Cuba, in pictures

When we got back from Cuba, the counter on my new camera registered the most recent picture as well over 500-something.  I winnowed that down to 108 that I got developed.  And here are the 22 that made it into the blog.  I have a bunch more up on my Facebook profile if you're so inclined.  I can upload them en masse there; with Typepad blogs, it's a one-at-a-time sort of thing.  So 22 takes a while.  And then I have to try to say something witty about each one.

Egad, that's a commitment!

Anyway...

(slightly bigger pics if you click on any one)

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There was actually no beach during the time we stayed at the resort.  The surf washed right up to the stairs that descended down to where the beach should be.  Part of why this is "low" season.  Still, nice.  And I was amazed anew at how salty the sea water is.

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Neat, huh?

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I took way too many pictures of sand pipers.  What can I say... I've never had a zoom lens before now.

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Amy started to think I had some sort of obsession with pics that featured reflections.  Since I also obsess about her regularly, this one's doubly apropos.

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He wasn't about to launch or anything, it was just so windy out that he had to keep steadying himself.  Or herself.  I have no idea how to tell.

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I had to lie down on my belly on the wet boardwalk to steady the camera to get this one.  Most of our party got upgraded to the villas that are located out on the water since the resort holds 1700 people and there were only 300 there.  Best rooms we've ever stayed in.

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This was the night we arrived and decided to start drinking right away.  There's a second similar shot in the photo album I'll be showing my grandmother in a couple days, but that one's not quite as inappropriate as this.

Top row is Rui (Roo) and James.
Bottom is me, Amy, Kelli (James's wife) and Julie.

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Amy and Kelli, pool side, looking generally sexy and windblown.  That's an arching mermaid statue in the background.

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Rui and Andre caught mid-jump as they were engaged in a diving contest.  They both took exception to my ability to swim the entire length of the pool underwater on a single breath of air and endeavoured to match the feat.  I remain, today, unequalled.  I am the Troutmaster.

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The ladies at the pool bar.  Lounging is Amy.  Supporting is Julie, Monique, Kelli and Carie (Amy's sister).

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Pina colada!!

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James with a beer and me with James.  Too much rum, perhaps?  Not hardly.

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"No I can NOT pat my tummy at the same time!  Do you know how many pina coladas I've had?!"

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The downspout on one side of the roof of our villa.  It saw a lot of action that week.

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Snuggling in the pool.

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Wow!  Isn't that just an utterly stunning set... of blue tiles??

(MY wife took the picture.  Blame her.)

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You'll be pleased to note that this errant hermit crab, found at the edge of the pool, was returned to the shore of the sea in the hopes that salt water would be a better home than chlorinated pool water.

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The guys' Charlie's Angels pose.

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The girls' Charlie's Angels pose.

I find it interesting that the guys always removed the straws from our drinks, and the ladies didn't.  I don't know what it means, but it's interesting.

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The villas we stayed in.  Very nice.

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Turkey vulture.  I think.

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Seeya...

Comments

[Amy]

looks like a good time. Wish I were there... wait a minute...

[Mark]

Definitely a nice photographic wrap-up.

The reflection picture of your lovely wife is great -- I dig reflection pictures a lot, too. By the way, Amy's left quadricep is like BLAM! and her calf is all POW! She working out?

Probably the more classy thing to say is that her legs looked toned. Oh well, I'm not always classy. What can I say?

You have nice legs, too, Simon, in that last pic.

Amy's pic of the breasts is nice. Takes one to know one (or something).

[Moksha Gren]

Great shots all around. And a free upgrade to those swank villas? That's amazing.

That belly-crawl night shot looks like something I would have taken. I can almost hear my wife commenting from behind me on how silly I'm being.

Basically, I'm completely jealous of your whole seaside vacation thing. These pictures really do a wonderful job of rubbing salt water in the wounds. And since I'm pretty sure that was a large part of your intent...job well done, sir ;)

[Moksha Gren]

Mark - I agree, the Frasers both look good in this photo set. They clearly knew they had some swimsuit time coming up and did some physical prepwork. And as someone who has to look at these shots...I appriciate the courtesy.

I wish my wife would snap nice shots of cleavage for me to find on my camera.

[Émilie B]

Pictures, at last! Nice lighting in all of them, but I guess being so far south, you can't go wrong there...
Amy, your hair looks so great in that 8th pic! and you look pretty happy too, even if we can't see your eyes. :D Glad you both had fun!

[marian]

Fun to watch those pale, pale northern bodies get every so slightly tanned.... thanks for the pix, it was like a nice little mini-vacation this morning (threatening snow here).

[Simon]

Mark, you may not be classy, but I think that's part of your appeal. And thanks for complimenting my own legs. I like them. And my wife's breasts, but we won't discuss that further.

Moksha, having engendered your envy, I can now call my vacation complete. Thank you! Now I'll continue enjoying the rest of my second week of holiday.

Émy, we both had a whole whack of fun. Which is not quite a boat-load, but way more than a bushel.

Marian, it continues to threaten snow for us here, too. None since the night we landed back home, but the skies have a hint of the ominous to them.

[Tasha]

I am officially jealous. Moreso since the similar trip we were hoping to take in February has turned to dust. Stupid renovations ate our money. Which reminds me, how's yer basement?

[Dave]

Wow... fantastic pictures!!! Makes me wish we could go to Cuba..