See the views of Panama City from Ancon Hill This could be a good thing to do on your first day in Panama City if you are tired and want to do something easy and scenic. Ancon Hill is the highest point in the city at 654 feet and is easily reached by taxi. You can also hike up from the base but that looked unnecessarily strenuous to Blonde and Ginger (stand-in for Brunette on … [Read more...]
Trinidad (the one in Cuba)
Why Trinidad Cuba is a UNESCO site Trinidad is one of Cuba's UNESCO World Heritage sites recognized for its "Outstanding Universal Value" (a category where Blonde hopes to eventually gain recognition). Trinidad was founded in the early 16th century in honor of the Holy Trinity, back when Spanish Catholics were running things and Fidel Castro wasn't even the proverbial gleam … [Read more...]
Cuba’s Literacy Campaign of 1961
One of the educational/cultural activities included in Blonde’s People-to-People trip to Cuba was a visit to the Cuban Literacy Museum. This visit was far enough into the trip that Blonde’s brain (not a total oxymoron) was already skeptically assessing the suspiciously rosy presentations about Cuba’s accomplishments under Castro. As someone who has a hard enough time … [Read more...]
José Fuster – Cuban Artist and Good Neighbor!
Cuba has had more than its share of hard times over the last 50 years but José Fuster has proven that one man can make a perceptible difference by using his (considerable) talents to be a good neighbor. Born in Havana in 1946 Fuster chooses to live in the poor neighborhood of Jaimanitas on the northwestern edge of Havana. Poverty has a tendency to be drab but Fuster has … [Read more...]
Can’t get no satisfaction? Try snorkeling!
[slideshow] No, that isn't what we mean! We know what you're thinking and you should be ashamed of yourself. Blonde and Brunette both learned to swim when we were young (during the Civil War) and have always loved water activities that don't require prowess or balance - think water skiing, kite surfing, serious kayaking (we do the go in circles kind) or scuba diving (there's … [Read more...]
I’ll have what she’s having
[slideshow]Blonde and Brunette drooled on ads for Anthony's Key Resort in the Bay Islands of Honduras for years (http://www.anthonyskey.com/). The ads were in magazines for divers. Neither B 'nor B dive but one time eons ago Brunette's much maligned husband got certified. He promptly subscribed to diving magazines he's never looked at and he never ever dives. But Brunette looks … [Read more...]