Interest in visiting Cuba, so close to our border yet so different in its culture, economy, and form of government, is rising. These images confirm it as a world apart, which is why travelers want to see it before it changes. While it's possible to enter Cuba by flying from Canada or Mexico, US citizens who are caught trying to do so are subject to penalties and prosecution. However licensed, US-government-sanctioned educational tours and ones led by religious groups are permitted.
Katrina Easterling -- pictured here with some of her rodeo queen contestant girls and husband Ronny who also pitches in -- runs one of the most highly regarded rodeo queen pageants.
Running a rodeo queen pageant isn't easy, but for this Texas midlifer the rewards are many.
Our west coast hearts go out to our Eastern brethren this week in the wake of Hurricane Irene's recent visit, and even more so after last week's 5.8 temblor that shook, rattled and rolled a region far less accustomed to seismic events than we are. Apparently, we have 100 times more earthquakes out here, but the shock waves along the Atlantic seaboard travel much farther due to the comparative solidity of the Earth's crust there. Either way, it is compacted terror rolled up into 45 slow-motion seconds.