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...]
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...]
What is it really like (for Americans) to travel to Cuba now?
What is it really like to travel to Cuba now? The internets are full of articles with headlines such as “CheapAir to start selling direct U.S.-Cuba flights on Wednesday”. If, as a U.S. citizen, you read only the headline and the first sentence you may think you are now free to book a vacation to Cuba. Finally you can go independently and do as you please when you arrive! This … [Read more...]
Baths in Budapest
Prior to setting off on our trip to Budapest Brunette discovered that the city has a long- standing bathhouse culture. Our fate was sealed. Small, water-obsessed brunettes can be formidable obstacles and are best placated. (Now if Brunette’s research had shown that you had to be nude to use the baths there might have been a different outcome. Might have been.) So why does … [Read more...]