Day trips have become an important part of our adventures. So, when folks started urging us to visit the hilltown (and "HILL"town is not an exaggeration) of Toledo, we decided to take the thirty minute train ride south of Madrid to see this former home of the artist El Greco. There has been a city on this site at least since the fifth century before the birth of Christ. One of the major highlights has been the historical coexistence between the Arabs (Moors), Jews, and Christians. Churches stand next to synagogues, and around the corner from mosques. There is just so much to see that we actually spent two days exploring Toledo, that is once we were able to find our way through the streets. Being a medieval city, the narrow streets twist and turn so much, and the names change without warning, that the inexperienced can easily feel lost, even with a map. On one occasion we had to ask six different people for the location of a particular street we needed, only to find that it was an alley that we passed several times. But that just added to the mystique of Toledo. You have to be flexible. Sometimes, that can lead to unexpected discoveries.

The Picturesque Toledo railway station started our journey off on the right foot.

The Puerta de Bisagra Nueva in the old wall has been the traditional entrance to the city by Spanish Monarchs since 1559.

In the heart of Toledo is the central square, Zocodover, currently decorated for the festival of Corpus Christi.

Dominating much of the landscape is the Alcazar, a former military barracks which is now a museum.

The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary...

...and it's very impressive main altar.

The Santa Maria La Blanca synagogue we felt was equally impressive with its sculptured marble walls.

...and beautiful columns. You can see the similarities between the Jewish synagogues and the Muslim mosques in this picture.

We found the narrow streets of Toledo to be a challenge to navigate, often because the names changed without warning.

But the views of the surrounding countryside were worth the efforts to find....

...as were the gardens...

...and the architecture. This is the upper cloister of San Juan de las Reyes church.

Much of the old city walls are still standing, even after five hundred years.

A one hour train ride northwest of Madrid is the hilltown monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, and constructed over a twenty-one year period (1563 - 1584), this structure was to serve as a monument to the Spanish victory over the French at the Battle of Saint Quentin (1557). It was also to serve as as a monastery, Royal palace, and school. Fellow travelers told us about this sight and were so enthusiastic that we just had to take the trip. We are walkers, so climbing the hill to the monastery was no problem for us. For others, taking the bus (#661) from the train station may be a better option. There are two palaces within the complex (one for the Austrian Hapsburgs, and one for the French Bourbons), the Basilica, and the 40,000 volumed (some dating back to the early 11th century) library, founded by Philip II. In any event, this is a glorious spectacle, huge, but glorious - truly a "Must See!"

First glimpse of the monastery San Lorenzo de El Escorial through the trees.

This side view across the reflecting pool provides an idea of just how big this complex is.

The gardens of the Monastery are a work of art in their own right.

You almost feel you could reach out and touch the mountains.

This scale model of the complex shows how big it really is. We can understand why it took twenty-one years to construct the whole thing.

Every time we see frescoed ceilings like this, we are amazed at the workmanship that went into creating them.

One has to wonder how the artists of these frescoes came up with the designs.

Everything is decorated, even over the main staircase to the convent.

Part of the Royal apartments. The oval wooden piece on the floor, with a brass inlay, is for storing hot coals to heat the room.

This library, founded by Philip II, houses 40,000 volumes dating back to the 11th century. The design of the bookcases lined along the walls, broke with the earlier tradition of placing them at right angles to each other.

The entrance to the Reliquary. We will let the Latin scholars in the audience translate the inscription.

The Reliquary of Kings and Queens of the Spanish Empire. There are twenty-six sarcophagi within this circular room.

Adjacent to the Reliquary for the kings and Queens, is a area for the tombs of Princes and Princesses...

...and next to that is an area devoted to Royal children who died before puberty.

This fresco in the Hall of Battles highlights some of the major Spanish campaigns.

The magnificent main altar of the Basilica in El Escorial.

And what would a tour of any medieval structure be without finding some sort of hidden passage or room? Look closely at these two paintings. You will notice what appears to be a "crack" running through the middle of them. Upon closer inspection, we found that there were handles at the bottom of the paintings and hinges along the sides. They were too high up on the walls for hidden staircases, so we assumed they were meant to be used for storage of some kind.

During the early part of our travels, we received some pretty sage advice: "If you come across an open church, no matter what denomination it is, go in. You'll probably be amazed at what you find!" That has proven quite accurate over the past twenty months, whether it be churches, synagogues, mosques, or temples. We've seen some absolutely gorgeous art and sculptures within these structures. Madrid has proven no different, albeit many churches that looked interesting on the outside, we were unable to explore because they were closed (...and that is frustrating, because churches belong to the people and should never be closed). Anyway, we would like to share some of the beauty we have been able to experience -just a taste.

The main altar of the Church of San Jose

Santa Maria La Real de la Almundena Cathedral, next to the Royal Palace.

...and its side altar dedicated to San Isidro, patron saint of Madrid.

As in most of the churches we visited, the stained glass windows were magnificent!

The Almundena cathedral's crypt was even more spectacular.

Primate Cathedral of St. Mary, Toledo, Spain. We can't imagine how long it took the artisans to create this masterpiece.

Everywhere you turned, the next piece was more spectacular than the previous one.

The workmanship was unbelievable!

The main altar of the San Francisco El Grande Basilica in Madrid, was itself a work of art...

...as were the wood carvings of the choir...

...and the frescoed ceilings...

...as well as the doors.

The old Synagogue Sacta Maria la Blanco (now a museum) in Toledo impressed us with its stylistic simplicity.

The gardens at the Monastery of El Escorial were wonderfully designed.

perhaps one of the most beautiful altar pieces was this immense art work at the Monastery of El Escorial.

In many of the cities to which we've traveled, there have been several unexpected sights. Right in the heart of Madrid, not more than a 1/4 mile past the Royal Palace, in the Pargue de la Montana, is an authentic Egyptian Temple - the Temple of Debod. Who would have imagined? With the prospect of several Egyptian monuments and archeological sites being destroyed by the building of the Aswan Dam, Egypt and UNESCO asked for international help in saving them. As a thank you to Spain for its help in this project, Egypt gave the Temple of Debod as a gift. Originally built in the second century B.C. to the god Awon, and later enlarged for the god Isis, this temple was dismantled stone-by-stone and then rebuilt in Madrid. The view from the gardens surrounding the temple are fantastic! Finding these hidden gems really makes our adventures wonderful.
Google "The Temple of Debod" for further information.

The Temple of Debod in the Pargue de la Montana. Historical documents indicate that the two stand alone archways were actually in reversed positions.

Looking at the Temple proper, through the trees of the gardens...

...and through the archways.

A tray of bread is offered to the god Awon in these carvings.

Some of the carved artifacts from the Temple.

We would love to be able to read these hieroglyphics.

Looking towards the Royal Palace from the gardens around the Temple.

Dancing in the park (sounds like a song title)! Many folks enjoy a sunny afternoon in the park surrounding the Temple for various activities...

...including practicing martial arts.

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid), with its more than 3400 rooms, is considered to be the largest in Western Europe. The Spanish Monarchy has roots that go back to the fifth century. Today, it is a constitutional monarchy. While the palace is the official residence of the Royal Family, it is now only used for state ceremonies. King Felipe VI and his family choose to live in more modest surroundings on the outskirts of Madrid. What a shame! This is a beautiful building that now really only serves as a tourist attraction. We could live quite comfortably in just a half-dozen of its rooms. However, it was fun to explore how lavishly royalty lived. Could they ever spend money on their residences!

The Royal Palace of Madrid as seen from the neighboring Cathedral Santa Maria, La Real de la Almundena.

The Coat of Arms for the Spanish Royal Family.

The lobby hallway. This would make a "decent" entrance to our house.

The Throne room, used for official state receptions. Notice the lion statues at the four corners. We have seen these "Medici Lions"all around Europe.

The State Dining Room, set for a "few" close friends

The Gasparini hall. Where do they hide the big screen television?

Charles III commissioned the Royal Procelain Factory to create the ceramics for this room in 1771. All the walls and ceiling are covered by the ceramics.

The Royal Family's private chapel is bigger than the footprint of our old house (this picture captures only a third of the entire room).

The ceiling frescoes throughout the palace are astoundingly beautiful.

This main staircase gives just a taste of how immense the rooms are.

In a separate wing of the palace is the old military armory, which is now used to display a large collection of suits of armor and weaponry.

In our minds, Flamenco dancing epitomizes Spanish culture. First mentioned in 1774 in the southern portion of Spain known as Andalusia, the dance involves singing, rhythmic clapping, guitar playing, castanets, and, of course, dance. We just had to see a live performance! Fortunately, just a couple of doors down from La Botin restaurant, where we had lunch, was a flamenco theater known as La Tabernacle de Mister Pinkleton. We immediately bought tickets for the 7:00 pm performance that same night. This cozy setting put us right in the heart of the show (perhaps only ten feet from the stage). This two hour performance was a truly enjoyable evening, and we even got to meet the lead dancer, Adrianna.
If you are interested in more information about the history of this art form, simply Google search "Flamenco."

La Taberna de Mister Pinkleton Flamenco Theater, just a couple of doors from La Botin Restaurant. It was not much to look at from the outside but the ambiance inside made up for it.

We had the opportunity to explore the theater before the performance, and even reserve our own table.

The performance included drinks and/or dinner, if you so chose.

The show opened with a solo guitar performance of traditional Spanish music.

...followed by some traditional Flamenco style songs by the two male performers.

Adrianna, performed several different dances...

...in different costumes..

...all very elegantly done.

There even was some audience participation. Adrianna. Showed them a few dance steps.

Enrigue, our waiter, took good care of us during the performance.

After the show, we got the chance to meet Adrianna personally. She was very gracious.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the "Botin Cochilleros", just off of La Plaza Mayor in Madrid, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world. We not only visited this magnificent establishment, we actually ate there. In 1590, the building began life as an inn and restaurant for muleteers and traders who brought their goods to Madrid. The Botin family bought the building in 1725 and have been running this establishment ever since. The Spanish artist, Francisco de Goya, worked here as a waiter, while awaiting his acceptance into the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Ernest Hemingway was a frequent guest in this restaurant, sitting at a corner table on the second floor. We had the opportunity to sit at his table when we enjoyed a delightful lunch. The place is amazing! The ambiance of the rooms alone is worth a visit, but stay for a meal. The food is delicious. The house specialty right from the beginning of its existence as a restaurant has been the roast pig. You can smell it as soon as you enter. Mmmmmmmm!!!

The Botin restaurant is just a few short steps from La Plaza Mayor.

The Guinness Book of Records certificate naming this establishment as the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world. The current owners, the Gonzalez family, apparently are an off-shoot of the Botin family, the original owners.

As soon as you walk in the door, this picturesque bar is on the left.

Right from the beginning, the house specialty has been roast pig. The roasting kitchen, which is situated next to the bar, retains the original wood-fire ovens that were used in 1725.

This is the ground floor dining room. When we first walked in, we felt we were stopping back in time.

Next to the roasting kitchen are the stairs leading down to the old wine cellar....

...part of which has been converted into additional dining areas.

Part of the original wine cellar. From the looks of some of the bottles, however, we suspect the wine may have turned to vinegar by now.

This is the corner table where Ernest Hemingway always sat when he ate here.

A very nice couple from Los Angeles, Jennifer and Eric, were sitting next to us, and we had a nice conversation with them.

The second floor dining area, while a bit crowded, was just as delightful.

One of the world's greatest art museums is located in Madrid. It is the Prado (meaning "meadow" in Spanish, for the land upon which it was built). Originally constructed in 1785, it became a museum in 1814 in order to house the Spanish Royal Art Collection. Home to around 9000 pieces of art, sculpture, prints, and drawings, it's best know work is Valazquez's 1656 "Las Meninas" ("Ladies in Waiting"). Works of Goya, the most famous Spanish artist, also hold a prominent place. While this museum is massive, we were determined to explore the whole place in one day. And we succeeded! However, it took us ten hours to comfortably view everything. We have visited many, many art museums throughout our travels. This one is easily the most spectacular!

The main entrance to the Prado museum.

Directly opposite the main entrance, is this statue to Goya, the most famous Spanish artist.

This side of the museum, facing La Passeo de Prado, is the more impressive.

Another view of the impressive side of the building

The long hall connecting many of the various galleries.

Valazques' Las Meninas ("Ladies in Waiting") done in 1656.

"The Annunciation " by Fra Angelico (1430-1432).

Raphael's 1517 "Christ Falling on the Way to Calvary".

Reubens' The Adoration of the Magi.

El Greco's "The Knight With His Hand on His Breast" done in 1580.

In 1808, Goya painted this piece, entitled "The Third of May".

We're beginning to feel that Spanish is in our blood: first Cuba, now Madrid, and soon Barcelona. I was thinking of changing my name to "Antonio Banderas", but someone may already be using it.
Anyway, Madrid is a wonderful city; cosmopolitan in some ways, but also full of history. This third largest city in the European Union was founded in 1562 by Onco Bianar from Tuscany (so it ties in with my Italian roots), and is known by the locals as "La Villa" ( the village). We've a lot here to visit; La Puerta del Sol and La Plaza Mayor (the two largest squares in Madrid); the Royal Palace and the Cathedral; the Prado and the Botin ( the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records). The food is delicious, especially the Churros (a fried dough pastry which is dipped in melted chocolate). Mmmmmm! For the past four days, Madrid has been celebrating the Festival of San Isidro, patron saint of the city.Huge music stages have been set up all over the city with performances running day and night. And often, whole families are dressed in traditional costumes that commemorate San Isidro. We are having a blast!

The bear and the strawberry tree are the symbols of Madrid.

This elegant building, just a couple of blocks from our apartment, houses the Society General of Authors and Editors.

With space-limited apartments, sometimes this is the only way to store your bicycle.

Romanesgue influences can be found throughout the city.

Named after a city gate that, at one time, was a main entrance into the walled city, La Puerta del Sol plaza is one of the main squares in the center of the city.

At the edge of Puerta del Sol is "Kilometer Zero" from which all distances in Spain, and during the time of the Spanish Empire, all distances to the known world, are measured.

The other major square is Plaza Mayor. Royal festivals and bull fights were once held here.

Beautiful architecture abounds throughout the city.

While food is plentiful and delicious....

...some are quite different...

...while others are quite familiar.

But, there are always Churros!

Over the years, Madrid has expanded greatly. This was taken from the Coppola at the top of the Cathedral.

The children get dressed in traditional outfits for the Festival of San Isidro...

...as do some whole families...

...and even extended families and friends.

"How did you happen to choose traveling to Cuba?" is a question we have been asked. Remember, the whole focus of our adventures has been to experience cultures that are new and different from ours. So, when we saw an online ad about an educational tour to Cuba, and knowing that the relationship between the U.S. And Cuba was easing, which would lead to changes in this island nation, we jumped at the chance to take this trip before those changes occurred.
During our eleven day excursion, we visited seven different parts of the island, including the Bay of Pigs, which is known as Playa Geron by the Cubans, and had countless chances to interact with locals. We learned how to play Cuba's National Game -dominoes- according to their rules (quite different from ours); saw performances by modern dance and ballet companies; heard a wonderful a Cappella group; as well as visiting an exquisite pottery shop, and a number of art and sculpture studios. We even got to experience a night-time tour of the "Queen of Central Cuba" - Camaquey- in a caravan of old American cars (ours was a 1920 model T Ford. This was arranged by the group leaders as a celebration of our 49th wedding anniversary). Quite spectacular!
While this may seem like a lot to accomplish in eleven days, we never felt rushed, nor harried. We traveled with a great group of people (17 in total) from all over the U.S., all retired except one, and ranging in ages from 83 to 61. Everyone was considerate of each other, always showing up on time for our appointed sojourns. They were wonderful!
There was just so much we saw and did that it would take a book to describe it all. Suffice to say we had a terrific time. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Road Scholar did a wonderful job organizing and running this tour. While it was a bit more than our planned budget, we felt it was worth every penny!

​ Now, on to Spain.

The Havana airport terminal. Pictures inside the terminal were not allowed.

Manuel, program leader from Road Scholar....

...and Lazaro, our Cuban guide...

...always worked well together.

Yonny (on the left) was our excellent bus driver, with great spatial skills for navigating some of the very narrow Cuban streets. Standing with him, is Ternot, one of our group.

Elegant statues were everywhere.

For a fee, you could have your picture taken with folks in fancy costumes.

Plazas -like this one, called Plaza Vieja in Old Havana - serve as community centers for social events.

These beautiful yellow flowers were found in the Botanical Gardens of Cienfuegos - a community founded by the French following the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804).

Interestingly, this apparent "clump" of trees is actually considered to be just one tree.

The museum at the Bay of Pigs, also known as Playa Giron.

Art was found in many forms. This vase was in the lobby of the modern dance studio in Havana.

This fancy rooster painting was hanging on a wall in Camaguey.

Part of the little fishing village of Cojimar, made famous by Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea."

One of the driving forces for the adventures we've been on is to experience new, exciting places, and cultures. Cuba wholeheartedly met this criteria. While we had some pre-conceived ideas of what Cuba might be like, most of those were blown right out of the water once we got there. Sure, there is poverty, and buildings in need of repair, but the warm, friendly, and upbeat attitudes of the Cubans was totally unexpected. We were constantly treated like long lost cousins wherever we went. And the ingenuity of the people to keep everything running smoothly, including 50-90 year old automobiles , especially when parts were sparse due to the U.S. Embargo, was fascinating to watch (including mechanics sitting curbside taking engines apart to reburbish them).The best part of this trip was enjoying the Cuban culture. From the upbeat music, the fantastic dancing, the artistry of sculptures, painters, and potters, to the delicious food, it was all delightful.

The group getting ready to head to Cuba.

The city of Havana as seen from the old fort across the bay...

...and is full of beautiful churches...

...and elegant homes for the wealthy. This is the Acisclo del Valle Blanco, home of a wealthy merchant in Cienfuegos, Cuba.

The old fort overlooking Havana harbor.

Legend has it that canons that don't perform well get buried upside down.

Russian style housing could be found everywhere, and basic housing did not appear to be well maintained, at least on the exterior.

Shops not much bigger than our corner grocery stores, tried to provide everyday items for sale.

As tourists, we ate well...

...even in the very same restaurant that President Obama and his wife ate in shortly before our visit.

This is the room, we were told, in which the Obamas ate, situated next to our own room.

Fixing a motorcycle engine curbside. The ingenuity of the Cuban people was amazing.

This valley was once full of sugar cane fields before the collapse of the Cuban economy.

While there are farmers' markets, food is not that plentiful. Cuba imports approximately 70% of its food resources.

And everyone gets a food-ration book.

Kids everywhere love to have their picture taken.

A wonderful part of our adventure to Cuba was the "people-to-people" connections we made along the way. Not only did we get to see Cuban artisans perform their arts or crafts, but we also had the chance to sit down with them and have conversations about each other. Sure, it was great to experience the culture of Cuba up close, but the more valuable experience (at least for us) was to be able to talk with these artisans and learn how they are able to overcome the many obstacles facing them in this relatively poor country and remain happy and upbeat. From the modern dance to the ballet companies, from the A Cappela group, to the fishermen and pottery makers, to even the society of Cuban dominoes players, they all exhibited an enthusiastic "can-do" attitude toward their lives. This, perhaps, was the one lesson that stood out amongst everything we saw and did. The Cubans, as a people, are a very warm, friendly, and happy group. And, while our two governments may not be on the best of terms, there is no reason that our two peoples can't be.

Professor Alberto Faya's lecture on the history and evolution of Cuban Music.

The professor performing some of the historical music of Cuba.

The Centro de la Danza modern dance group...

...performed a number of different dances for us.

This fantastic A Cappella group in Cienfuegos delighted us with both Cuban and American music.

The village of Cojimas is noted for its fishing. We enjoyed a nice lunch and delightful conversation with fishermen Francisco, Junior, Luis, and Anthony. Because of concerns about Cubans sailing to America, fishermen can only get permits for up to 30 hours of fishing at a time, and just enough fuel to cover that trip.

We spent an afternoon at the Casanova Pottery shop in Camaguey...

...during which the father (on the left) and son ( on the right) demonstrated the art of pottery making. The gentleman in the middle was Lazaro Valdes, our local guide and translator.

Starting on the pottery wheel, they create the beautiful pieces exhibited on the shelves...

....including pieces like this.

The professional ballet company of Camaguey is second only to the National Ballet of Havana.

Every morning is spent with at least a half hour warm-up session to loosen up muscles before rehearsing a performance.

The men's warm-up session is next door.

The ballet shoes are made right on the premises and are customized for each individual dancer...

The toe shoes partially completed.

...as are the costumes.

While the shoes wear out and are discarded, the costumes are stored and reused.

Martha Jimenez is a noted bronze sculpturist in Cuba.

Some of her work is on display in the plaza next to her shop in Camaguey.

Also located in Camaguey are husband and wife artists, Jover and Lleana. He was an art professor and she a student when they met.

Some of their art on the walls of their shop.

Learning to play Cuban style partners dominoes at a dominoes league in Havana.

...and on the street. Notice the table is balanced on their knees.

One of the most spectacular sites we visited in Cuba, was American author, Ernest Hemingway's house, situated on 15 acres of land in the San Francisco de Paula section. Originally built in 1886, Hemingway and his third wife bought this house in 1940 for $12,500 , and called it Finca Vigia (i.e. Lookout Farm). Hemingway loved Cuba, spending as much time as he could here. An avid reader, he collected over 9000 books, which can still be seen in their original bookcases throughout the house. The walls are also decorated with the heads of animals he hunted while on different African Safaris. Obsessed with protecting his beloved Cuba, he spent much of World War II self-patrolling the northern coast of the island in his own boat, the "Pilar" in search of German submarines. He never found one! The Nobel prize for literature that Hemingway won in 1954 ("The Old Man and the Sea") was donated to "Our Lady of Charity", the patron Saint of Cuba. Severely depressed, Hemingway left Cuba in 1960 and committed suicide in Idaho in July of 1961.
Today, the property is maintained by the Cuban government as a tourist attraction. While the main house remains pretty much as Hemingway left it, the Guest House (in which his sons stayed when visiting) has been transformed into administrative offices for the property. If you can overlook the souvenir venders on the lower portion of the grounds, you can easily imagine why Hemingway loved this tranquil setting. The views from the "Writer's Tower" that his fourth wife had constructed are spectacular! It's almost a shame that no one lives here anymore.

The main house.

The Guest House, in which his sons stayed when they came to visit.

Hemingway's living room.

Viewing the dining room through the living room.

...and as seen from the other side.

While officially known as "The Study", Hemingway did not write any of his books in this room...

...he preferred to do all his writing in his bedroom. Notice the typewriter on the bookcase.

The white ceramic medallion of a bull on the wall is an original Picasso.

One of the guest rooms within the main house

Hemingway's fourth wife had this "Writer's Tower" constructed next to the main house. However, Hemingway preferred to do his writing in his bedroom. The Tower eventually became a "sanctuary" for the many cats he kept on the property.

Our chance to look inside the Tower.

The room at the top of the Tower as it looked before the cats took over.

The view from the top of the Tower certainly was fantastic.

Hemingway's 38 foot boat, the "Pilar" is amazingly similar to the boat that my father once owned, and made by the sme company, Wheeler.

Traveling to Cuba, we had pre-conceived ideas that the cars would be old (i.e. 1950's vintage or older) partly because of the U.S. imposed embargo. Prior to the 1959 Revolution, there were many American made cars on the island. Following the Revolution, a law was imposed that Cubans could neither officially buy nor sell cars, only "rent" them long term. With the imposition of the U.S. Embargo, getting parts to keep these cars running became almost impossible. Almost! The clever Cubans began to use Russian and/or Chinese parts, anything that "...fit the hole", to keep them on the road. And it seemed to work. There are many cars from the 1950's, 1940's , and even the 1920's, still driving the streets. They have American model shells ( after creating colorfull paint schemes) with foreign engines. While there are some truly authentic convertibles, most were made by chopping off the hard top. Other vehicles had their appearance changed totally by adding pieces to make them longer, or by scavenging parts from several makers to create what locals called "Frankenstein cars." And are the Cubans ever proud of their vehicles! They beam each time someone admires what they have, often generously inviting them to sit in the cars and have their pictures taken.
We were amazed at the impeccable condition of both the exterior and the interior of the vehicles. They were spotless. Rust on cars was few and far between. Most were in perfect looking condition. Intellectually, we were prepared to see old cars. Yet, we were still thrilled to see them, and better yet, ride in them!

One of the "Frankenstein" cars that had a piece added to it in order to create a third seat row.

A 1957 Ford Fairlane 500.

A 1952 Ford

This 1928 Ricola Ford is in amazing condition. Notice that most of these old cars are being used as taxis.

In just as amazing condition was this 1948 Mercury.

This 1920 Ford looks like it just came off of the assembly line.

My father had a 1959 Cadillac like this, only it was not pink!

This 1957 Chevy was unbelievably pristine

One of the few 1956 Dodges we saw. Notice the fold-down spare tire on the back. None of these came standard. They were all add-ons by the Cubans.

This 1956 Chevy did not start out life as a convertible. this is one of those that had its hard top chopped off in order to make it look like a convertible.

On our last night in Cuba, members of our tour group helped to celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary by arranging for us to tour the city of Camaquey in this decorated 1920 Ford. Notice the crank starter on the front. What a perfect way to end this chapter of our adventure! And what a delightful ride!

Most of us have been to a funeral, but New Orleans (NOLA) funerals are unlike any other. Some of the same components make up a NOLA ceremony; that is a deceased person in a casket, a grieving family, a pastor, or some sort of religious person, to pray for the deceased, hymns, and flowers -lots of flowers. NOLA funerals have a brass band, and professional street dancers as well. They really do! A typical NOLA Funeral starts out the same way as most others; a very somber, sad affair,with a church service led by a pastor or minister. The brass band plays dirge music, leading the funeral from the church to the cemetery. The street dancers make very deliberate, somber moves to the beat of the sad music. Once the casket is out of sight of the church, the mood totally changes towards more upbeat music, usually chosen by the deceased before hand. Since the beat has changed, the demeanor of the bereaved becomes totally different. Even strangers on the street are encouraged to participate in this event. And, an event it is! The first half of the procession is one of sadness, as most funerals are, but the second half gleefully celebrates the life of the deceased and the fact that this soul has just met Saint Peter at the Gates of Heaven. The family and friends are called the First Line, while the strangers in the back are the Second Line. Sometimes, the pall bearers sway the casket back and forth, to the beat of the music, then, in unison, lift it up towards the sky, as if helping the deceased on his or her way to Heaven. People have been known to dance on the casket and/or the hearse during the "Second Line" portion. Many of these actions are derived from African traditions during the time of slavery.
Since Katrina, the practice of Jazz Funerals has declined, as the costs have risen. This can range anywhere from $20,000 to over $100,000. Many families are unable to raise this amount of money. Traditionally, a collection was taken to defray expenses. Now, even that is unaffordable. The families of Big Jazz band players and singers can still afford "a proper funeral" for their loved ones. Rest assured that these services are performed with respect to the family and friends, and with love and admiration for the deceased.
For more information on NOLA Jazz Funerals, go to www.funeralwise.com>customs or search for New Orleans Jazz Funerals on YouTube (for instance, a good one is "You better second line! Jazz funeral in New Orleans for Juanita Brooks." Another good one is the"New Orleans Jazz Funeral for tuba player Kerwin James").
Because of the decline in actual Jazz Funerals since Katrina, we were unable to actually witness one. However, since these are such an important part of New Orleans' cultural history, we felt it important to include this in our posting. The following photos of actual Jazz Funerals were taken from the Internet.

The somber start of the procession.

The brass bands come in all sizes and configurations.

Lifting the casket towards Heaven.

The music turns upbeat.

Dancing on the casket in joyful celebration of the deceased's life.

Everyone is encouraged to join the "Second Line".

***NOTE: This catches us up on our visit to New Orleans. Next up, will be Cuba.