Cuba part 2

For a few days we just stayed at the resort enjoying the beach. I think my grandfather wasn't sure about truly going to visit where he came from, so we relaxed and enjoyed the most beautiful beach. I would say it is right up there with Thailand and Greece. (And so much closer to home, if only we could visit more often!)


So here are a few pictures from the days just hanging out at the resort.

B, Me, Abuelo and my Brother 

B, Me and my cousin CR 

Family dinner - for my birthday - I turned 31 in Cuba!

 

 My brother and I

 

 

As an American visiting family in Cuba for the very first time - we didn't really know what to look for - we just wanted to make sure if it all sucked - at least we enjoyed the beach.

 

Little did we know - we truly LOVED everything.

 

What isn't to love about seeing your family's homes for the first time, or the churches they built (yes a Cathedral and a Church!) and all of the stories that go with it - or cousins that my grandfather hadn't seen in 50 years? It was amazing.

There are so many more stories and pictures to come



Cuba - getting there

On December 19, B and I flew to Miami and stayed on South Beach. We enjoyed a great night on the town and got to have our last night just the two of us for a LONG time. While I love family vacations - it is very different to be 31 and living on your own, married and having your own life to be thrown into an 8 day vacation of TOGETHERNESS with 9 people. We had a lot of fun!

So a day in South Beach, enjoying cocktails and great seafood was wonderful.

We met up with the other 7 people in our family on the 20th around 4pm at Miami International airport. Our flight was supposed to leave at 8pm - it did not leave until almost 12AM. Apparently this is very "typical" for the charter flights to Cuba. Never in my life have I been on a plane where everyone clapped when it took off and clapped when it landed.

Here is the plane....not exactly what we thought we would be taking - no wonder everyone clapped! 

My mom and dad after landing in Camaguey

We were through customs and onto our bus at around 1:30AM.

My grandfather, dad, husband and the bus driver. I am sure my grandfather is telling one of his MANY stories! 

At about 3AM, our bus driver needed to stop to get coffee

Here is the place we stopped for coffee - until we saw they had Havana Club rum. Then the party started. 

The whole family with our Rum! (and Cuban coke). We were all dead asleep until we got to this stop at 3AM and then we were awake for the next 2.5 hours to our hotel. The party started and we didn't sleep until the following night. We couldn't believe we were actually in CUBA actually seeing and being in the place we never thought we would be! 

We got the hotel in time to see the sunrise:

Sunrise in Puerto Padre, Cuba. 

The sand was so soft and so white.

We played a game called heads up and truly just couldn't believe we were here. In my grandfather's home town! 

It was a magical start to a true TRIP OF A LIFETIME. 

I cannot believe in 2013 I had 2 trips of a lifetime and I married my best friend. It was truly a year for the books! 

Next up - visiting my grandparents homes, cities, where they were married and the family we met along the way.

Crazy fun life

The past few weeks have been crazy, but fun.

B and I went back to Austin 2 weekends ago. We went to the UT game and truly had a wonderful time being in the city where we first met. UT won, which made it all the better! We stayed with the best man in our wedding and his wife (and their 4 month old - who is so precious!!!) All in all - It was wonderful.

This year is flying by so quickly and there is so much happening in our lives.

We already have our next two trips planned out. Both are family trips. One with his parents and one with my family.

With his parents we are taking their boat from Delray Beach, Florida to Duck Key. We are staying in the Marina (on their boart) at Hawks Cay Resort.  I am looking foward to it. I love my in laws. They are truly such amazing people and I love that we all get along. I feel truly fortunate to have in laws that are so wonderful. I know quite a few people who are not as fortunate as I am. Hearing the horror stories makes me know how blessed I am. A week in the Florida keys sounds fabulous to me!

The other trip that is now finally planned is our trip to Cuba. This trip with my family is something that I have wanted to do ever since I was little. The last time my mom was in Cuba, she was 8 years old. This is a "homecoming" of sorts, and yet I know it will be incredibly hard on my grandfather. I think there will be ups and downs - but truly I want to see where my mom's family comes from - and I want to see it through his eyes.

There are so many things to look foward to - Thanksgiving, CHristmas, Parties, luncheons, dinners and everything in between.

This truly is the best time of the year!

Tickets booked!

The Travel Agent booked our flights to Cuba and we booked our flights to Miami.

OH MY GOSH

THIS IS HAPPENING!