Day 1 South Beach, Miami

Met Joe and Maura at Kimpton Oceanside resort awaiting departure to Cuba Sunday. Great lunch at the pool, wine in the lobby and an extraordinary meal at Mare Mio. Unfortunately cabbie dropped us three blocks from restaurant in the pouring rain. Arrived soaked. Restaurant provided towels to dry up and shawls for Maura and me. An Italian restaurant so Jie and the owner got on famously and Joe asked him to feed us what was the best. Each of us got slightly different delicious meals. 

Day 2 Off to Cuba with Joe & Maura

After the amazing day in South Beach w head off to Cuba. Spent great time in Centurion Lounge at Miami airport for breakfast and a complimentary 15 minute massage with Mario!

Summer 2016

Left Palm City early Sunday, June 19 and as we headed down Manor Hill Dr. Mary Lou and Tony hailed us down having just returned from Mass.  They saw us load up and waited to send us on our way. What a wonderful treat. Meant so much to us. 

Six plus hours later we arrived in Hilton Head without a hitch. Great fun and beautiful sunset at Hudson's for dinner.

Played Golden Bear at Indigo Run (Indigo Run closed Mondays) today with a couple of great guys - Dwayne and Joe. Super weather, not too humid and nice breeze. Dinner at Boathouse at Skull Creek. Fantastic. Rusty had a chance to do his Donald Duck routine for family near us- Grace and Jonathan. Jonathan was enthralled. 

While it did not really look like the "strawberry moon" they announced on TV, when full moon and summer solstice land on the same day, it was an amazing view away from the hotel lights. 

Off to Williamsburg, VA tomorrow. Having great fun as we always do on these trips!

March 28, 2016 Monserrate y Calendaria

Super touring day. Great sites and adventures. Cog rail up to Monserrate.

Monserrate Basilica

Altar and Resurrection Sculpture

Last Supper stained glass in Basilica. 

Our Lady of Guadeloupe from afar.

Easter Monday March 28, 2016

Papa and Grama took the morning for local walking and exercise while Kara went to school with Justin and Julie. After school we went out for "Mexican" at Cantino y Punto.

Delicioso!  Kara eating huitlacoche - corn fungus!  Had to take a nap before an evening of family TV, that is Modern Family! 

Happy Easter March 27, 2016

Felice Pascuas!

Beautiful day in Bogota. We went to Iglesia de Nuestra Lourdes. Wonderful, spiritual experience. 

After Mass we wandered through the city and shopped at open air booths of art, jewelry, food, etc. Had  a fun late afternoon lunch at Prodigio. 

Met this fellow at the street markets who graciously agreed to a photo. 

His shirt says "Rusty"!

March 26, 2016

Great morning at the beach and pool. Lunch at La Frontera. Great food and views. 

Return to Bogota late. Kara staying with the JBs. Papa and Grama off to Hotel Emaus. Sweet dreams then Easter Sunday. Justin will lead us to church, hopefully not too early. Change in temperature from 95 to 45!

March 25, 2016 Celebrating Kara in Santa Marta!

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Great day of beach, pool, touring and USA vs Columbia Olympics qualification (1-1).

Dropped a rusty old can in a recycling center and found fast new friends who later searched for us so her husband could get a picture with us too and gave us a coffee cup!

March 25, 2016 Good Friday

Joined procession of Stations of the Cross through streets of Santa Marta. 

March 24, 2016 La Victoria Coffee Plantation

Traveled up to Minca and beyond to La Victoria. Long, narrow, windy uphill climb sometimes paved. Coffee plantation established in 1892. Same family, same equipment running today. Amazing place and learned how the delicious coffee was made.

That was excursion #1. Next was joining the locals to watch a Columbia vs. Bolivia "futball" game at a local pub. Columbia won in OT. 

Next Kara and I went to the Basilica where the Cardinal was presiding over Holy Thursday services. 

March 23, 2016 Bogota and Santa Marta, Columbia

Papa, Grama and Kara arrived in Bogota and immediately flew to Santa Marta on the Caribbean to meet Justin, Julie and Oliver. Travel was trouble-free just long and Kara's Spanish helped us out!

Julie made a fantastic dinner of salads, guacamole, chicken and plantain chips. An Oceania cruise ship had left port before we arrived.