And the Journey Never Ends

Back from a week in Cuba. I was unable to blog from Havana because internet is only available in the hotels and only intermittently. Also the cost was very expensive - $5 for 15 minutes. And oh yea forget the Blackberry and the cell phone as there are US cell company agreements in Cuba.

It was a step back in time and out of touch for one week.

Photos and more details to follow. But before I go, I will leave you with this. In Havana it is obvious that there was much wealth at one time. Right now the builds are sad and tired. But the people are beautiful and happy. It occurred to me that in USA, it is the opposite - the buildings are beautiful and the people are sad and tired.

From your man in Havana,

Hasta pronto

Stan Krome

On the way to Havana Cuba. A few hoops to jump thru of course, but so far all is going smoothly.

But what about Cancun? The Mayan people are beautiful. The gringos out in the Hotel Zone are not so beautiful.

I've been reading about Cuba and the more I read the more I am intrigued.

More later.

Stan Krome

Jetblue experience from Orlando to Cancun. Always good to hear Spanish as the primary language. Why is Ed Harris on my Screen in freeze frame? Wow someone real smells like alcohol..

1.5 hours to Mexico.

Hasta Pronto
Stan Krome

Let me start out saying that I am not a fisherman. Its not my thing. Ask me sometime about living under a bridge in the Florida Keys in 1975...something about these Florida bridges. Out of the sun, protected, cool, close to the water, near the fish, and sustainable. But that's another story.

Vero Beach has its own bridges that provide good fishin for all those interested. With Sirus's little toy "Cars, the movie" fishing rod, he caught more fish in an hour than most did under the bridge with the heavy duty equipment. A fun time for all. Joanna really got into the close up pelican shots.

The days are melting by. Between the cold weather, wind, and constant blackberry emailing, we have managed a good look at life with the Cetrulo's in Vero. Naturally everything centers around the kids. They are fortunate to have Grand Parents nearby to helpout and share the burden. Lets just say that the kids get a lot of love and attention.

Joanna and I have enjoyed our evening walks, our hang time with the family and the relaxed schedule of vacation.

I have been busy with work, handling work-related issues, crisis, and more -- all with my blackberry. Yes Gian is right I am an addict. But the business requires some leadership at times, of which I am happy to give even on vacation. I am just grateful that my wife who at times is a computer widow, is so understanding when it comes to work versus pleasure.

Tomorrow we are off to Cancun to meet up with the Seidel's then Havana the next day. I am ready for a vacation.

Yes its true, family doesnt equal vacation and wherever you go there you are. No there is no rest for the weary, and lastly the blackberry brings new meaning to short leash.

But all in all I trust that we will be back to Vero sooner than later.

Happy Valentines Day it was. Started out with a good night sleep, finally adjusted after 3 days to the new time zone. Then Stan was off to Yoga with Brenda while Nana Jo, Sophia, and Giancarlo went to Farmers Market. The day at the pool was fun! Lots of kids, families and sunshine. Gotta love Florida. The couple from Detroit that we met, both work for GM and both agree that they need to go bankrupt if nothing else to reorganize. What will happen? The outdoor street concert was fun. Hundreds of people in the streets of Vero, listening to the music and dancin in the streets.

Dinner once again on the Veranda, oceanside with pounding surf and a Frank Sinatra Karoke singer (with Joanna singing along with everysong - I love it that she knows everyone of his songs.) in the background capped off this perfect family valentines day.

Gian (my stepson whom I've known for 23 years) and his wife and family live in Vero Beach Florida. As I mentioned earlier, the roads in Florida are long and straight. The Surveyors had a blast here, and everything is laid out on a grid. We are staying at a plush hotel on Orchid Island. One of many Florida barrier islands. This isnt California, this isnt Palm Springs,nor Aspen nor Santa Barbara. This is Vero. It is warm, the surf is pounding outside our window and most of all we are here for our new Grand Baby Sophia. Sirus seems so old at 3.5 years - he is great fun and as always we have a good time together.

Gian and Brenda lead a busy life around the family and I wonder how young parents ever got by without cell phones. All in all it is great being with the family. We are trying to keep up with them, but not doing so with much vim or vigor.

The last few days have been stressful for me with work. The web business is going strong, lots on the plate right now and combining the busy family schedule with constant emails on my Blackberry and cell phone calls. Not much of a vacation. But then again we all know that Family Vacation is an oxymoron. All is choice. And I really needed to solve the crisis at work. I think it is handled to the tune of some thousands of dollars out of my pocket. No problema. Hey its only money and if thats what it takes to buy good will, it is a cheap price to pay. It was my mistake and Im going to have to eat it. But I digress.

Tomorrow is another busy family day so I must hit the rack...

Until next time -

Made it. Unremarkable journey. United let us upgrade to a seat with more leg room for a very small fee. Check it out next time you fly united. The only thing is, these seats have NO WINDOW. I was in the middle seat anyway. Oh yea, you have to buy all meals now too. ALL SNACKS cost. The only that is free are the headphones. And we brought our own anyway. But I like my book Havana Noir. Enterprise car rental was miles from the airport. The bus driver entertaining however. Joanna wanted the PT cruiser and although they look cool, they are still American-non-intuitively designed for the average idiot, not me. I dont like it. Roads in Florida are long and straight and always under construction. After several wrong turns, we made it to Vero Beach and our hotel. Dinner on terrazza with the moonlight on the ocean was quite special. It is warm here. 80 today. Were off to see Gian, Sirus, Sophia and Brenda.

Seems so easy this time. Relaxed. Andrea covering the business, Joanna more relaxed although her back is hurting but all in all we are melting into the sojourn.

Next stop Orlando.

Stan Krome

This is how they all start...with a blog entry, no with an
idea...tomorrow we leave for Vero Beach then Mexico and Cuba.

More to follow!

Our travel day began at 3:30 AM. My Blackberry alarm clock is actually a very pleasant way to wake up. We woke up, showered up, packed up, organized receipts for customs, and prepared for the next 3 airplane rides, a night in San Jose Costa Rica, and a rental car back to Santa Barbara California. The long journey home has begun.

Amazingly John, the host and owner of Rick's Place was up with desayuno prepared for us at 4:30 AM. He made fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh coffee, and fresh fruit for us. This kind of service, I assure you could not be found in the most expensive of hotels. If you ever stay in Buenos Aires, you must stay in Rick's Place.

Andres our taxista was very prompt, picked us up, drove us to the Buenos Aires airport quickly and easily at this early hour. I noticed how few lights were on in the apartments as we sped by them on the autopista. There were very few Portenos up at 5 AM.

Sadly, our month in South America was ending. The sadness was mixed with that welcomed sense of going home. Home to my own bed, my own food, my own coffee, my guitars, my bands, my friends, my yoga teachers, my morning bike rides and my work.

In retrospect, the trip was about the geography and the people. The animals take a close 3rd. The Geography of South America with the Andes, the volcanoes, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego is unsurpassed. I was constantly thrilled.

The South American animals including the Gunacos, the Nanadus, the Penguinos and the Chilean Flamingos are so tame they are not afraid of people. Next time we will visit the jungles.

But it is the people of South America that I will remember most. The warm friendly demeanor of the South Americans is what I will take with me. Their strong commitment to their families and their elders is what I remember. Yes, I can generalize here because I know what I feel. IIt seems that our country has lost its soul. The USA had soul once, but lives in the depths of soulless, despair, and fear. On the other hand, South America still has the magic.

Oh yea I will remember those beautiful Chilean and Argentinean women and the handsome Peruvians. I also remember, the friendly willingness to help a lost and weary traveler. The happy, genuinely interested people willing to share political opinions and ideas.  Their smiles were genuine and heartfelt.

Lastly I will see South America as a land that is totally misrepresented in North America. It is hard to find a mention in the North American media about a South American Country without a negative, fear-ladened, political, crime filled, war-torn story attached to it. It is a vast continent, rich in history, heritage, and resources. The economies are exploding in South America. I have never seen so many large cranes in one city as in Santiago. This is the land of the upside down Orion, where the Moon and planets rise in the North. It is the land of the Peronists. THe land of paradoxes. The land of the Andean people, the Inca, the Mapuche, the Tango, the land of Yerba Mate,  coca tea, sliver, copper, and more. This is a continent with a diverse population of optimistic hopeful people whose outlook is bright.

South America is a land with history, heritage and with spirit.

Goodbye South America, I will always love you.