13,140,000 minutes. How do you measure a marriage of 25 years? In daylights, in sunsets, in laughter, in miles. The Southern Hemisphere's Society and Cook Islands' raw natural beauty, technicolor skies, and crystal clear water hosted a surreal silver anniversary for my husband, Miguel, and I. For eleven days upon the ship m/s Paul Gauguin our most pressing matter was what time we’d like breakfast delivered to our stateroom. The crews’ polite graciousness was second to none; undoubtably one reason the luxury liner has won myriad World’s Best awards. Great Britain’s Captain Cook was the first foreigner to reach Tahiti in 1769. Two decades later, Captain Bligh sailed the HMS Bounty to this Pacific paradise. But, Bligh’s tyrannical ways and the lure of gorgeous Tahitian women lead his men to mutiny, which many years later inspired the book Mutiny on the Bounty. Authors’ James Norman Hall and Charles Nordhoff lived on Tahiti while writing the tome. Thankfully, our visit was more blissful, full of hoots and laughter mingled with seabirds’ voices. The first morning this magnificent sunrise greeted us as we anchored off the tiny, eight square mile atoll of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. The land was dotted with coconut, pineapple, banana, and tapioca groves. Most of the 2,500 residents live in villages and zoom around the roads on motor scooters. The crystal clear turquoise water was perfect for snorkeling. We saw fish of every shape, size and color. The reefs were teeming with marine life. We took a stroll on this GORG beach. After our idyllic day, we boarded the ship bound for another of the beautiful Cook Islands - Rarotonga. It was quite an adventure getting there. Before setting sail, our captain said over the loud speaker in his thick Croatian accent "ladies and gentlemen, the wind has
13,140,000 minutes. How do you measure a marriage of 25 years? In daylights, in sunsets, in laughter, in miles. The Southern Hemisphere’s Society and Cook Islands’ raw natural beauty, technicolor skies, and crystal clear water hosted a surreal silver anniversary for my husband, Miguel, and I. For eleven days upon the ship m/s Paul Gauguin
Vacationing in communist Cuba is a mix of experiences. It’s a melting pot of 11 million inhabitants comprised of people from myriad countries, all migrated to the island throughout history, either willingly — Spaniards, French, or under duress — African slaves. The capital, Havana, with its crumbling history and riot of color is bustling with kind, smiling locals who numerous times approached me asking my name and where I was from. They are a happy culture. Children play on the streets laughing. It doesn't matter they can’t afford a deck of cards. They improvise with cut up cigarette packs. The U.S. embargo and collapse of the Soviet Union have taken its toll. Cuba once produced 1/3 of the world’s sugar. Today, only 1%. Images of Che Guevara are everywhere reminding us of the revolution which took place over 50 years ago. The highlight of the trip for my husband and I was exploring the country with our 22 year old nephew, Diego. Miguel, Diego, and I were simpatico and had the same agenda. An evening at the Tropicana Club cabaret; smokin’ stogies in Vinales tobacco fields; visiting museums and plazas; sharing meals with Cubans in paladares; dancing at festivals; and truly being immersed in the culture. No trip to Cuba is complete without a visit to the Vinales tobacco fields via a 1955 Pontiac. Green doesn't begin to describe the countryside two hours outside of Havana. About 90% of the tobacco leaves grown go to the government, the farmers keep and sell the remaining 10%. The tobacco is organic and the cigars are smooth! The man rolling them dipped the end in honey because Che Guevara smoked his that way . We rented rooms in casa particulars from locals in their neighborhoods and witnessed firsthand true Cuban lifestyle. With the 2015
Vacationing in communist Cuba is a mix of experiences. It’s a melting pot of 11 million inhabitants comprised of people from myriad countries, all migrated to the island throughout history, either willingly — Spaniards, French, or under duress — African slaves. The capital, Havana, with its crumbling history and riot of color is bustling with
