Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

The last of the three-week selections from 1971 is from the Canadian band Lighthouse and their hit, "One Fine Morning". Like Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears, Lighthouse also had a horn section and that plays a big part in "One Fine Morning".  The song was released in July 1971.

From Wikipedia:

Lighthouse is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969 in Toronto, Ontario, whose repertoire included elements of rock music, jazz, classical music, and swing and featured horns, string instruments, and vibraphone. They won Juno Awards for Best Canadian Group of the Year in 1972, 1973, and 1974. 

James Bond and Hemingway House

Above, Timothy Dalton and Robert Brown (right) at Hemingway House.

For the first time in about three years, I watched the second James Bond movie starring Timothy Dalton, Licence To Kill (1989). I think I last watched it while in Mammoth Lakes, California during my Owens Valley trip.

For starters, I find it hard to believe that this year marks 30 years since Licence To Kill was made and released. Time sure does fly! (Note: it is the English spelling of the word licence. We usually spell it as license.)

During my recent cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba, we stopped in Key West for the day to wander around and explore the town and to shop and eat. One place I toured was Hemingway House, where writer Ernest Hemingway lived and worked.

During the tour, it was pointed out by our tour guide that the second floor balcony was featured in Licence To Kill during the scene of the confrontation between James Bond (Dalton) and M (Robert Brown).

Before arriving at the corner on the balcony, the camera focused on the Key West Lighthouse where an armed man stood.

With those shots in mind, I photographed the balcony corner and the lighthouse.

Below are screen shots of those Licence To Kill "landmarks" and photographs of them as they are today.

The Hemingway House Balcony with actor Robert Brown from Licence To Kill:

The same spot taken in April:

Next, the Key West Lighthouse from Licence To Kill:

The Key West Lighthouse in April (note the different paint job and the screen removed):

There were other shots of Hemingway House in the movie as were of Key West. From what I was able to see from the movie, Key West hasn't changed all that much in 30 years.

Above, the cat cemetery at Hemingway House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

No doubt, the Hemingway House cats shown in the movie are now resting at the cat cemetery on the property. I likely saw their descendants during my April visit.

Cuba Cruise Random Shots

Above, a tour train outside of the Shipwreck Museum in Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since I received my first camera (an Imperial Lark) at age 9, I have been an admitted shutterbug.

The recent cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Key West to Havana, Cuba afforded plenty of "photo ops" for me. And I definitely took advantage of them.

I mainly used my Canon Rebel T5i, but I also used my Samsung Galaxy S9.

Here's some photos I took during the trip (randoms):

Above, the morning moon shot with the S9. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our deck (Deck 7). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our stateroom window view. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the morning sky at sea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the top deck above the pools. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Florida coast at the horizon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Casino Royale in the Majesty of the Seas. I made $40 here. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, goods for sale on board the ship. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the singer giving me a nice pose. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a sunrise at sea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above and below, Majesty of the Seas at Key West. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Key West Lighthouse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Hemingway House kitties getting treats. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a Key West Trolly. This is what we rode in. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a Key West restaurant's Cuba display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, "007" moored at Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, breakfast about to be served at the Windjammer Marketplace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, tracking our cruise course. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a vintage Chevrolet in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, heading out of Havana Port. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Touring Havana, Cuba, Part Two

Above, El Cristo de La Habana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our tour of Havana, Cuba, we headed out of the main part of the city to visit the El Cristo de La Habana (Christ of Havana) statue and the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña.

This massive statue of Jesus was completed in 1958, a year before the Cuban revolution. The statue overlooks the city from its hilltop plaza.

Above, our ship, Majesty of the Seas, at Havana Port. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While at the El Cristo de La Habana, I found a good spot to take some photos of our ship, Majesty of the Seas in Havana Port.

Above, a Cuban government faciity near the El Cristo de La Habana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nearby, is the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, which is an 18th-century fortress complex featuring museums, cultural events & a nightly canon-firing ceremony. The only place we went to there was the cigar and rum store. At the fortress, wreckage parts of the U-2 spy plane that was shot down during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis were displayed.

Above, parts of the U-2 spy plane that was shot down during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Originally, I thought I didn't take a photo of the U-2 wreckage pieces, but while going through my photos, I found that I did take a picture of them.

Above, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the store, I bought ten Montecristo No. 2 cigars. For every five cigars purchased, they give one free cigar. So I ended up with a dozen cigars. I also bought the legal limit of rum (1 litre).

Above and below, a cannon and gun at Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After we made our purchases, we then made our way back into the city. Along the way, we passed Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro, which is an iconic symbol of Havana's seagoing past. The fort dates back to the late 16th century.

Above, vintage steam locomotives were displayed outside of the flea market/bazaar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the city, we went to a flea market/bazaar for more shopping. Mitch Geriminsky bought some cigars there and since I only had seven pesos left, I ended up getting a small (3 inch) wooden carved Indian figure for five pesos.

Above, inside the flea market/bazaar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After shopping, we then headed back to the ship. It was a fun excursion. It was interesting to see Cuba. I found the people there to be nice and friendly, which is not surprising since our issues are with their communist government and not with them. It looks like some capitalism is slowly creeping back into Cuban life, which is a good sign.

Above, as we were sailing out of Havana Port, here's a shot of the port's entrance with Castillo
De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro and its lighthouse on the right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Actually, I wouldn't mind going back to Cuba for a return visit.

Above, the entrance to the cigar and rum store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see part one of our Havana tour, go here.

Above and below, inside the cigar and rum store. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Key West, Florida

Above, at the El Meson De Pepe bar. 

Our first stop on the cruise I took last week was in Key West, Florida.

Although touristy, Key West is a fun place to roam around in. There's plenty of shops, attractions, restaurants, bars and museums to go through.

Here's a few examples:

Above, the view of the dock from our ship. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Key West shops and hotels. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Kermit's. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is considered the best. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mitch with Tina the Tarpon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Key West's Sloppy Joe's Bar. There's also one in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Hemingway Rum factory, inspired by the author of the same name. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, one of many watering holes in Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Key West Lighthouse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, this area of the second floor balcony of the Hemingway Home was used in the James Bond
 movie, License To Kill. It was the confrontation scene between 007 and M. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, one of 50+ cats at the Ernest Hemingway Home. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the southernmost point of the continental United States. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Green Parrot Bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the end of U.S. Highway 1. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the El Meson De Pepe restaurant and bar, where I spent
some time enjoying margaritas and a cigar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.