Cuba, Is It Worth A Trip? + Mother's Day Gift Ideas
We just returned from a whirlwind 7 day trip to Cuba and I'm so excited to share it with you!
Cuba can definitely seem daunting when you see how our politics have made it so complicated to travel. From visas and licenses to itineraries and documentation, this was one of the most unique trips we've taken. Luckily for me, Tim was an amazing travel planner and put together a fabulous itinerary for us. It's a lot to review all at once so we'll break it down over the next few weeks and soon you'll know everything that we know about this fabulous country.
First, the red tape...
1. Passport: You need a passport that expires at least 6 months after your arrival.
2. Visa: You'll need to get a Visa to travel to Cuba and you can do this at the airport with your airline. We paid a bit extra to do it ahead of time just in case we were running short on time. Here's where we bought ours.
3. Travel License: There are 12 categories under which you can travel to Cuba. Click here for the list, we traveled under Support for the Cuban Peoplemeaning that we were there to interact with Cubans and exchange cultural ideas. This is the license that is the most simple to travel under but you do need to document what you plan to do each day. There's not really anything you need to do for the license but you'll need to tell the airline and use this as your reason for any customs paperwork when you enter and leave the country.
4. Health Insurance: You are required to have non-US health insurance which is included in the cost of your airline ticket. They suggest that you keep your boarding pass with you at all times as proof of insurance.
We kept our boarding passes with us along with copies of our passports and Visas. We kept the originals of our passports and Visas in a safe at our Airbnb.
Speaking of Airbnb, this was one of the best parts of our trip. Our Airbnb home was called Casa de Vera in the Vedado neighborhood which was away from the hustle and bustle but close to everything we needed. Our host and his family were very helpful for the entire trip and we loved the home as well. It was even featured in Inside Out, a Cayman Island luxury home magazine. The soaring ceilings, eclectic mix of furniture styles and art deco architectural details were simply stunning.
Stay tuned to hear more about our trip soon!
Don't forget Mother's Day is this Sunday! Stop by DOMAIN because she loves it here so you'll definitely find the perfect gift for her. You could even sign her up for one of our upcoming Workshops like jewelry making or Japanese paper marbling. Better yet, sign up to go with her... quality time and a thoughtful gift. You're welcome.:)
Here are my Top 5 Gifts for Mother's Day
1. Sugarfina has an indulgent treat for any sweet tooth from Champagne Gummies to Dark Chocolate Salted Cashews (my favorite).
2. A fair trade, Egyptian Cotton Scarf ... now you're the favorite.
3. Handmade Jewelry... bracelets, necklaces, earrings... they're all beautiful and unique, just like her. Aww, you can use that in the card.
4. Waxing Kara products... derived from honey and locally made on the Eastern Shore, any of these bath and body or honey products will make a mother feel pampered and special.
5. Ceramic Succulents and Coral are one of our best selling items because they're simply beautiful. Each one is carefully handmade and glazed and now we have lots of new colors and flowers.
And... if you need more lists, DC Modern Luxury Magazine honored us by asking for "8 Goods for a Green Life" where I shared some of my top shopping finds that are beautiful, functional and sustainable. Check it out here...
We hope to see you soon and here are some of our upcoming workshops we have on the calendar for DOMAIN!
STONE STACKING RING WORKSHOP WITH WILD SOL JEWELRY
Saturday, May 18th, 2019
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Join Natalie Chay of Wild Sol Jewelry to create your very own adjustable stone stacking ring. This nature-inspired ring is cute and simple as it stands alone, but pairs well alongside your favorite simple rings! This ring will be customized to your unique aesthetic as there will be a number of natural stones to choose from. You will learn how to forge and hammer your ring, be introduced to a ring mandrel, and wire wrap your choice of stone to the band. The materials we will be working with are natural stones, gold plated wire, and gold plated brass. This workshop will be full of connection, creativity, and fun! Click here to purchase tickets!
MARBLED PAPER STATIONERY WORKSHOP WITH ODETTE PRESS
Saturday, May 25th, 2019
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Join Kelly Laughlin of Odette Press as you explore the creative and meditative process of suminagashi-style paper marbling. Use colorful inks to paint on the surface of water as you create unique, marbled paper cards and envelopes. You’ll walk away with a set of 10 marbled cards and envelopes along with the knowledge of how to continue this process at home.
The paper marbling process is perfect for all makers and learners, especially those just beginning to explore creative practices. All materials provided. Click here to purchase tickets!
Let us know if there are any skills you want to learn or special interests you want to explore at the shop and we'll set up a workshop to learn more!
See you soon!
Laura, Tim and Maddie
xxx