Tofino..

barnacles.. woot woot, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I have been massively lucky to get as much vacation time as I want. Right when I got back from Cuba Mary called me up and floated the idea of joining her when she went to Victoria for a conference. Being Mary's birthday as well it seemed like a good idea. While we were celebrating mom thought it would be a good time for a little unbirthday for me! how could I resist!

unbirthday, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

In another lucky happenstance my friend Diana was in BC from Beijing visiting some friends. I convinced her to come up for a few days as well. I love introducing my hometown to my pals - it's the most beautiful place in the world.

diana and I at the BEACH, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

sa sa sa sand, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Bike Trip Day 5 ... Havana

Havana - Karen and I at the Water, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

The next day we returned to Havana and took a walking tour to the old city. I had such a fabulous time I really didn’t want to go back to Canada, especially since it was 28 degrees in Cuba and –28 in Toronto. Oh well.

Bike Trip Day 4 ...one more thing

town outside of San Cristobal (day4)
Originally uploaded by girl from finito

Who knows where this was shot...
we at just biked through San Cristobal on our way to our last stop...
make sure to notice the awesome nurse and horse drawn cart..

Bike Trip Day 4 ... a few more pics

The road to San Diego, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I took the best pictures this day.. most while speeding along on my bike. I think I was probably more relaxed and could go a little slower and take more because it was the last day.

mind the poo...

man there are vultures everywhere in cuba. alot of the time Karen and I would imagine the vultures waiting for us to wipe out/ pass out from exhaustion on our bikes so they could sweep down and eat us.

Bike Trip Day 4 ... Victory!

Victory!, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

The last day of cycling we traveled about 70 km back to San Diego. Checked into our hotel and had massages. Well worth it! Before dinner we went on a tour of a cigar factory which we had missed the day before. That night we had a little band all to ourselves and we danced until we were too tired to move. We didn't last too long.

Bike Trip Day 3 ... Las Terrazas

Last stop, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

By the third day we all though we were insane but the cycle trip, though longer (about 65 km), it was an easier cycle from Vinales to San Diego and then we bussed to Las Terrazas. Las Terrazas is a project set up by Castro of sustainable rural economy based on the rational use of its natural resources for tourism. The buildings were designed to blend with their surroundings. Many of the people that live there are farmers whose fields are located a short distance away and others are artists. Before checking into the hotel we went swimming in the natural waterfalls at Banyos de San Juan. The pools and waterfalls was used as a spa when the Spanish first came to the island. There is only one hotel in the city and it was gorgeous.

The Hotel Moka was 4 star and deservedly so. We ate that night at a converted coffee plantation on the top of a nearby mountain.

Bike Trip Day 2 ... a few more pics

Just thought I would add a few more pictures.. I can't find them on flickr.. but will post them anyway
here..
once I upload them...

UPDATE! I think there should be more but I can't seem to find them.. I think they weren't scanned in?? oh well, follow the link for some more pics.