I'm spent!

The turkey is taking its effect! Too much Christmas. I'm done until next year.

Cohiba Time

I love a good after dinner smoke. Nothing like puffing on a good Cuban Cohiba after turkey and cranberry.

There Goes Santa Claus

We came to the Club Habana on Christmas Day to have a swim and take a break. It was hard to tell in the middle of the day, but I thought I saw Santa Claus riding away on water skis. Here I am pointing this out to Daddy.

Deck the Halls

I couldn't believe how many things fit into these big stockings. With a little help from Mommy, I got everything out.

One more gift

I had pretty much opened every gift on Christmas when I saw this colourful stocking hanging by the fireplace. It turns out it was Mr. Marley's treats, but hey, I had to make sure everything got opened.

Rainbow Walker

When I asked Santa Claus for a walker, I didn't ask for one that would blind me. At least with this thing, I can practice in the dark and not worry about hurting myself. It plays great music to annoy Mommy & Daddy too.

Gooooaaaaallllll!!!!!

Here I am with one of my favorite gifts. While I haven't yet learned the skills of soccer nor the culture behind it, as you can see here, I'm sure anxious to start. Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole!

Clap Your Hands

If you like opening gifts on Christmas Day, clap your hands. I didn't even care what was in the gifts. I just loved opening them.

Do you like my Christmas attire?

Let me at it

I'm watching you Daddy. The second you try to open the present, I'm snatching it. It does not say Daddy on it.

Christmas comes early

Even though it was only Christmas Eve, I convinced everybody that it was Christmas in some other part of the world. You see, as a world traveller I know all about different time zones. Plus, the Swiss tradition is to open some gifts on Christmas Eve. With both of these arguments, I sold them and got to open a gift. It was fitting too, since I received the literary classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Yulia's gift

This Christmas gift from Yulia gives new meaning to the term "soccer header".

Santa Clara

We had a great excursion to Santa Clara, the city famous for a great battle won by the revolutionary forces led by El Che. While the monuments and museums were interesting, I was most impressed by this Paladar restaurant, hidden in the streets of the city. With us is our navigator, Craig at the head of the table.

Wish List

They told me to make a list of things I wanted for Christmas so I just told them I wanted my family around. I sure got that and was it ever fun. Oh and also a swim on Christmas day. I got that. I also asked for a haircut, but as you can see, I didn't get that.

Family Christmas

I'm still not sure who this big red bearded dude is, but he's not too smart to wear these clothes in this climate.

Quitting Time

It was a tough day complete with playing on the beach, swimming in the ocean, napping in my chair and eating cheerios. Therefore, it's time to call it a day and head to the pool bar.

Una leche, por favor!

3 Generations

Opa, Daddy and I decided to cool off in the water. Man, December in Cuba is tough! It must be close to 28 degrees. I hope it's like this in Canada when I go back there for a visit.

Wet feet

Carl & Kathy are here helping me get my "feet wet". Every day is a new experience, including going in the ocean in my fancy blue wetsuit.

Another one bites the dust

I'm not sure what it is, but there are all sorts of tall Cuban people with long hair and colours on their face (women I think) who just seem to go crazy when they see me smile. Daddy says I'll lead a great life if I continue to make these "women" smile at me.

Opa Time

Since Opa came all this way to see me, I brought him to Varadero to spend some time on the beach. But in return, he's promised to teach me how to ski back in Canada. After all, how can a Burger not turn into a skier.

Beached

Now this is the way to spend a Christmas holiday. I got my new beach blanket, a bucket to build sand castles with... Hey, where's my shovel? I thought this place was all-inclusive! Who's the manager of this place?

"Ibero Star"

In Varadero, we stayed at the Hotel Iberostar, but here I am feeling like a star, in my fancy wet suit, splashing in the pool, practicing diving into the water.

Cohiba time

As you know this is my blog and therefore the rule is that I'm in every photo. However, when I saw this photo-op I decided to make an exception. Check out Daddy and Uncle Carlito puffing on 2 foot long cigarros. As you can guess, it took them a bit of time to go through them.

Soren-san

Here we are in Varadero at a Japanese restaurant. It was the first time I saw sushi or saw someone blindfolded throw knives around. It sure kept me entertained through the evening. Somehow my cheerios just weren't as interesting.

Canon fodder

One thing I'm coming to realize about Cuba is that nothing is wasted here. Even cannons and cannon balls from Spanish colonial times are recycled and used as barriers to prevent vehicles from driving through market squares. Based on the feel of this one, I would say it's from 1898.

80 more years

I'm just hoping to get to my first birthday and this banner is calling for 80 more years for el commandante. Buena suerte!

Die Maple Leaf!!

I'm not sure what Daddy was talking about when he said "die maple leaf die", but I tried to do what he said. I'm eating this leaf for breakfast, just like the Sens do in the regular seasion.

Land Ho!

Aarghhhh! Matey! Shiver me timbers, but I reckon I see land! This miserable wretch of a ship is in need of a pretty little isle! Let's call it Cuba, shall we. Aaargh!

Superstitious?

I was about to walk under this ladder when Mommy told me not to. She said it's bad luck to walk under it. Since we've had such good luck here in Cuba so far, I wouldn't want to change that and invite some hurricanes to ruin it all.

Applause!

Here I am teaching Grandma and Opa how to clap. I told them that I would be doing many impressive things and that they had to learn to clap to encourage me. They're pretty fast learners.

Time out

The Club gave us a chance to get reacquainted as a family. Here I am just taking a timeout to reflect on what a great week we had in store for us.

Carlito's Way

Uncle Carlito didn't miss out on the Club Habana. Doesn't Uncle Carlito look like a mafia guy who ran the city of Havana in the '50s and '60s?

Aunt Kathy

Guess who had some visitors over the Xmas holidays? That's right, Opa, Grandma, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Carlito dropped by for some festive fun. We had no snow but neither did you in Canada! First day, I had to take everybody to the Club Habana. It's a great place to unwind after a day of travel. Plus, I just love to swim!