Morning All Just got back to the computer. Went to school this morning to find that my standby patrol was there.... so I had a morning off!! I stayed tho and chatted to him. I don't think any of the parents there missed me!
Right..... crocodiles..... on the 2nd day there we went on the tour round a crocodile farm. One guy had a baby crocodile with its mouth tied VERY firmly shut!! He was putting it round people's necks for photos. He said to me..... you cuddle it like a baby! I did, and it was definitely just like a baby..... p straight down my tshirt and skirt!!!! I think Chris has a photo on his camera.... when he gets them all on our website I'll post the link for you all! Cuba was really fantastic! A lot of UNESCO heritage sites there. We saw a rum factory (but don't mention the French authorities and the rum.....) (another story....) a cigar factory. An Indian site, the site where Che Guavara's remains are buried. the people were extremely friendly, I brought a few wooden boxes back, and a wooden model of a Buick for Patrick! (He also got his teeshirt and beret so guess what he's wearing for school, the rebel!!) Chris got his Cuban Cigars, (we weren't allowed them when we went to Nassau in '02 because we couldn't take them back to Miami). Went and had a mojito in 'Hemingways Bar', (Ambos Mundas). For those that don't know... Mohito's are: sugar, lemon juice and fresh mint sprigs crushed together, a large amount of rum and sparkling water. You get them everywhere in Cuba, I'll have to make some in the summer for my friends (If I get the rum cheap enough that is.....). They do not make lace either, but I got a beautiful cotton mat/ hankie hand made for the equivalent of 80pence!! Kyra doesn't know yet, and I'll take a photo before I give her it, but they seem to recycle everything!! She has a bag made from can ringpulls which have been crocheted together to make the bag! Black thread and gold ringpulls. It's beautiful!!! (I may not give her it.......) Pat got his Che teeshirt and beret which he is delighted about!! and I've got Adrian a hat (just the same as western styles with the peak front) with Cuba written on it (He's got very short hair (thinks he's going bald) so it's to protect his head in the summer or when they go away!! The poverty is in the 'real Cuba' as our rep described it. Most of the towns outskirts are like shanty towns, the people only have enough money for food, which is why the old 40's style cars are there.... or the russian block ones. Everyone gets a ride in crazy things like tipper trucks, lorries with goats in the back, pony & traps, and buses (but only when they are not carrying tourists). In fact, I think it's illegal to drive anywhere without carrying passengers!! there are certainly enough police on the roads checking up to make sure (they have to pay for the rides and I think most of the money goes back to the Government). The last hotel was unbelievable!! (We'd stayed in almost every style hotel you could imagine), the first from the '20's in Havana (in fact there was a photo on the wall of when Al Capone was there!! The second was 'french/spanish colonial style' but modern! The 3rd was definitely built communist block style but was also in keeping with the community around it! The last one though was extremely modern! Built around 2005 it was a pyramid! The rooms were on the outside edges, 14 storeys high, and the centre was open with a glass roof!! It wouldn't be out of place in the 'posh' end of Miami!!! I want to go back there!! For a start it's warmer!!! Chat later Regards Sue. To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com.
