Author: Adventure For Two

I am from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada and I'm back from traveling with my husband on an expat assignment to foreign lands. 2011-2012 we were in Shenyang, China. Spring 2012- Spring 2013 we were in Resende,RJ Brazil then back to Shenyang, China in July 2013 until the end of July 2014. Expat life WAS amazing! Adventure abounds no matter where we travel to. We really enjoyed the amazing opportunity to live and experience culture and tradition in these places. BUT now we are finished and adjusting to life in our small town in Canada. Our days of travel and adventure are not over.

Cuba Vacation PART ~1

David & I love to travel. We love to travel South in the Winter to escape the cold. Believe it or not this is our very first time to stay at a resort for an entire week!

Our choice Winter getaway is cruising! This year, however,we are in Cuba. We are here for the wedding and it’s also a great way to see if we like all inclusive resort vacations. We flew into Santa Clara Airport and then took a bus to the resort. ( Our very own Wedding Group bus)

Just off Cuba’s north coast is the inviting resort destination of Cayo Santa Maria. With its white sand beaches, azure waters, and range of resorts, a vacation here is full of sunshine and relaxation. The area is known for its beaches, and has become famous for tourists that flock to its shores to step away from reality and enjoy the Cuban hospitality, heat, and landscape.

Cayo Santa Maria is an island on the north of Cuba in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, connected to mainland Cuba by a 48-kilometer causeway. With more than 10-kilometers of pristine, white sand beaches lapped by crystal clear blue waters. Flights from Canada to Cayo Santa Maria arrive at the Santa Clara airport and then take a bus transfer approximately 1.5 hours from Cayo Santa Maria to the resort district on the island and across the causeway from mainland Cuba. Due to Cayo Santa Maria’s location, on an island just off of the mainland north coast of Cuba, the area is known for its resort community, but little else beyond the beach and poolside activities.

So…What to do a whole week in one place?

Well seeing as we were there for the wedding, a bit of time was spent making sure everything was ready for Saturday and then it was beach time, eating, pool time, eating, eating, entertainment, coffee and check mail, eating, and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of walking. Melia las Dunas resort is large and so we spent a lot of time all week walking just getting to places.

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Tomorrow see what else we did!

Sneak Peek

We’re Home!! The week went so quickly!! It was fabulous and the wedding was amazing. So beautiful and like something out of a fairy tale.

We’ve been a little busy getting back to routine, and unpacked and laundry and David back to work right away….I haven’t had chance to blog about the trip, and adventures or the wedding. I promise to get at it in the next few days and…we still have the Wedding Reception here next weekend.

In the meantime, here is a sneak peek…

They are such a beautiful couple! Stay tuned…I promise to post some more soon!

Headin’ to Cuba!

Up bright and early! Too early really, ( actually I didn’t even sleep a lot) and off to the airport. We are heading to Cuba this morning. eeekk….so excited…it’s Wedding Week!!!

That’s right, we are on our way to Cuba with a group of 37 family and friends to see our oldest son marry his girl!

And… get a little sun and relax time too!!! The week ahead looks fantastic.

What makes my heart very thankful is both James & Laura will be there with us. Laura didn’t think it would work for her to go and last minute the arrangements were made.

I won’t be posting anything while I am away ( internet and time to do it are issues) but stay tuned for some Wedding pics and highlights when I get back.

Cuba ready…

adiós amigo

Our little boy is gonna be a husband…

Our little boy

is now a man

and in less than a week is gonna be a husband!

Today we had a bit of time to spend with our oldest son, the one who is getting married. Andrew is officially on vacay ( Kristina had to work one last shift) and today was a day to get “his stuff” caught up and do some last minute things for the wedding. One of which was a haircut. Andy likes to get his brother or his father to cut his hair. Just easier that way.

We were very happy he was here for lunch and to spend a bit of time with him talking more about the week ahead, getting excited, and just letting him know how proud we are of him and how much we love him and Kristina.

I know he knows all that but it’s nice sometimes to put those thoughts in to actual words and a special gift on this big day.

We LOVE you Andrew. Congratulations!

PS. I can’t wait to dance with you at your Wedding ❤

Packed and ready

We are still a couple days away from leaving BUT I need to be organized and I NEED options so the #1 thing on my list for this weekend was to pack suitcases. It is relatively simple and easy to do ahead of time when you are going from a cold climate to a warm tropical climate. Easy I say, except for the fact I never know what I actually want to take, I need options, I always take too much unless I just pack in a carryon, and I usually stress over this detail of travelling…ugh!

BUT, it’s done!! We’re packed and under limit. phew!

And poor Abby has been clingy and mopey all week. It only gets worse the closer the day comes. But I know she’ll have a nice time with Nana & Papa.

3 days…

Just look at that beautiful smile!

One year! that’s all it took and James made his goal to have the braces come off before his brother’s wedding.

A look back…

And braces

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And… the Big Reveal!

Wow!!! LOVE that smile 😀

Camera ready for the big day!!

A little grace and elegance…

Orchids are my all time favourite flower!

Moth orchids. The most common type of orchid is probably the moth orchid, or the Phalaenopsis orchids. These are the plants that you can buy from a standard grocery store. Or if you happen to live close by an Asian supermarket, you will find truck-loads. I usually wait until they are on sale.

In the wild, these orchids are epiphytes and grow on trees in a constantly moist environment. ( I saw this in Brazil) They usually have long flower spikes and therefore look very graceful. These types of flowers have the power to add elegance to the home and brighten up a dull atmosphere. Even though they usually bloom only once or twice a year, their flowers can often last for two to three months.

A good choice for me. It reminds me of both China and Brazil and lasts much longer than cut flowers.

Wishing you a beautiful day.

Wear your Plaid Proudly, It’s Tartan Day!

Tartan Day in Canada has become an annual event. The concept of “Tartan Day” began at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia on March 9, 1986. Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish heritage on April 6th each year, the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. In Canada, on Tartan Day, Canadians are encouraged to wear tartan in commemoration of the contributions of Scots and their descendants to the fabric of our society.

(Picture below from the Government of Nova Scotia)

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And it’s so funny to me…unbeknown that it was Tartan Day today, I was at my parents last night and Mom gave me the Tartan shirt that she bought for my Dad so many years ago in 1961. It doesn’t fit him anymore and she knows how much I love the Nova Scotia tartan. I washed and ironed it, and tried it on this morning and it fit me!! A beautiful keepsake that I will always cherish.