31
May 2017
The
last day of the month of May, a month of excesses.
15
flights all in First Class or Business Class
North
America, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia
Set
foot in: USA Cuba Belgium Egypt Qatar Malaysia Singapore
Met
two ambassadors: both Cubans to Malaysia and Qatar
Hotels
Oryx Rotaana, Movenpick, Shangrila in Doha
Double
Tree by Hilton in Kuala Lumpur
Changi
Village Hotel in Singapore
Hotel
Equatorial in Malacca
Comfort
Inn in Chicago
Hampton
Inn in Charlotte
Dinner
with the Ambassador in Malaysia
Dinner
with MunChing Yong in Kuala Lumpur
Dinner
with Irene and Andrew in Malacca
Dinner
with Ashleen and Maurice in Sioux City Dinner with Family Pinillos in Havana
Rendezvous
with Psychology Colleagues in Havana
Most
of the days were agreeable, except a couple of days in Belgium. Made some new
friends and renewed acquaintances in Qatar, Malaysia and among American
Indians.
What
do I look forward to, after such a month of excessive pleasures? The month of
June?
Miami,
American Indians, Malaysia and Cambodia .
The
heat was relentless, I had a late breakfast and then went for a walk, under the
blazing sun, past the malecon and on the way stopped at the home of Cari, we
chatted for a while and I wanted to get back to the house to prepare it for the
evening ahead.
I
tidied up the house, got the aperitifs in order and got the table ready, poor
Joaquin had to go out in the heat of the day to get a 5 litre bottle of water,
three packets of home made crackers.
Pesto
with Quinoa (trader Joe’s), which was the hit of the day.
Salmon
with vegetables from France,
Tuna
with vegies from France
Both
of them got a mediocre reception
Salmon
from Alaska fried with onions and lemon here in the house, got a good
reception.
California
olives stuffed with jalapenos were too hot for the Cubans, but the black olives
(both from Trader Joes) were welcome.
I
had two buttes of rum but it was hardly touched as wine was on the offer
Syrah
from maipu valley
Torrents
from Spain
Yet
another table wine from entre Rios in Spain
A
bottle of asturian cider.
A
flask of vodka left here by Auntie Greta, which was a hit with the Valencia
orange mix from Starbucks
So
I know what to bring the next time, and also Jack Daniels was requested.
The
main dish was lamb cooked with Thai Curry (trader Joes), lamb accessed locally,
18 of us ate and the total cost of the meat was only 20 dollars. Congri, rice
mixed with black beans, fried plantain chips, which was a hit.
The
conversation flowed easily and we all felt that our group, which is slowly
growing, taking in the growing up adolescents: Danielita daughter of Babe and
Andres is well adapted to our circle. Whoever enters our circle has to be a bit
open-minded.
I
am happy to be part of this group; I became a part of it in November 2007 when
I presented a paper at the Association of Latin American Diabetes in Havana.
All
in all, a successful get together of good friends, possibly my best friends in
Cuba. What a wonderful end of this month of May, when my life was full, had
great experiences and had some definite changes.
