back to reality

Walking out of the Halifax airport and breathing in cold (0 degrees Celsius) air was like filling my lungs with pure oxygen. Cuba was beautiful, the sun was bright, the people were Spanish - but the air is not like our crisp, clean, winter air... ok that is my optimistic side...

Walking out of the Halifax airport and breathing in cold (what felt like -40 degrees Celsius) air was like filling my lungs with tiny little pins that constrained my oxygen intake and bit my eyes stimulating my tear ducts into full action ... ok, it wasn't that bad either...

Nonetheless, it sucks coming back to snow, cold, wind, and English speaking people that understand me. I like the Spanish speaking people that don't understand me when I'm sober or after a couple of Cerveza or Banana Mamas (my new favourite - that soon became Mamma Mia's - I don't know why or how that happens, but it was all good fun).

We actually did not partake too much in the beverages as we had way too much to do: Jeep Safari's, swimming with Dolphins, Body Surfing at the Beach, and generally just playing in the sun.

We did manage to have a few snags ~ it was the vacation of being 'last' at everything:
1. getting a room - arrived @ hotel around 3:00 p.m. Still no room at 6:30... so we made due with an Ocean View in the main hotel. An older room, but it had beds and a toilet :) Toilets are good... peeing - one of the most natural activities in this world was very difficult in Cuba. Particularly on road trips. I do have a small bladder and a love for copious amounts of water particularly in warmer climates... I promise never to take functioning, covered toilets (let's just say my squatting muscles are well developed), and toilet paper (anything more than a square that I do not have to pay a Cuban lady for) for granted ever again. Thank you toilet inventor.
2. standing in any type of line - any strategy we developed failed miserably. We were even the last out of customs in Halifax.
3. flying home (flight delayed 3 hours). But, I really can't complain. We're home, we're safe, and we're sunned :)

Thank you Cuba for a wonderful time. Hope to see you soon.