Postcard June and July 2004
USA, Canada and Cuba
Well up early, at 6am and on the road to Canada. The trip went good and everything went fine. I went straight to the hospital to see Dad. I must admit it was kind of a shock seeing him on all the machines and all the tubes everywhere. He was not able to talk and even his writing was very shaky and hard to read. It took a second and even third look to see that except for the gadgets maybe he was not that bad. I didn’t stay too long the first day, it had been a long ride and he needed his rest also. I headed back to Winnipeg quite early visited Dad and the off to the Legislature to see cousin Peter the Minister of Education and then Shawn took me to the airport to meet and greet a group of Icelanders coming in. There was another tour person there to meet them but he was happy I was there and could help get everyone out to the bus. I went with them to the Legislature. We toured the building and then we were by Peter to a small reception in his office. It was a great time and I think the teachers group was pleased with the welcome to Winnipeg. They headed off to their hotel and I returned to the hospital. The next couple weeks were back and forth to the hospital and a little guiding in between. I went on a river cruise with the Icelanders and also toured the Interlake with them. We spent a night in Gimli and also a night on Hecla Island. Visited Selkirk on the way to Gimli, even did my good deed for the day and took an Icelander to visit his cousin at the hospital in Selkirk. Little did I know it was someone I knew very well from Gimli. I was glad we took the effort to pay Brodie a visit. There was also a little excitement while we were in Hecla when we got the Greyhound Bus stuck out in the middle of no where. We were hosted by the Fridfinnson´s, Vigfusson´s, Stansel´s and the Icelandic National Leagues of Gimli and Arborg. I think everyone enjoyed the tour. I also managed to make it to a couple Mason Meetings and a Blue Bomber game. I returned to the USA on the 12th of June. I visited Bemidji and the stayed at Carol’s camper. I spent a nice evening with her and then off to Minneapolis the next day to return my rental car and meet my next guiding mission. I was supposed to fly with Maya and Þórmar but I left Iceland early. We rented another car and headed north. We made it to Duluth the first night and then crossed into Ontario the next day. We were treated royally by Maya’s cousins Fred, John, Kathy and their families. I got to go fishing again so I had a great time as well.
June 17th, Independence Day in Iceland we headed for Winnipeg and the ceremony at the Legislature. It was very cold but still a good turn out. We didn’t stay too long; I had to get home to pack for Toronto and Cuba. Mom drove me to Winnipeg, after a short visit with Dad it was off to the airport. The flight to Toronto went great and after checking in at the hotel I was off exploring. June 19th was Kvennahlaup (Women’s Run) in Toronto. I was on hand to take a few photos and have coffee with participants and others including my former professor Haraldur Bessason and my cousin Gail.
Up early the next morning and out to the airport and off to Havana. It was great seeing all my friends at the airport. I was shocked at how smoothly customs went. It was warm actually hot in Cuba. No air conditioning but I was still able to sleep very well. The very next day I rented a car and then headed to the airport to pick up a couple friends that were coming in from Iceland through London. Almost got in a little trouble with police and then we got a little lost. Oh well it all straightened out and they settled in to a guest house for the night. The next day I picked them up and then they switched guesthouses. They wanted to be in the Old Part of the city. I made good use of the car, in the 2 weeks I had it I traveled 3,500 km zigzagging across Cuba. Some of the sights and places I saw were Pinar Del Rio, Matanzas, Varadero, Cameguay, Playa Santa Lucia, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba just to name a few. Just outside of Santiago de Cuba I got a speeding ticket. It was at an unmarked check stop, meant for trucks but they do stop anyone they want. He says I was traveling 60km in a 40km zone. I had to pay a $30.00 fine. If my friend had been driving he would have had to pay 30 pesos or about $1.50, they know how to soak it to foreigners. I also did the family thing visiting my friends´ families in and around Cienfuegos. I returned to Havana with only Yoansy. It was difficult saying goodbye to all my friends in Cienfuegos. I had to return the rental car the day after arriving back in Havana. It was really hot in Havana. It was impossible to do much around noon; it did cool down at night so sleeping was not a problem. I still managed to see very many things, usually walking but sometimes by taxi. I spent sometime by myself, just exploring. One day Yoansy had to go to some ceremony with Fidel as the speaker. I really thought how interesting and in most countries it would have been possible for me to go. Cuba is quite different in that respect. I feel comfortable in Cuba and never afraid. One really hot day I was out exploring and on the Malecon (break water walkway), there was a couple thousand people swimming on the jagged coast of Havana. While taking a photo someone came up behind me, grabbed my gold chain and tried to steal it. I put my chin down rapidly, thank goodness for a double chin. I did not lose the chain. The chain was broken but it can be fixed. This was the first time I felt invaded, threatened. Then I thought how stupid am I, I was just asking to be robbed. My friends had kept saying be careful and I was far from that. I still feel comfortable with the people of Cuba. Yes things are tough there so there is the odd person that has taken up robbing and stealing. There are usually many police around so that limits those options. The heat continued which made it impossible to do much during the day. Even the air conditioned places were boiling hot. It was sad to have to leave friends behind yet again in Cuba. One good thing was that it was cooler in the plane. The plane left right on time but got delayed along the way. That meant that I missed my connecting flight, worried that there were no more flights to Winnipeg. I was lucky there was one more flight; I think I got maybe the last to get a seat in the back row in the very corner. I have never felt as cramped in a plane as this flight but I was happy to be going home. Mom and Dad were waiting for me; it was nice to see him out of the hospital.
Next couple weeks I just did the holiday thing, rest and relaxation was the name of the game. I did some visiting of friends and family. I did some shopping and exploring but mainly I just had a good time visiting my parents. There were numerous barbeques and bonfires that make summer in Canada so great. I attended the interment ceremony of the ashes of a computer pen pal, frequent traveler to Cuba and former Gimli resident, Freeman Brandson. He was a nice guy and will miss sharing our Cuba stories together.
I headed back to the USA on July 28th with my parents in their motor home. We got lost in Fargo and then spent the night at out cousins just outside of Fargo. The next morning we drove to St. Cloud where I got off and meet the bus that I went to Minneapolis with. They continues on to Shooting Star Casino and then on home. I went with the bus to Minneapolis Airport to meet a group of Icelanders coming in. There were 88 members of 2 Rotary Clubs from Kopavogur that arrived on the Icelandair flight. From there we drove about 2 ½ hours to Alexandria where we spent the night. From there we headed to Fargo and then Grand Forks for another night. Saturday July 31st we left the hotel early and headed for the August Deuce Celebration in Mountain. It is always a wonderful time, the Icelanders pretty well out numbers the locals though. There were what 4 bus loads of Icelanders and some other individuals as well. A good time was had by all. We were able to do some touring in the area as well, Garðar and the spot where Thingvellir Church once stood. It rained a little but not enough to dampen any spirits. The border crossing went well into Canada but it was still quite late when we arrived at the hotel in Winnipeg. Sunday was a day off for the tour. I think people needed it after the long day Saturday. I got a ride with Steinþor to Gimli at noon on the Sunday. He was returning home after attending Curtis Olafson´s wedding celebration in Mountain. He was getting married soon after we left. It would have been nice to stay for that I guess but you can’t do everything. Steinþor said everyone had a great time so that was good.
I set up a booth again for Nordic Trails. It was fairly quiet on the Sunday but there were still people around and it is great seeing old friends and family as well. I get a chance to meet many new and interesting people also. I stayed in Fraserwood one more night, packed my suitcase for the return trip to Iceland. Monday we were up early and got ready for the parade. I actually arrived before the boat. Much better location this year, the Viking ship was right after the VIPs. I got to ride the boat as I had to watch the mast; some say I was just lazy. Maybe that was partly it too. After the parade I hung out at the booth again. Many people came to visit; there was a good crowd at the park. After packing up I headed to the President’s reception and then met with the group and headed back to Winnipeg. I think most of the people in the bus slept all the way back to Winnipeg. Tuesday August 4th we did the tour of the east Interlake region. First we went to Arborg and then on to Hecla Island for lunch. We toured the village and then we went to Riverton. From Riverton we headed for Gimli where we attended a Rotary Meeting. It was another long day by the time we got back to Winnipeg.
Wednesday about ½ of the group headed to Lundar. We had a nice tour there and everyone enjoyed themselves. We toured a farm, went to Lundar Beach, a nice lunch at the golf course, toured the museum and then coffee at the hall compliments of the local chapter of the INL. We got back to Winnipeg quite early and even went out for a couple beers. Ran into another friend so that meant I had to have a couple more beers. I slept really well. It was tough getting up the next morning. We loaded the bus and headed for the USA. The crossing went well and then we continued on to Grand Forks and then the Headwaters of the Mississippi. That is always a nice spot to visit. From there we went to Bemidji. The next day we visited Duluth and then ended the trip back in Minneapolis. Almar met us just outside of Minneapolis with Champagne and snacks, it was a nice touch. We stayed at a hotel right beside the Mall of America, so everyone including myself did their fair share of shopping. We headed for the airport around 3 the next afternoon. Check in went well and the flight to Iceland was great.