00 PMM tonight.. Back to our working iPhones, home computers, blog postings, emails, problems, phone calls, and oother everyday stress... and as you think abnout all of this, you wonder who truly is the lucky one but then reality hits and you realize its you.. With all the problems we put up with in the United States, its rare we go too bed with hunnger or woondering where tomorroow´s mmeal is coming from, or whether or not we are going to eat or not...

Those are the issues facing lots of people here and entire families suffer the same restlessness although I can say one thing, everyone seems to get by somehow.. Somehow it stays together and peoople have time to fix their hommes and the streets of Cuba´s cities are cleaner thenn anywhere I have been in South America or the carribean, for that matter lots of american cities.. They take pride in maintaining the streets clean and debris free.. so that at least you can leave here knowing this is a very clean hygenic society that takes pride in itself and in their surroundings. 

Cuba is indeed a land of contrasts and one vacationn I will gladly repeat in December of this year and again next June for it is my father land and my families hoome, and one I can never forget.. It has my roots and my people from which I came and a week long family celebration is something thjat always does the body good.. Peace, relaxation, and a governmennt bent on making tourists feel welcome make this place, with all its shortcomings perhaps the best vacation on the planet.. at least to me...  

My next blog entry will be tonight from the city of Miami, from my office as I go to check up on what happened in the last ten days.. Gooodbye for now from Cuba, this beautiful island unnknown to many and misunderstood by most...

AG Home Goods

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Cuba Days 4 and 5.. Part 2..Tourist areas and celebrations

Cuba Days 4 and 6

Part 2 

Keys, Tourist Hotels, and much more...

Continuing on my trek in Cuba, I went to the famous Keys on the Island which are a tourist bastien of luxury, hotels that most have never seen, and food that would put any western restaurant to shame, most cooked right on the spot in front of you..

As we pulled up in our Chinese made brand new air conditioned bus we passed herds of people who were waiting for what I thought was the bus all along the road that takes you into the famous keys. This however was not the case, as these people were simply waiting for anyone heading that way to offer them a ride, as there are no buses heading into the tourist centers unless you rent one and the cost is out of reach for most Cubans on the Island.. Once an exclusive area for the rich or high ranking military offecers like the president and his brother themselves.. Its indeed a paradise, pristine waters, vegitation and untouched by high degrees of development like most places around the world.. There are actually still many places completely secluded and open for private parties or just sun bathing.. and of course once inside, the cost is free..

There we passed the airport where tourists are taken so they do not see the true cuba.. The airport is already within the walled compound that is called the keys who has only a single entrance where you are checked and passports taken to make sure you can afford and are allowed in.. In the end its a very restricted area but a beautiful paradise inside..

Once we got there our iPhones which are normally not of any use, lit up as the hotel´s WiFi signal was active.. Internet access rooms readily available at a cost of 6.00 for 30 minutes but availoable and many checked their facebook, Twitter, home pages and communicated from home in a way that is alien to most on the island, as Internet access is severly restricted and censored where available.. We ran into American tourists from North Dakota, Chicago as well as a slew of foreghners from Canada, Mexico, and most European countries, all clueless as to the true living conditions on the outside..

For Lucnch, the Buffet was amazing, every food imaginable to life was readily available.. and the meat alone was more then most had seen living on the island in years.. Its amazing how much food, drinks, soda of every kind, Spanish Wines, alcohol, juices, and everything in between was available at this hotel. Take a world famous beach, rides, luxury rooms, and a blue pristine beach, and hell I even though I was in paradise until the reality of the 10,000,000 people outside hit.. NO FOOD; WATER; ELECTRICITY; BOOKS; TEACHERS; OR ANYTHING AT ALL HIT HOME.. WHAT A SHAME.. This place really could be paradise on earth.. and to some extent it is.. As the Cuban government tries and gets things doen with what it can.. as there is not much because of the US embargo on this island that realñly should be removed...

We trade with China and so we should trade with Cuba.. The Cuban people really need the money, investment, and economic assistance.. In closing, what tourists see is a very possible future for this island, one full of prosperity and one that xcan make the Cuban people proud to be called Cuban, for they are very hardworking as they have to work everyday just to survive.. Life is not easy here, as a matter of fact its very hard but every family at least most manage to make it in conditions we as americans would find hard to believe... Even the streets are a mission as they were once paved but that is long gone.. not the main ones they are in good shape, but the side streets.. they even have horse drawn buses and taxis, unseen anywhere else in the world.. and buses well they had once 16 routes for the huge city of Santa Clara, and now only 16 buses service all routes in the city and service comes and goes as long as the buses do not break down..

Tonight we are treating my family to a place called los canelles, and then we will remain to go to the Disco.. lets see what awaits me there tonight..

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Cuba, an Island misinterpreted from the outside

Day 3 Cuba....My grandmother´s 105th birthday is today


It was an uneventful night in Santa Clara Cuba. I finally found a way of getting photos sent to all of you and will have them up by this afternoon. (Hopefull). Anyway last night was raining as does everyday here around 3 PM as we are in the tropics and the afternoon thunderstorms tend to roll in everyday at the same time. I think its great since it coold the island down by about 10 to 12 degrees and the breeze before the rain and after is something I would rather have then live without.


We went shoping yesterday and the unthinkable happened. The stores were full of products from the USA, Raisen Bran, Lucky Charms, Cheereos, to name a few cereals and just about everything food wise was made in the UDA. Incredible.. Of course most items were way to expensive for the average cuban family. But no matter most again seemed to get by and honestly I love the island and the people are very friendly and even the government really ahs not done anything wrong to us or anyone around us so a lot of the stories you hear on Cuba are just that stories..


Its safe, secure, the government does go out of its way to show tourists a good time, and you feel very secure where ever you go. So no matter what you have herd, don´t always believe because it might not be true, and more then likely it is not..


We ate early around 600PM and I was in bed by 1100 in a nice clean air conditioned hotel room in the middle of the colonial beautiful city of Santa Clara.. Where everyone seems to be super friendly toward tourists and there are quite a few of them here.. from Europe, Canada, United States, and a slew of other countries. The room includes breakfast which is fantastic buffet style or a la carte with just about everything you can possibly imagine for breakfast...


Well today we are busy getting ready for the big party tonight.. it promises to be a great time and evening.. more on that later and hopefully with some pictures..




Pictures found below.. just A FEW ...

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Two Very Modern Homes...

I am writing today on extremely modern, futuristic style homes that I know you will love. Both homes are designed for impact on a reader with the style being not modern, contemporary, but futuristic and the outcome in both is absolutely amazing..

Hope you enjoy the pics

House Number 1 - Futuristic Red/White Hotel in Germany

futuristic red wall and black furniture in hotel lobby design

This the futuristic hotel design in Berlin Germany. here the red and white hotel Q design and decorating. hotel landscape that defies the classical canon through spatial folding of the topography. With a logic tectonics, a horizontal landscape distorts and creates zones bent double occupancy hybrid functional. An oblique object is both a separation barrier and usable furniture. The floor is raised to the surface movement or the beginning of an area that appeared under the skin of the building. hotel designed by GRAFT and motives on the ceiling within in rooms we collaborated with photographer Christian Thomas. 

futuristic hotel q design ideas in germany

futuristic hotel landscape design in germany

futuristic bedroom design in hotel Q germany

comfort and futuristic hotel Q room design ideas

bedroom design ideas in hotel Q

bathtub and bed design ideas for spas room

hotel landscape design in germany

red and white hotel bar design ideas

In my opinion a little to modern but very very interesting ideas... 

Modern House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

Modern House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

Here are the stunning modern house renovation and extension by Neil M. Denari Architects in Los Angeles, CA, USA. this house owner family have asked that 1,000 sf be added to the site in addition to the existing 1,000 sf house.The system leaves the house for half the rooms of his daughter and the other half includes newer extensions in front and back in a public area and a private bedroom for parents. This strategy corresponds to a new house, 16 feet wide, linear to be inserted into existing home. Multi-tones, bright colors accentuate the new pieces that suggest a graphic expression representative of the interests of the family. 

Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

outdoor area design at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

kitchen layout design at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

modern kitchen layout ideas at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

room and stair layout at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

wonderful stair design at Alan Voo House Renovation and Extension by Neil M

 I absolutely love it, the interior, exterior, the entire package. An amazing house..


AG Home Goods

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