Cuba: Playa Gíron

A prerequisite from Dan for our trip to Cuba was a scuba diving trip so after Viñales we made our way to the Bay of Pigs. This area on the south coast is of course famous for the failed American invasion in April 1961, and unbeknownst to us the day we arrived was the 55th anniversary of the event. As we drove on the north-south road from Jaguey Grande to Playa Larga, school children were stood by monuments saluting as we drove past. When we arrived at our hosts' in Playa Gíron, we found out that evening there was to be a big town party, with food, drink and music in what is an otherwise sleepy town. What luck! That evening we wondered over to the town square and enjoyed the best piña coladas we tasted in all of Cuba (the secret is condensed milk), from the sweetest older gentleman at his drinks stand, and danced with all the locals late into the night.

The next day, we were collected by the free scuba bus which collects divers from all over town and drops off at the many scuba site along the Bay of Pigs coastline. The diving was very reasonably priced and started off with a refresher for those who haven't been for a while. As the photos show the waters were beautiful and crystal clear and whilst Dan was out at sea discovering shipwrecks and seeing the wildlife underwater, I did a little snorkelling and just taking in the scenery.

A place of invasions, we also arrived over the days that the crabs were invading the town. They were everywhere!! It happens once a year and the coastal roads were a crab massacre, and caused many a flat tyre for the cars making that journey.

The two afternoons we had in Playa Gíron were spent at Playa los Cocos, a small beach with a little refreshments hut where we sat under the palm trees enjoying a rum and coconut. More pictures on my Instagram! Following a relaxing couple of days on the coast, next stop: Cienfuegos...

Wight Isle

Last week D and I went on a little holiday to the Isle of Wight. We drove around the island and explored all corners. We walked to the Needles, round Bembridge harbour and along the beautiful and varied coastline. We stayed in a couple of B&Bs, Little Idyll, a sweet thatched cottage, and Little Span Farm and ate like kings - just check out the seafood royale from The New Inn. It was such a relaxing break yet we were only a couple of hours from home. It's funny how the sea can create a feeling of distance!

Serendipity

So I've just come home from an evening in town with friends, should go to bed at this early hour BUT through an email from the shop Frank in Whitstable, I have discovered the artist Zoe Murphy!

For this coming final year of my degree, one module I have selected is called Interdisciplinary where we explore a theme of architecture through another art and design medium. After some research through magazines, cut outs from my scrapbook, TV (specifically Kirsty's Homemade Home on Channel4), on the internet, I decided upon the theme of 'Make Do and Mend'.

Like old buildings are given new uses - an old factory converted into trendy, modern apartments - old furniture can be given a new lease of life through upholstery. There is no need to buy new when there is such good examples just looking for a little TLC. I had envisaged finding a vintage seat or chair and designing my own fabric or material to reupholster it with. Two thoughts for inspiration were London life and its skyline or the North Kentish seascape (as uni is 15mins away) - oh which to choose?!


Zoe Murphy indeed recycles household objects and furniture and the inspiration is her hometown of Margate, which is half an hour from me here at uni! Her designs give a modern, funky taste to vintage furniture, and according to her blog she is getting well deserved critical acclaim for it! So good, considering she only graduated last summer!

I'll definitely keep my eye on her work to give ideas for my own project and will post ideas, sketches and images as my own design progresses!