Thursday, March 3, 2011

Cuba pictures





Holidays in Cuba

This winter here in Canada is a little bit colder than previous one, so we decided to have a break . So we we decided to go in a one week vacation . Choosing the destination was also a decision to make, and we decide to go Cuba, and we are happy that we did go there.
Firs thing was to find the right resort to go, and for this we did go to a travel agency, we are happy we did so. Real deal are there. and we looked a bit around, but still found the last minute deals and very well ones; 1 week inclusive for 2 people, in Varadero, Cuba, all $ 1360.00 only, just amazing.And really was so much worthy.
The day that we left Toronto was so cold and windy, so we were glad to really leave, and after 3 hours of pleasant travel, we arrived in Varadero, Cuba. Was late at night, but very warm and we found the right and warm accommodation , from the people that work there. The lobby was full with people , was very loud and busy too.The day that we arrived  there, we have been told that there were almost 20.000 Canadians there already in vacation.The very next day, we start going to see the ocean and was amazing . everything was so beautiful but something that was very impressing, was people that we have seen there. Very friendly, happy faces and reminded me my own country many years ago. I think I missed that in many years now.
 We had a very good time, we meet a lot of people from different parts of Canada, Vancouver, Halifax, Owen Sound,Hamilton, Montreal, even people from Europe, Italy, Spain , England, Germany, France. Was really impressing to see haw people escape the winter through those mini vacation. We had a blast and really helped me to restore  my health too. I enjoyed every day there, was everything amazing, the resort had a lot activities  every day, in the beach, dancing, fitness, theater every night. I still miss their coffee . I try to learn salsa, and I enjoyed that very much, I love dancing so was a very big activity for me.
We did go to Varadero, the city, and get too see another reality out of the resorts. People there work very hard for just a little bit of money. That make you realize and preceate what you have and you really have to be thankful for everything.
We left with very good impresions and we really want to go back for another vacation whenever it is possible  for us.We bought some suvenirs and collect some shells from the ocean, and we really took with us a lot of memories, but one thing that we took in our harts was wanderful people who will remain in our harts.
We belive that Cuba it is a very nice vacation destination for Canadians and we encourage people to go and try. A lot of people there are living only through tourism and this is very important for their economy.

Those were little thoughts about our winter vacation. Soon I will write more abouNina


Thursday, January 6, 2011

New Year celebrations and traditions in Canada and abroad.

New Year celebrations I believe it is a very special time for everybody and everywhere in the world. The time that people spend in the preparation's, the gifts, the party's and everything else , it take a Lott of effort. Here in Canada people celebrate big and everybody is in a rush to do things and prepare their homes, gifts, food, party's and everything. It is just different from every other country for sure. In my home country it was almost the same and I remember growing up that that was a very special time for me; the New Year preparation in school, gifts and clothes. Very special time for our families, getting together, cooking our special food, and  very special dessert, baklava. Was a really special time and a very big deal to do a good baklava. I lear to do that by helping my mother, was very special time. Than at 12 o'clock fireworks were on and almost everybody was going in the main square to await for the New Year moment all together. Was never finishes there, the celebration was almost a week after, everyday we use to visit family and friends, and dine with them sing and dance.
For me a very special time was the New Year celebration in Greece; was almost like the tradition in my country, Albania, the same cooking, the same preparations and everything else, just in Greece, the New Year  day it is related to a Saint name day celebration, Saint Vasilis. So in the New Year's day children come at the door of your home and sing and ring the bells " Kalanta" they call in Greece. You than open the door and give them sweets and goodies. It is a very nice traditions and I believe that everybody enjoys it. Every family and the church too, they make a desert which it is called "vasilopita". They put a small coin there and share the "vaslopita" according to the number of the family members, but always starting the  count from God and then Christ and Maria, the mother of Jesus.It is a very nice tradition and I really enjoy that . In my family here in Canada, we do that too, it is so beautifully. But because in Greece was that beautiful ring bell of the children in your door, was so special. Christmas and the New Year celebration in Greece are so much related to the church celebrations, and that you can see reflected in peoples celebrations too.
 Today in Greece it is the big celebration of "Theofania", when Jesus was baptised and the Holy Spirit come upon Him, so God showed to people that Jesus is His Son, so in Greece, every church comes together and they bless the water and bless all the waters around, the sea, rivers and lakes. Every house get the holy and blessed water and they put the blessed water in their homes.
It s a very old tradition and a very nice one, and I really enjoyed that too, it is just beautiful.
Here in Canada, the celebration of the New Year it is multicultural and that's the beauty of it, but what is in common with everybody I believe is the smiles in peoples faces, the way haw they talk to you, greed you, even people that really talk to you, they will say to you" Happy New Year", and I believe that is the proof that everybody sees in the New Year celebrations, new hopes, new acceptations, new" i will do" or "to do" and keeps us going every day.
Lets hope that this New Year that just come in will bring in everybody life very good things and more souls saved for the kingdom of God, everyday that we live in this earth, it is count for everybody and it is important not to spend them without  knowing that we need to come to our saver Lord Jesus Christ, before it is too late.
 Wishing to everybody a very Happy and Blessed New Year of 2011.
Nina Caushi