Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...

...and buses and ferries.

That is exactly how our trip went.  Here is a quick overview of all the transportation modes that were required to make our trip possible.

1. Drive to Ferry Landing
2. Take the ferry across Guantanamo Bay to the Leeward side of the island (we live on Windward)
3. Take a bus from ferry landing to the air terminal
4. Plane from gtmo to Jacksonville NAS
5. Another bus from Jacksonville NAS to a hotel near Jacksonville International Airport
6. Spend the night at the hotel
7. Hotel shuttle to the airport
8. Plane from Jacksonville to Baltimore
9. Plane from Baltimore to Denver
10. Train from the terminal to the baggage claim
11. Shuttle from baggage claim to car rental
12. Rent a vehicle, drive 4 hours to our destination

Total travel time: approximately 36 hours

Stayed in Colorado for 11 days, drove about 1,000 miles and stayed in 6 different locations.

Then we repeated 1-12 in reverse order to make the trip home. 

Home Sweet Home

Last week when we arrived home, we were welcomed by clear skies, blue water and  temperatures hovering right around 90 degrees.  It felt wonderful!  Looking out the plane window, I spotted our little island and felt so peaceful.  We were home!  Even though we’ve only been here for 6 months, and even though we will only be here temporarily (perhaps 2-4 years) we’ve already adapted to calling this place home.

I felt even more at home...

...when we visited a restaurant and knew half of the diners! 

...when I was greeted by name at the store.

...when I saw a pedestrian crossing the street and the vehicles stopped.

...when I drove 25 mph and it felt fast enough.

...when I didn’t have to lock my car door.

...when I didn’t have to plug in my cell phone before bed.

...when my round-trip to the grocery store took 30 minutes.

...when I heard colors in the evening.

...when I proudly watched the flag flying high on the hill.

Our trip

We've been in the states for nearly two weeks and we will return to Guantanamo Bay within the next week.  We have had a grand time and are so thankful that we've been able to make this trip.  Here are a few quick observations about our trip:

• I don't know anyone when I go places.  In gtmo, while I don't know everyone everywhere I go, I do know at least someone everywhere I go.  
• I felt very annoyed with cell phones and texting at first.  Now I've gotten used to it again, but honestly, I don't think it will be something that I will miss upon returning to the island.
• It has been cold!  Now, granted, we did go to one of the coldest spots in the nation and experienced negative 30 degree weather but I have to admit that I even felt cold when we arrived in Jacksonville with 55 degree temps.
• DVR is something that I have missed!  Fast-forwarding through commercials and being able to record a show while not home is such a nice luxury.
• I forgot how fast the internet can be!  Going back to the slower gtmo internet will be something that I will have to get used to again.
• Being with friends and family felt really good.  I wish I could gather everyone that I love into one place and keep them there with me.
• Driving over 25 mph felt downright scary for the first day or two.  In fact, I had a very difficult time driving 55 in a 65 zone.  When cars started piling up behind me, I quickly decided that using the cruise control was a good idea.  

A Trip to the States

Please pardon my absence lately.  We have been dealing with some sad news that started with finding out my dad was terminally ill and then his passing only five days later.  So, I just haven't been much up for blogging lately.

Because of my dad's death, we are headed to the states for his funeral.  As sad as the reason for the trip is, we are eager to go and visit with family and friends and are really looking forward to a change of scenery!  What I'm not looking forward to though is the cold.  We are headed to Colorado and to one of the coldest spots in the entire nation.  In fact, for three days in a row last week, Alamosa, CO has been the coldest spot in the nation with low temperatures hovering around -35 degrees F!  That is about a 100 degree difference compared to our 70 degree F lows!  Last night when we arrived in Jacksonville, I believe the temp was around 55 degrees and the kids were instantly cold.  Poor little things have no idea what subzero temperatures feel like!

So far, being back in the states is a tad bit overwhelming for me.  Choosing where to go and eat was challenging when given 20 + choices.  Driving more than 25 mph is a little scary too!  And forget texting and cell phone use.  I have my cell phone activated while we are here but I don't much feel like using it.  Not yet at least.

But while it is a bit overwhelming, it is also very enjoyable!  Lightening speed internet is a welcome change as is actually having choices.  We are very thankful to be able to make this trip and will no doubt have a great time!

Merry Christmas!

True to form, Guantanamo Bay gave us warm temperatures in the 80's to grace our Christmas Day celebrations and while I do enjoy cold weather and a crackling fire, I must admit that I'm enjoying the weather here as well.

We hosted a brunch at our house and enjoyed a meal of belgian waffles, omelets, oven-roasted potatoes, sausage, fresh fruit, carnitas, carne asada, San Diego burritos, juice, coffee and a Jamaican drink called Sorrel.

Just like our Thanksgiving meal, our Christmas meal found us blessed with many wonderful and interesting people.  When we first arrived here, we made friends with a teenage Jamaican boy.  He was here visiting his dad, who works here on the base.  Now his entire family was able to make the trip here  to be together as a family for Christmas.  Also joining us was a man named Manny.  His nickname is "Balancing Manny" and he has quite a unique talent for balancing objects on his head.  In fact, he has been on the Ellen DeGeneres show a number of times. Another claim to fame for him is that he ran the L.A. Marathon with a watermelon on his head the entire time.  He is in the reserves and was called up for duty here as a chef.  Manny has cooked for many Hollywood stars for years and today we were blessed with some of his cooking.  He made the carnitas, carne asada, San Diego burritos and several different salsas to go with it.
Here is a link to check him out: http://www.ellentv.com/2009/07/22/mannys-balancing-acts/
We ourselves have seen him balance and jog with a 5 gallon water cooler and a 6 ft. folding table on his head.
Our final guests were the George family.  They arrived on the island shortly after we did and we became instant friends.  We go to church with them and they have two teenagers who are friends with our teenagers so we are with them quite a bit.

We truly had a wonderful day and while we certainly miss family and friends, God has seen fit to add new people to our lives to enjoy and for that we are grateful.

Merry Christmas to everyone from Guantanamo Bay!

Christmas Shopping

Like most people during this time of year, I've been doing some Christmas shopping.  I've mentioned before that there is only one store here.  And while that is true, I did realize that there are other places to shop as well.  For fun, I decided to come up with a list of all the places to shop besides the exchange.

• Craft fair - I think this might be held quarterly.  There have been two since I've been here.  I was absolutely amazed at the variety and quality of crafts being sold.  Jewelry, framed photography, hand drawn cards, hair bows, oil lamp bottles, beach-combing crafts of all sorts, and scented wax smell-good things were among some of the offerings.  My favorite thing was local honey!  Yes, someone here has bee hives and bottles the honey.  Fantastic!
• Paintball Range - There is a store there that sells everything anyone would need to paintball.  My son got the whole set up as a Christmas gift from the grandparents and is ready to go!
• Treasures and Trivia - this is our thrift store and it has fabulous yard-sale prices.  I found a Pampered Chef cookie sheet for $1.50!
• Paperclips - the gtmo version of an office supply store.  I found several things that kids would like too like stationary, paint, backpacks, etc.
• Radio GTMO - I don't think I've mentioned this before, but we have our own radio station here.  They sell t-shirts, bobble-heads, water bottles and some other items.  The t-shirts say, "Rockin' in Fidel's backyard"
• Marine Hill - at the Marine's headquarter building, they sell t-shirts, coins and flags that have been flown over the Northeast Gate.  The t-shirts have the quote from A Few Good Men, "I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me" 
• Dive Shop - perfect for the scuba diver, they sell everything necessary for diving but also have * tons of things that anyone who is headed to the beach would enjoy.  Goggles, fins, masks, knives, t-shirts, beach shoes, etc.
• *Coming Soon* a bowling shop at the bowling alley
• The Windjammer restaurant - they sell a couple of t-shirts and a really fun caricature-style map of gtmo
• GTMO Family Connection - this is gtmo's facebook page and comes in handy for buying and selling.  I bought a fantastic Batman Lego set for Vincent from someone who accidentally ordered two!
• Marina - besides bait, I actually haven't paid too close attention to what they sell, but I do think I remember sunglasses and some fishing stuff.
• McDonald's - giftcards baby!  ok, so maybe this is a stretch, but hey =) And I don't actually even know if they sell giftcards...

Donuts!

 Aside from those powdered-sugar-coated-packaged donuts and some Entemann's-style boxed ones at the Galley (which I don't think should count), we don't have any donuts on the island.  Yesterday though, the commissary got some glazed donuts in the bakery section.  Vic spotted them but didn't buy any!  What!?!?!?  He told me about it while I was shopping today and proceeded to tell me that they were all sold out.  Why oh why would he tell me that!?  I was broken-hearted for the kids knowing that they would have been so excited and that I would have been a hero if I had come home with a box.  But, lo and behold, as he and I scanned the shelves, there was ONE box left!  Yippee!  Straight into my cart it went.  I am a hero after all!!!

If you're reading this from gtmo, no need to come knocking...the box is empty and a donut is happily in each of our tummies...and some of our tummies may even have two.  =)