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Havana, Cuba with Zeb the Duck

Mom and Zeb the Duck are in Havana, Cuba.  We took a charter flight from Miami to Havana.  The charter flight was an American Airline flight with an American Airline flight crew.

We are in Havana, Cuba

We are in Havana, Cuba

After customs and immigration we met Alejandro, our Cuban guide.  He was very nice and spoke English.  Santos is our bus driver. Connie is our Friendly Planet group leader.   They will be with us all week.

Our tour to Cuba was through Friendly Planet and was a people to people tour.  Both the Cuban and American governments agree to permit these tours.  Mom changed money at the airport.  Cuba has a dual currency system.  As tourists we use CUC currency (1 CUC is about equal to US $1).  The Cuban people are paid in CUP currency.  Each CUP is equivalent to 4 U.S. cents.  Visit www.friendlyplanet.com for information and reservations to travel to Cuba from the United States.

Alejandro and Santos took us to the Used Booksellers Market.

Used Booksellers Market in Plaza de Armas, Havana

Used Booksellers Market in Plaza de Armas, Havana

This is big outdoor market located in the Plaza de Armas, and is rather famous.  Used books are sold and also old postage stamps are for sale.

Old stamps for sale at this market

Old stamps for sale at this market

The venders were very friendly and talked to us with a mixture of Spanish and English.

Nearby we saw this statue of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes.

Statue of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes

Statue of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes

In 1868 Cespedes gave the Grito de Yara (shout of Yara) beginning the 10-year war.  This was the first effort to free slaves and gain independence from Spain.

These are some photos of typical street scenes in Cuba.

Streets of Havana

Streets of Havana

Havana street

Havana street

Havana

Havana after rain

I, Zeb the Duck, and my group of humans traveled around Havana.   Santos drove us to Trinidad, with stops in Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos before returning to Havana.  We saw so much that I will be telling you about Cuba for a few weeks.  I hope you will stay with me here at ColoradoTravelingDucks.com

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Yea Broncos!!

Congratulations to the Denver Broncos on today’s victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Zeb and Soapy Duck watched the game and loved the result.

Victory for Denver Broncos

Victory for Denver Broncos

We welcome New England to Denver next Sunday and expect to defeat them also.

Colorado Traveling Ducks and Denver love our Broncos!

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Hermit Crab Races

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin are constantly surprised.  At Bluebeards Beach Club in St. Thomas, we watched hermit crab races.  It was fun and completely harmless to the crabs.

A round table was put near the bar.  Then the guys scattered rocks on the table, for an obstacle course.

Preparing table

Preparing table

A container with 5 hermit crabs was brought out.  Each crab had a different color on its back.

Hermit crabs waiting

Hermit crabs waiting

The colors were red, orange, blue, green and yellow.

Five people each paid $5 to be represented by the crab.  Of course mom and my Alaska uncle each paid $5.   They each took a paper from another bowl.  The color on their paper identified their lucky crab.

The crabs were placed in the center of the table with a pitcher over them. At the designated time the pitcher was removed and the crabs started moving.

Crabs begin moving

Crabs begin moving

The first crab to reach the edge of the table (any direction) was the winner.  Mom and Alaska did not win.  But it was fun and a different thing to see.

The crabs rested about 15 minutes and then a second race started.  Again we paid $5 each and again we did not win.

Another 15-minute rest and then the third and final race.

Yellow crab wins!

Yellow crab wins!

Paid $5 each and did not win.  Surprising to us, the same girl won each race.  It was also her first time and she was very happy.

The winner of each race received the entire $25.  The resort does not keep anything.   The crabs are well cared for.  The crabs enjoy cat food.  This was a fun, silly and safe evening for all.

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St. Thomas Sunset Dinner Cruise

We are on another sailboat!  My Alaska cousin, I, Zeb the Duck, my Alaska uncle and my mom are on a sailboat where we will see the sunset and have dinner.

On a sunset dinner cruise!

On a sunset dinner cruise!

This is great!  We love boats.  This is New Horizons Dinner Cruise.  It is good tonight.

Mark is the captain of this boat.  Mark is nice, friendly and a great captain.  He talks to all of us, explaining where we are going tonight and what we should and should not do.  John is the second crewmember.  John helps us leave the dock, and brings us drinks.  The humans are drinking champagne with a strawberry!  It looks so pretty.

We pass homes and many yachts as we leave Sapphire Marina.  Everybody is happy and smiling.  So wonderful.  Some people are sitting on the back of the boat; several on the front of the boat and some are inside the boat.  Captain Mark said we could sit on any blue cushion.

We sail toward St. John, but we are not going to dock there.  St John is a beautiful island and part of the U.S. Virgin Islands.  See our post about our day in St. Johns.  This beautiful evening we sail past St. John.  While we enjoy the gentle movement of the boat and the ocean greeting the mountains, John brings us more beverages and starters.  First we have tomato and basil bruschetta, followed by smoked salmon and caviar over cream cheese rounds.  The sun is setting now and the sky is gold.

Beautiful Caribbean sunset

Beautiful Caribbean sunset

We sailed to Christmas Cove for dinner.  Anchoring in the calm water we enjoy the beautiful island scenery.  Captain Mark gets the food ready for us.

Captain Mark

Captain Mark

Our menu for tonight consists of fresh mahi mahi, island-style Caribbean chicken breast baked in a sweet and sour sauce,

Everything is fabulous, but we love chicken and mahi mahi best

Everything is fabulous, chicken and fruit here

and peel and eat shrimp.  Yum!  We also have classic Caesar salad with toasted croutons; green beans tossed with crumbled feta cheese, spices and Italian dressing, fresh cut fruit, and assorted fresh breads.  For dessert they present fudge brownies and New York style cheesecake.  We are offered fresh coffee, soft drinks or beverages from the open premium stocked bar.  Captain Mark and John pamper us and we love it.

My Alaska cousin and I take a turn driving back to Sapphire Marina.

Ducks driving the sailboat!

Ducks driving the sailboat!

We are not the only passengers that love this cruise.  We talked to a couple that has taken this sunset dinner cruise from New Horizons four times.  They said it was perfect every time.  With a recommendation like that, you should check www.newhorizons.daysails.com   On the left side, click on sunset dinner cruise.   You will want to get on this boat.  It is fantastic!

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St. John, USVI

We are on a ferry going to St. John.

We love this ferry

We love this ferry

St. John, another U.S. Virgin Island, is about 3 miles from St. Thomas.   60% of St. John is a national park.   I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin love boats.  We did not know how much fun they were until this vacation.  Our humans love them too.

On St. John we hired a taxi to take us around the island.  This taxi was a truck.

What a great taxi

What a great taxi

We had so much room and we could see so much.  Leaving Cruz Bay, we rode along the coast, stopping at beautiful beaches.  This is Caneel Bay and beach.

Beautiful!

Beautiful!

We saw the very exclusive beach resort.  It is owned by Laurance Rockefeller.  He also bought and donated much of the land for St. John National Park.

Virgin Islands National Park in St. John. Park is 60% of island

Virgin Islands National Park in St. John. Park is 60% of island

So glad he did.  Now we all can see and enjoy this beautiful island.

Trunk Bay, white sand meeting the blue Caribbean water, is said to be the most beautiful beach on St. John.

Wow! Love these beaches

Wow! Love these beaches

We thought it was beautiful!   Continuing along the gorgeous coastline, we saw Annaberg Trail

Annaberg Trail

Annaberg Trail

and restored ruins of the Annaberg sugarmill.  The fork in a tree trunk held what appeared to be a large pile of mud.  This is a termite hill or house.

Termites?

Termites?

Always something new to see.

We acquired some additional passengers during our tour.  One couple from the cruise ship in St. Thomas, took a ferry to St. John because they wanted to snorkel at their favorite reef.  St. John’s beaches and reefs are perfect for snorkeling and diving.

On the way back to Cruz Bay we saw some wild donkeys.

Wild but friendly donkey

Wild but friendly donkey

They were right next to us on the road.  So nice to see them!

The town square in Cruz Bay had a gazebo, iguanas and chickens.

My favorite chicken

My favorite chicken

The people and animals all get along fine.  They even like the Colorado Traveling Ducks.

After a little shopping, we stopped for beverages and coconut shrimp at the High Tide Seafood Bar and Grill.

Coconut shrimp are tasty here.  Relaxing by the Caribbean Sea is very nice!

Our kind of place

Our kind of place

Soon it was time for our ferry back to St. Thomas.

Ferry is waiting for us

Ferry is waiting for us

We loved St. John, but we enjoyed the boat ride back and our resort is beautiful also.  You will love to visit St. John.  We hope you go soon and enjoy the beach and maybe some snorkeling or diving.  Visit www.visitusvi.com/stjohn/homepage  for more information.

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Iguanas are our new best friends

Iguanas look strange but they liked my Alaska cousin and me, Zeb the Duck.

Zeb the Duck with Alaska cousin.

Zeb the Duck with Alaska cousin.

On St. Thomas we stayed at Bluebeard’s Beach Club.  That is where our iguana friends live.

Our first day at Bluebeard’s Beach Club, we explored the grounds.  We found iguanas.  Mom and my Alaska uncle put us on the ground to see if the iguanas were curious.

Ducks first view of iguana

Ducks first view of iguana

Yes they were!  One iguana raced toward us.

This is really close

This is really close

Getting closer.  We were a little (OK, a lot) nervous.  Oh!

Kissed by an iguana!

Kissed by an iguana!

We were kissed by an iguana!   Several seconds later, the iguana strutted away and we resumed breathing.

The iguana kisses and leaves

The iguana kisses and leaves

What an experience.

Our iguana friends patrolled the grassy areas, lounged by the pool and supervised the beach.  They liked the pool bar area and sometimes the employees awarded the iguanas with bread.

One morning, eating breakfast at the pool bar, mom felt a nudge on her heel.  Our iguana friend was begging.  Mom is a push over for animals, so Mr. Iguana devoured most of her toast.  Satisfied, he lumbered into the grass for a nap.

Often we would see our reptile friends climbing or descending a tree.

Iguanas like trees

Iguanas like trees

They liked all trees.  We watched them in palm trees and mango trees.  Other human resort guests liked to watch the iguanas.  We were glad they were at our resort, but please, no more kissing.

Kissed by this iguana

Kissed by this iguana

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Saba by Boat for a Day

I, Zeb the Duck and my Alaska cousin are getting on a boat again!

Edge II Our boat to Saba

Edge II Our boat to Saba

We love boats.  Today we are leaving St. Maarten to spend the day on the island of Saba.  Saba is a Dutch island also, but we needed to show our passports.

Riding to Saba

Riding to Saba

Loving the boat ride for 90 minutes and now we see Saba.   It looks different.  A giant rock rising from the ocean.

Saba from the boat

Saba from the boat

No sandy beaches in sight.  Maybe that is why we did not bring swimming suits and towels.  This sign makes ducks and humans feel welcome.

We are docking at Saba

We are docking at Saba

First stop is immigration and passport control.  Now, ready for a new adventure.

The road is a miracle.  It was built by hand; no heavy machinery available.  Local men started building the road in 1938 an it was finished in 1958.  Previously crossing the island involved a 7.5-mile staircase.  Everywhere is steep up or steep down.

Saba is a rocky island!

Saba is a rocky island!

WOW!

Our first stop after leaving Fort Bay is The Bottom.  The Bottom is the capital and largest city.  This Sacred Heart Church, 1935, is beautiful inside and outside.

Inside Sacred Heart Church in Saba

Inside Sacred Heart Church in Saba

Sacred Heart Church, The Bottom in Saba

Sacred Heart Church, The Bottom in Saba

We shopped here also.

Craft store in The Bottom in Saba

Craft store in The Bottom in Saba

Nice craft items available.

In Windwardside we shopped a little, visited Holy Trinity Church (Anglican Episcopal 1878) and cemetery.

Church with cemetery

Church with cemetery

We liked this sign.

Liked the sign

Liked the sign

While shopping we found a relative.

Shopping in Windwardside in Saba

Shopping in Windwardside in Saba

Little Saba Surfer Duck is now part of our family.  Here we are posing by bananas.

Alaska cousin, Zeb and Saba Surfer Ducks

Alaska cousin, Zeb and Saba Surfer Ducks

These streets are narrow and very steep.  Our humans had a real workout just walking through town.  Lunch at the Tropics Café was great.

Lunch time at Tropic Cafe

Lunch time at Tropics Cafe

This swimming pool was available for our use,

Chairs in the pool!!

Chairs in the pool!!

but we were busy looking at everything else.  This is a great location.

By Tropics Cafe with Caribbean behind

By Tropics Cafe with Caribbean behind

Looking from the road, the roofs are far below us.

Houses in town

Houses in town

From certain views, we saw other Caribbean Islands.  Now the time has come to return to Fort Bay and ride the Edge II back to Sint Maarten.

Leaving Saba

Leaving Saba

We ducks and our humans had a great time on Saba.  We think you would enjoy Saba also.  If you go, tell us what you liked best.

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Rocky Mountain National Park at Christmas

Christmas will arrive in a couple days so Mom took us to Estes Park

Entering Estes Park, Colorado

Entering Estes Park, Colorado

and Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday.  Snowy and beautiful.

Zeb the Duck and Soapy Smith Duck left a sunny Denver to experience early winter in the mountains.  This place attracts chipmunks, wild turkeys, birds, and tourists in the summer.

Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park, Colorado

None seen on this visit.  Entering Estes Park we noticed changes.  Now the Fall River is frozen so the water wheel is not turning.

Estes Park, Colorado. River is frozen

Estes Park, Colorado. River is frozen

Humans are wearing hats, gloves and coats, no shorts today.  After visiting our favorite stores and purchasing cookies, brownies, salt water taffy (has no salt water in it??), fudge, and toffee we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park.

We love Rocky Mountain National Park

We love Rocky Mountain National Park

Passing through the Fall River Entrance we discovered Sheep Lakes are frozen.

Frozen lake in the park

Frozen lake in the park

As we drive, snow begins to fall.  It swirls on the road.  We, Zeb and Soapy Duck, think it looks magical.  Driving higher, more snow is falling.  These elk take advantage of the grass and graze before it is covered with snow or ice.

Elk grazing as snow begins to fall

Elk grazing as snow begins to fall

They knew we were watching them and they kept an eye on us.

Further up the mountain, this bull elk was also grazing.

Bull elk in the snow

Bull elk in the snow

Must take a lot of grass to fill his tummy.  We, Zeb and Soapy Duck, were only 15 feet away from him.  He is big!!

Mom decided it was time to leave; she will be wrapping candy for Christmas presents tonight, but we wanted one more minute in the snow before driving down the road.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

We love Rocky Mountain National Park.  It is beautiful in the summer, colorful in the fall, magical in the winter and refreshing in the spring.    We hope you visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado soon.  You won’t be sorry.