The most exotic trip I’ve taken, measured by pre-trip vaccinations, was to China about a dozen years ago.  The recommendation was for a tetanus shot and both the hepatitis A and B series, a total of 5 vaccinations given over

So, of course, it is always recommended that you check out special or necessary vaccinations prior to any travel outside of the U.S. and I dutifully did my research on what I need to travel to Cuba.

What a shock to

As I write, I actually have airfare tickets to Cuba.  I leave at the end of June and will head for Havana and then on a bus to Baracoa.  Woo Hoo!

     Due to its geographic isolation, Baracoa, Cuba, is an exotic place even to Cubans, especially those from the capital of Havana. This remote northeastern corner of the island is said to be an almost unspoiled colonial village surrounded

     So, surprise, surprise!  My desire to get to Cuba, and specifically to Baracoa, is once again thwarted.  The SUPs cancelled their trip and I’m back to figuring out how to get there.  But get there, I will.

    In the meantime, my faithful

   Now armed with my newly minted Cuban passport, it looks like I’ll be joining a group of international SUPs (Stand Up Paddlers, for those of you not in the know) as they head in March to experience various rivers in

  ¡Aleluya!  That’s Hallelujah to those of you who don’t speak Spanish, something I encourage all to do since it is indeed the second most spoken language in the U.S.

        More importantly, yay, that today I received my Cuban passport which, along

  STILL no passport, and I’ve now missed my third opportunity to join a group traveling to Baracoa, Cuba. Thank goodness I haven’t lost any money—this time.

        Unfortunately, Mimi’s Path/El Camino de Mimi, my prequel to Mango Rain/Lluvia de Mango, languishes unfinished because

In September of 2013 while still living in Chicago I had the good fortune of hearing the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club at Chicago’s Symphony Center and was awestruck, along with a full house of Cuban music lovers, by the

Mi querida abuela, my dear grandmother, passed away recently.

          When I shared with her the first printed copy of Mango Rain, I remember how she caressed the cover and held the book close to her heart during our entire three