Another view along Havana's waterfront breakwater.

This Che display is on the Secret Service building. I've just been reading about Che, and many claim he was a real nasty person who was Castro's bloodthirsty executioner, responsible for thousands of deaths. Not really the type of icon you'd want to have as the tourist icon he is on every sort of tourist merchandise available.

This is an example of how huge the banyan tree can grow - note the couple on the bench beside it.

Nice slogan on the soccer field - Socialism or Death.

The Canadian Embassy in Havana, Cuba.

Strolling along the famous Havana breakwater waterfront.

In the middle of a run down area is this fenced in money exchange building.

Just idling away the time.

Waiting for a bus.

More bus waiting.

Here we are off the beaten track in Havana, in the non-tourist part of the city.

Unless the government decides it's necessary, most of the litter does not get picked up.

The first rains of the season move in to Havana.

A neighbourhood in huge need of infrastructure money - not coming soon, though.

One of the better, cleaner neighbourhoods.

This morning, May 31, we woke up to cool temps, and then it snowed.

We nor the plants were impressed, then the power went out for 2 hours.

For the briefest of moments we thought we were living in Calgary, the land of 4 season days.

The next bunch of photos, today and the next few days, were taken in Habana, Cuba, pretty much off the beaten path and the tourist district. Out here is where the real Habanans live.

This mural at the "V" of the start of a street is a sinister face.

If there are now windows or doors, just paint 'em on the building.

Cinco Heroes - Cinco Voces. Not sure who the five are, but it looks like a mural depicting gymnastic sports.

I took this shot of the College Education Center, Nipissing University and Canadore College, as we were on our approach to land.

The grey house in the middle with the "L" shaped dock belongs to the Butcher and his lovely wife Karen.

The Ice Marshal's boat and dock are in plain view, and so is the spot for the "future" house.

I took this shot of the Manitou Islands on Lake Nipissing as our flight home from Cuba neared the airport.

This is another photo taken as we returned to North Bay from Cuba. This is the North Bay waterfront on Lake Nipissing.

Here's an overview of North Bay and Trout Lake in the distance to the east as we headed back to the airport to land.

This is another overhead shot of "the compound".

This is an original cottage and boat house, very little visible new upgrades. The underwater structures are really clear from the air.

McCoy's Tavern, the former Portage Hotel, is shown here with a recently departed boat from its dock cruising out of One Mile Bay.

This a look towards the east as Trout Lake drains into the Mattawa River System, including Turtle Lake, Lake Talon and then the Mattawa and its little lakes along the way to the town of Mattawa and the Ottawa River.

Yesterday evening, the Butcher took me for an aerial spin over Trout Lake. He handles the "stick" with way more control than he does on the ice.

Looking eastward over Trout Lake.

Looking westward over the lake.

The Aardvark Ranch and detox center.

This is an overhead view of our house looking northward. Marsha is standing on the deck at the railing to the side of the chimney.

Today we look at some of the modes of transportation in Cuba.

Trucks are used as taxis and buses.

On highways, there are many folks hitchhiking. They are often picked up by truck drivers.

I finally enclosed the wood shed. I started last fall and did all the sides except the front. Over the past couple of days I made the doors and finished the front side.

Here's a "before" photo of the garden shed, just after it was built, and the wood shed on the right - huge difference.

These two photos are of the bar Hemingway used to frequent in downtown Habana. It was pretty jammed inside, so we just cruised on by.

This is the mango tree in our hosts back yard. It will be a month or two before they are ripe.

Another "classic" old car at the pumps. It probably has an old Lada engine or diesel engine under the hood by now.

Sports fields are great place for propaganda murals on the surrounding walls and fences.