absolutely wonderful

I've bookmarked it and plan to forward it to friends.

winter

I hope this link works for you.  Keep your volume up!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/keyofbart/in-the-key-of-bart-253010521.html#content

Nothing on the calendar this week

At least there wasn't when we got up.  And I was seeing a whole wee to spend in the studio.  Well it was nice the think about.  We now have shopping trips, appointments to welcome my rug home and get the baseboards back on the basement, and an appointment to sort out some money for the local art group ( I have it and the treasurer needs it, which means that I go over to her house on Bartlett).

I have been feeling better since we got home from Cuba, and am actually managing to spend some time in the studio.  We are also getting some power cooking done.  Did up three meals of Daddy's ribs in the slow cooker on Saturday, and today have my biggest slow cooker absolutely full of tomato meat sauce for spaghetti and lasagne.  My middle size slow cooker is full of chili, and there was enough hamburger left over for a meat loaf for supper--something we haven't had in ages.  Saturday night I cooked hamburger hash for supper--or as the Scottish side of the family calls it--mince--again something we haven't had in ages.  Neither of us enjoyed it, I think because I no longer use Seasoned Salt, which was my mainstay of seasonings.  Without salt it was flat and unappetizing.  Scratch that from my list of "go to" recipes.

I've been trying to think  of what other parts of our trip I can tell you about.  I think I mentioned that one day we went for a ride in a horse-drawn cart.  We asked the fellow in charge of the entrance portico, and he called -by phone-to get us a cart.  "Twenty minutes" he says.  Well we sat by the entrance for over an hour watching all of the comings and goings, quite enjoying ourselves--constant activity.  Finally our cart arrived pulled by a decrepit looking horse, and driven by Hector, who spoke very little English.  The ride was to the nearest town and supposed to take an hour and a half.  This was along the highway with cars and buses roaring past us.  The area was hilly and the views were wonderful.  We saw fruit plantations, cattle, many goats,and a number of different horses in fields.  I was quite taken by the difference in the appearance of the horses.  Some looked healthy and well taken care of, and some didn't.  The other thing I frequently saw was hens with chicks, along the edge of the road.  

The town was small, but contained a number of apartment buildings.  These all had many balconies and every balcony was a different pastel colour.  We had timed our trip for when the children appeared to be getting out of school--all in their uniforms. Other parts of the town were obviously poorer.  The signs of poverty were heart rending, mainly the houses, which made me think of the old shed at the lake, small dark, unpainted, and falling down.  But every house appeared to have a small vegetable garden. Where ever we saw people, they were well dressed.  Obviously appearance is important.

We were both upset at the horse drawing our cart.  He appeared underfed, and frightened.  Hector was quick to use a whip, and there were often hills that were just too much for the horse, with Hector getting down from the cart and pulling it along.  At one point there was a trail along the edge of the road on an uphill portion, where sand and gravel had been laid down to provide better traction for the horses.  ( There were quite a number of carts taking tourists around)  We declined an offer to take us to a "mini-zoo", and our ride was a little shorter than the 1 1/2 hours, but I'm glad we went, for the scenery if nothing else.  But I have to say that the time we spent waiting for the cart, and watching all of the buses and taxis--most of them vintage American cars, very well restored.

Oh no, I wanted more.......

I loved my little escape with you. And having the map really did make all the difference- good idea. So if you wanted to send more, I wouldn't mind at all!
I am trying to get used to yet another new keyboard that Harry bought. It is weird. Called Kleen Keys it is very flat and made of rubber and you can apparently put it in water to wash. But the strange sensation of typing is foreign right now - I guess until I use it more and become more familiar. The space bar is just a little square at the bottom and I keep missing it.
Today I uncovered my sewing machine -against all odds! But I am determined to do some sewing. I had cut out some pieces to sew into a block a long time ago and found them too, so if all goes well  perhaps tomorrow I  may have time. Last night I captured the computer and enjoyed about 1 1/2 hours of The Quilt Show. I was behind in watching the current show so viewed that with Tula Pink's creations and fabric lines, and then saw a few shorter segments that were on the Daily Blog. It was refreshing. I just went to the Grocery store and bought ingredients to make home made Subs which are now eaten. Nice and fresh tasting. Sometimes when we are in North Bay we will buy Subs at Mr Sub. And often I don't really enjoy them. My daily inspirational saying today was rather good so thought I'd share with you both:  Trouble, like a washing machine, twist us and knock us around, but in the end we come out brighter and better than before.
So back to reality, dishes and feeding the animals before time for bed. Saturday night and Vinyl Tap with Randy Bachman on CBC - always look forward to this. Thanks for the little adventure in Cuba Pati. I really liked to see it all. Take care.

Okay, let's go--

Let's start at the bottom, south end, of the map. You can see a circular road that touches the building just to the left of the Lobby bar.  Where it touches the building is the formal entrance portico.  The portico can fit 1 2/2 tour buses end for end, or two side by side., just in the little space where the grey of the corridor meets the road.  In the last Cuba post I showed a cart being charged.  That was to the right of the entrance.  What appears to be a circular drive, was actually where the road goes around a fairly steep hill.  This is the hill we had to coast down when our cart ran out of juice.

This is the lobby bar.  The fountain you see, on the right, was taller than I am, and actually flowed during the evening.  The entrance is to the right of this picture, so we are moving along the corridor between the lobby bar and the actual reception area, which also contained two different travel/tour agencies, the bank, and washrooms.  I don't have a picture, but over the lobby was a second story. In any of the other areas where you see windows, such as the lobby bar, they are only openings in the walls to provide light. The picture below was taken around noon, but as you can see, the lighting was very subdued during the day, so as to moderate the heat.

This shows facing South along the corridor between the lobby bar and the lobby, from the intersection marked with an "X" on your map.  This also shows the balcony off the second story above the reception area.  I hope this gives you and idea of how long the actual corridor is, so you can compare it to the corridor to the buffet, which is to the left of the "X" on your map.  The picture below is that corridor, again facing South, from about 1/2 of the way between the buffet and the corner by #8 on you map.  Number 8 is no longer a reservation desk but rather a Cigar Bar, which was quite busy in the evenings.

To the right of this corridor was "The Square"  This was often the site of evening shows and where we saw the wonderful flamenco dancers, but so hot and sunny that we avoided it during the day.  Below is the only picture I have of The Square, and doesn't show much except the  constructions that appeared to have no obvious purpose. This was taken from the same corridor but just outside the buffet

The next three pictures show "the Patio".  this is a huge area of pathways and landscaped areas.  Just to the right of the buffet, on your map, it is shown as a big blank area.

 Below is looking from the buffet toward the 24 hour Snack Bar, on the left, and the portico leading from the Theatre to the Snack Bar on the right.I don't have a picture of the Theatre, but it was covered but open air and quite large, easily holding 500 people or more.

 I 'm not sure what this is below, but believe that it shows the buffet, from the patio.

Finally, to provide scale here is the Store, which is shown on the patio on your map directly North of the "X" I drew.

In my last Cuba post I mentioned how pleased we were when the driver/porter told us to go to the Snack Bar instead of the Lobby when we came for meals, as it was a much shorter distance to walk across the Patio, than through the corridors between the Lobby and the Buffet.  We also discovered that we could stop for Happy Hour, at the Snack Bar on our way to meals (any meal, had we wanted)

Enough,  I hope the map helped, and that I haven't bored you to tears.  I promise--no more!

Cuba

Yes, I received the map yesterday and had a good look. I have it at the ready for when you start to give us details. Busy yesterday with water patrol around the house. Mild with rain so I had to do the roof again, and then do extra chipping and shovelling all around. Today will be mild but overcast so maybe a bit of an ease in my work?  You folks have a nice weekend. I listened to interviews with some of the stars coming this weekend to the Junos to Winnipeg including Randy Bachman who along with BTO members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. By coincidence, Harry bought me a copy of Randy's lasted book "Beyond the Tap' with more of his stories. Haven't read it but looked at snippets so far. Take care


I lost this message so maybe I have luck to retrieve and send?

Lost it