My Music Monday : Havana Daydreaming

Cuba, and when I think of Cuba I think of Havana, has long been on my list of places to see. There have only been a couple of times in my adult life when US tourist visits were allowed by the US Government. Back in the 1980's an entrepreneur took advantage of a liberal definition of cultural exchange and flew plane loads of tourists from Orlando, to Havana, with dinner and a show at the CopaCabana, then back home the same night. The State department shut that down before I had a chance to go (a banker friend of mine was arranging a group to go.) Then in the waning years of the Obama administration, cruise ships from US ports were visiting Cuba, things changed and that option closed before I could work a cruise into my schedule. I can separate the government from the people, and the culture, and the art, and the music, and the food. Maybe someday. Or maybe I can go learn and teach.

Comments

The Way We Wednesday - Self-Timer Selfies

My oldest brother had a low draft lottery number, so he enlisted in the Navy the year he finished high school. After basic training, he was assigned to the Aircraft Carrier Enterprise (now decommissioned and the last I knew it was being dismantled.) Someplace in southeast Asia he bought a Canon Ftb, a nice 35MM SLR. There was also a tripod, the gray zippered case above their arms is the case for the tripod. Looking at this it was taken with the camera on the tripod, and either a cable release or the self timer, I suspect the self timer as Dale is almost blurred from having tripped the timer and rushed back to be in the picture. This would have been taken in one of the crew living areas on the ship. I think Dale only took a couple of rolls of film on the camera, this roll of slides ended up with dad's meaning it was probably in the camera when Dale came home on leave, and somehow Dad ended up keeping the camera. Dad gave it to me a few years b...

Saturday Morning Post: In lieu of flowers

I read this in an obituary recently: In lieu of flowers or cards, Jim would want you to write a card or letter to someone that is special to you. Dear Travel Penguin Blog Readers, I never met Jim, kinda wish I had. He lived near where I was born and raised, I often check obits there, people around my age are often people I crossed paths with when I was growing up. Those 20-30 years older are often the parents of people I grew up with. Sadly sometimes the younger ones are the children of my classmates. You are special to me. I know a handful of you. I wake up everyday looking forward to interacting in the comments. The statistics tell me there are many more that read, than I have never seen a comment from. I write for everyone of you. My sincere hope is that a photo I have posted, or a phrase I have crafted, makes your day a little better. I hope through these photos and words I am able to express that life will be...

The Sunday Five - Books

J.P Morgan had a spectacular private library, which raised questions for me, all of the inspriration I need for this weeks Sunday five. 1: Are there books you have multiple copies or editions of? 2: Have you ever stood in line to buy a first edition on the day it was released? 3: Do you buy books just to own them, or only to read them? 4: Have you read 90% or more of the books you own? 5: Do you have an active library card? My Answers: 1: Are there books you have multiple copies or editions of? No longer, I did at one time, but we have downsized. 2: Have you ever stood in line to buy a first edition on the day it was released? Yes, Harry Potter books. 3: Do you buy books just to own them, or only to read them? Almost always to read. 4: Have you read 90% or more of the books you own? Yes. Probably more than 95%. 5: Do you have an active library card? No, I should do something about that. Please share your answers in the comment...

myxer

Search This Blog