Cuba Trip #4 (2019)
The Pre-Story
In early 2018, My new good friends in the NW Gil and Ann Gramson like to travel (China, Australia, South Africa, etc.) Ann wanted to visit India....and Gil said no. So Ann asked Gil where do you want to go next ? and Gil said "to Cuba !! with Manny"
They asked me and I said OF COURSE !! as long as i can take my good friends Bridge Partner "Jane from Cannon Beach" and "Jim the Counselor" (teacher and coach from Alaska)
Ann set the limit of 10 people (best idea ever) and the trip quickly filled up with bridge friends.....many more wanted to come....sorry, maybe NEXT trip
The Pre-Trip parties
In Fall of 2018, Denise offered her home (south of Cannon Beach) for a Cuba party. We had a wonderful time sharing some Rum, Wine, and food.
Before Christmas 2018, Vern and Cindy threw another party at their beautiful Gearhart home with more rum, wine, and food.....and Manny answered questions for about an hour.
On Tues Jan 8, 2019 in Miami we had "the Day Before Party"...at the Hilton near the Airport where most of the people had arrived on Monday (BTW they took a little trip to Little Havana, Miami)
Tues's party was sponsored by Gil and Ann. My nephew Patrick Hidalgo (who served in the White House under Obama and had Obama's ear in opeing up the US Embassy in Cuba after 50 years !!) organized the food, rum and beer....etc....his mother Eloise (my sister) had recently passed away. Most family trips to Cuba always started with a "pre-travel party" at Tia Ely's house in Miami.
Xavier my brother and former Mayor of Miami, joined the party and brought a beautiful bottle of special Rum. He held court as usual at the Hilton lobby/breakfast area....and told stories about the family and especially ME (manny his little Big brother..."the Tall Cuban")
Marie Luis Gaston my cousin brought many photos of the Gaston Tias (on my mother's side) and entertained the ladies of our group with stories about Cuba and La Familia. She also gave us the GREAT idea of ENTERING Las Tias house in Cuba which is now a school....and also entering my parent's house (which now hosts 5 different families) near the Villanova University campus in Havana where my Dad was Dean of Engineer (1949 to 1961).
The Pre-Story
In early 2018, My new good friends in the NW Gil and Ann Gramson like to travel (China, Australia, South Africa, etc.) Ann wanted to visit India....and Gil said no. So Ann asked Gil where do you want to go next ? and Gil said "to Cuba !! with Manny"
They asked me and I said OF COURSE !! as long as i can take my good friends Bridge Partner "Jane from Cannon Beach" and "Jim the Counselor" (teacher and coach from Alaska)
Ann set the limit of 10 people (best idea ever) and the trip quickly filled up with bridge friends.....many more wanted to come....sorry, maybe NEXT trip
The Pre-Trip parties
In Fall of 2018, Denise offered her home (south of Cannon Beach) for a Cuba party. We had a wonderful time sharing some Rum, Wine, and food.
Before Christmas 2018, Vern and Cindy threw another party at their beautiful Gearhart home with more rum, wine, and food.....and Manny answered questions for about an hour.
On Tues Jan 8, 2019 in Miami we had "the Day Before Party"...at the Hilton near the Airport where most of the people had arrived on Monday (BTW they took a little trip to Little Havana, Miami)
Tues's party was sponsored by Gil and Ann. My nephew Patrick Hidalgo (who served in the White House under Obama and had Obama's ear in opeing up the US Embassy in Cuba after 50 years !!) organized the food, rum and beer....etc....his mother Eloise (my sister) had recently passed away. Most family trips to Cuba always started with a "pre-travel party" at Tia Ely's house in Miami.
Xavier my brother and former Mayor of Miami, joined the party and brought a beautiful bottle of special Rum. He held court as usual at the Hilton lobby/breakfast area....and told stories about the family and especially ME (manny his little Big brother..."the Tall Cuban")
Marie Luis Gaston my cousin brought many photos of the Gaston Tias (on my mother's side) and entertained the ladies of our group with stories about Cuba and La Familia. She also gave us the GREAT idea of ENTERING Las Tias house in Cuba which is now a school....and also entering my parent's house (which now hosts 5 different families) near the Villanova University campus in Havana where my Dad was Dean of Engineer (1949 to 1961).
Nice write-up, Manny. I remember in our trips to Cuba how nice the pre-trip parties were at Ely's house. She loved helping out in any way she could even though she herself was unable to go.
ReplyDeleteThat was nice of Patrick, Maria Luisa and Xavier to help welcome the visitors to Miami.
Looks like a great group. Wish I could have gone...maybe Trip #5? Sally Ann
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