About cybertoad

Posts by cybertoad:

2

Introducing Time Travel Tuesdays

Posted by cybertoad on 06/28/2016 in europe, time travel tuesdays |

In the summer of 1996, after graduating college, thanks to my mother’s support and encouragement, I had the opportunity to travel through Western Europe for a full two months as a graduation gift before hitting the “real” world and settling into a full-time job.

This summer will be 20 years since that amazing, life altering trip and since I just refreshed this blog with an emphasis on travel, I thought it would be fun to revisit the handwritten journal I kept on that journey.

I was very meticulous about journaling every day – I often took notes in a smaller journal then every few days would review my notes and maps and write my thoughts out more fully. Places and new terms were highlighted (highlighters were bought in a stationery shop in Florence). Even though it was tedious sometimes to try to catch up, other times it was a great excuse to slow down and find a cafe or park to do my writing. Some days it kept me occupied on long train rides or was a great nightcap at the end of the long day walking.

I won’t publish every entry (I made a point to journal each day of travel) but I’ll type up my favorites so you can join me in laughing at the thoughts and writing style of a 22 year old Elaine. They’ll be featured under this new category, Time Travel Tuesday.

Below is a picture of the journal itself. And it was such a perfect travel journal! Since it was spiral bound and hardcover, I could fold it upon itself and write without needing a hard surface like a table. And when I wasn’t writing on it, I could use it to play cards or write postcards. It held up great throughout two months of travel!

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Dusting this blog off…

Posted by cybertoad on 06/22/2016 in commentary, personal, travel |

Hello everyone! I hope you like the updated look and the new focus on travel. I’ve had this blog since the summer of 2001 and I couldn’t just give it up after 15 years. You can read a little more of the blog’s history here… In addition to simply updating the theme with new background […]

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My Aunt’s House

Posted by cybertoad on 06/17/2016 in caribbean, cuba, instagram, photography |

My Tia’s house is the light coral one on the 2nd floor with the terrace on the far right. You go through the black gate to go up the stairs.  

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My Thoughts on Cuba & Tourism

Posted by cybertoad on 06/15/2016 in caribbean, cuba, travel |

I know I’ve been posting a lot of photos from Cuba, And it’s funny because through the various Instagram filters I’ve used, I am romanticizing the city. As I edited my photos in Instagram I’d show my Tia Gladys my pictures and she was like, “Wait, that’s my street or that’s the city? You’ve made […]

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More almendrones

Posted by cybertoad on 06/15/2016 in instagram, photography, travel |

This is a great article that explains the classic car phenomenon in Cuba, or almendrones as they are called, but to summarize: “New American cars have been off-limits under the U.S. trade embargo since 1960. In fact, until a relaxation of rules in 2013, Cubans were forbidden to buy any cars manufactured abroad. And only […]

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Visiting Mom’s Old House in Habana

Posted by cybertoad on 06/14/2016 in travel |

Today’s story… We visited the house Mom & Dad lived in as newlyweds (Dad had lived there during his previous marriage). The current owners graciously allowed us in. This mirror and shelf are right at the entrance and the current owner said they just can’t be removed without doing damage so there they are, over […]

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Across the street from my Mom’s old home in Santos Suarez.

Posted by cybertoad on 06/09/2016 in caribbean, cuba, instagram, photography, travel |

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Why aren’t there mosquitoes in Havana?

Posted by cybertoad on 06/07/2016 in misc |

While in Havana, I did not see a single mosquito. My aunt explained to me that it was because the state was fumigating homes (inside your home, not just spraying in the streets). On my last day we heard, then saw them coming down the street. Fascinating to me since here in the US most […]

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Batido de Mango

Posted by cybertoad on 06/06/2016 in caribbean, cuba, photography, travel |

We visited the house my parents lived in and the huge mango tree was still taking over the backyard like it did 50 years ago. Mangos were falling off the tree as we walked through so the current owner sent us home with a bag full. My aunt let them ripen a couple of days […]

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Give us this day our daily bread… ration.

Posted by cybertoad on 06/06/2016 in caribbean, cuba, instagram, photography, travel |

Did you know that Cuban citizens still have a ration book and are allotted a certain amount of basic staples a month per person. A roll of bread per day per person is part of the rations. The small blue book on the counter is my aunt’s ration booklet. Read a little more here in […]

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