Well, Buenas Dias everyone! We just got back just after midnight...80F degrees yesterday, barely 14F (or -10C) this morning. We're still not home yet. Hubby is driving his brother and sister-in-law to Quebec City today, I'm in Montreal, we'll head home tomorrow.

Our time in Cuba was amazing. So much to tell...when we get back home, I'd love to share some of the stories here. Before we left in January, we had not been able to get much information on the area on Cuba we were going to, in terms of post-hurricane damage. So we weren't prepared for the extent of the devastation. Many of our friends' houses just disappeared, and any that were left behind had been damaged by flooding. So many people lost everything. Many of the roofs were caved in, but people are still living in the houses (the mosquito nets we brought were definitely a much-appreciated gift this year!)

It was so sad, especially since we hadn't come prepared for that level of neediness and could have brought so much more if we had known. We brought so much stuff, but it was like a drop in the bucket compared to what they needed.

But what was so amazing was the spirit of sharing that permeated the hotels. Most of the tourists are repeat tourists, people who keep coming back every year, not so much for the sun-and-sand, but to help the people. This year the weather was actually the worst we've ever seen, to the point where everyone was wishing we had brought winter coats. But despite the weather, so many people kept coming up to us, giving us bags of clothing and money and other stuff to distribute to the people who needed it. Many tourists went home with just the clothes on their backs. It was humbling and wonderful...truly amazing.

More to tell, but I'll leave it at that for now. Still acclimatizing...my head's still a bit scrambled...I've been totally immersed in Spanish for six weeks...hard to get my brain back this morning!

I'm REALLY glad to be back here at BWS - the Internet connection in Cuba is so unreliable - it took me 20 minutes just to check my email! And it was too expensive to indulge in spending any time at BWS while down there!!!)

As for being back home, I'm not sure how I feel...we really enjoyed our time with our friends there this year, and I miss them already. So much devastation and need, and yet so much generosity of love and friendship everywhere we went. Hubby and I both delighted in the depth of connection...we have a better social life there than we do here!

Anyway, I'm going to go and read through other topics and catch up with everyone.