Friday, February 15, 2013

cayo coco, cuba - the beach!

This year we vacationed at the Memories Flamenco hotel in Cayo Coco.

I had previously done a little bit of research on the best beaches in Cuba and Cayo Coco seemed to be the place to go! It did not disappoint! After searching around holiday packages I found the Memories Flamenco hotel, one of the things I liked about this hotel is that is was basically brand new and had just opened a year ago. Also, the bus ride from the airport was only about 20 minutes, which was great. One of the main things we love about Cuba, apart from the fantastic weather and great beaches, is the people! They are always consistently friendly and kind... and ever so happy. It is a joy just to be around them. Mind you, if you had heard my two girls say "Hola Amigo" to everyone they met, including the tourists!! ...well, you might have had a grin on your face too!

It was such a wonderful trip and I have SO many pictures, I hardly know where to start! But I figured I'd start with the best part - the beach! The weather was so ideal, every single day and the water was that perfect blue/turquoise with the sun shining down. Every single day the first glimpse of the water gave us that 'WOW!' moment. It was absolutely stunning.

The first day we introduced Phebe to the water she wasn't so sure about it, which is mildly strange because she LOVES getting bathed and even pours water over her own face - she has no fear of water whatsoever. Anyway, that first day she decided playing in the sand was so much more fun than water! However, by day two, she was sold on the water. It was so beautiful and warm, like a gigantic bath! It got to be that each morning Phebe would say "Mama beach. Mama water. Mama swim!" and her eyes would light up! She was so excited when I showed her how to swim one day with her armbands on... she talked about "swimming" non stop after that! The other two items she learned the name for were the rake and the hoe - two sand utensils that rarely left her hands!

Lilah loved the water, she wanted no part in the kids pool this year and begged to go to the beach every day... like we were going to say no! Ha! She spent a good part of her time sitting and playing in the water - I could hear her chattering away to herself have a jolly great old time. She was in Caribbean heaven! The only problem for me was having to drag her out of the water into the shade every now and again, as I was afraid of her getting too much sun exposure, even though I put Factor 50 on her several times a day!

Anyway, here's an overload of beach pictures... just because, it was *that* good!

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13 comments:

  1. Wow! Jill- these are *that* good!!! Great, actually!! Did you post process any? I'm wondering how you got that "ring" around the sky in several of them. Just gorgeous!! xoxo, Brooke

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    1. Hi Brooke! Thanks. And yes, I do post-process. I used Florabella's 'classic colour' in the 'classic' workflow set. The ring you are describing is the vignette in that action. Jill :)

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  2. they are both so adorable in their bathing suits. I can hardly stand it!

    lea
    xo

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  3. Wow! Stunning place and pictures. Love the one of Phebe and you; she looks like a film star!

    P.S. Where did you get the wraps for the girls hair (the black and turquoise ones)? Love them.

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    1. Hi Glinda! The head scarves are from Ardene... 5 for $10!! They are perfect when it is windy at the beach, because hats just won't stay on! Jill :)

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    2. Just found a link for them, although they have much more variety in the store! http://www.ardene.com/en/accessories/hair/head-wrap-solid.com

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    3. Fabulous! Thank you; what a great price!

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  4. Perfection! The colour of that ocean and sky... right now that would feel so wonderful!

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  5. Aww..how sweet to have a lil sis.

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  6. Just stunning photos! I feel like I almost went on the vacation from just viewing them :) Your girls would make good advertising for this resort and Cuba. I so want to go there now . . .what a special trip you had with wonderful memories to enjoy.

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  7. Jill, these are GORGEOUS!

    I've lived most of my life on the East Coast of Florida...where the beaches are not as beautiful as they are on the West Coast (Gulf of Mexico). Though the West Coast beaches are beautiful, they don't even come close to Cuba! Oh, the water.....so clear and blue. Dreamy.

    And your images make me feel like I'm right there with you. I'm just a wee bit jealous that you can vacation there but we can't (U.S. citizens, that is). Oh, how I'd love to go! What beautiful moments you captured for your family. Such keepsakes!!!!

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  8. Wow!! What a beautiful images!!Yeah in Cuba, there are various beautiful beaches to visit. I am very excited for my first Cuba tour but still don’t decide which location to visit first. Please give some information about most popular areas in Cuba’s where we visit first.

    trips to cuba

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