"When it became July my friend Nigersaurus and I left South Africa together for the island Nation of Cuba. As we had agreed earlier, I was going to teach him some dancing lessons in order to limber up his tail for maximum whacking, should he ever have to defend Ms. Giraffe, African Ground Pangolin, Chinese Pangolin, or anyone else in need", said Stegosaurus.

"I followed and floated forthrightly on my raft, but as Nigersaurus is a Sauropod he simply swam or floated most of the way, much more accustomed to water than I. Along the way we discussed the kind of dances he wanted to learn; I also made suggestions as to those which would make him the most limber. He really wanted to learn square dancing, the official dance of my native land, Colorado so we started there once we settled in the city of Havana.

"What a great joy it is to visit Cuba," said Nigersaurus to me. "I am enjoying myself so much, I am surprised that I never visited before. I must return and return often."

"I am glad you enjoy it," said Stegosaurus. "Like nearby Florida, the climate is quite agreeable."

"I have enjoyed the Square dance lessons, and I thank you immensely but somehow Square dancing does not seem appropriate for the culture here. What dance is it that you feel most exemplifies the best of Cuba?"

"That would be Salsa dancing, friend Nigersaurus. You'll have to let me introduce you to the lovely Madame Lazonga's Latin daughter. Ms. Lazonga was a wonderful mammal who gave me my first lessons in 1940, and she had six daughters, of which one is still living. As with most mammals they don't live very long but she is a delight to know and you'll be pleased to make her acquaintance. She'll help develop your hips and your knees."

"Why, thank you," began Nigersaurus. "After dinner we ...." then we were interrupted by an unexpected visitor.

"Greetings!" said Rhedosaurus.

"What a surprise! Welcome!" said Stegosaurus. "What brings you to Cuba? Is your lovely wife with you today?"

"Lady Rhedosaurus is not here she is home in New York. I came down here because I got a craving for Cuban policemen; they have Caribbean Seasoning and I stopped by your School of Dance here on a lark, just to see if you happened to be in town and you are! How nice to see you!" said Rhedosaurus. "What brings Nigersaurus to Cuba?"

"I am interested in learning some dance moves in order to become more limber and protect endangered species like Ms. Giraffe. So I have come here with Stegosaurus to learn."

"How very nice. I learned the waltz from Stegosaurus. It helped me meet my wife. Would you be interested in learning the waltz? I could use some brush up lessons, and we could learn together."

"I will not refuse it," said Nigersaurus. I'd like to find something else to do with my time besides lounge around the Niger river."

"I think you'd also like Salsa dancing," said Stegosaurus, "..... and while I could teach you I really would like to introduce you to Madame Lazonga's daughter who taught me."

"I'd be delighted," said Nigersaurus.

"Incidentally, hello, Rhedosaurus! Nice to see you. Welcome to my school of dance again!" said Stegosaurus.

"Do you mind if I come with you to meet Madame Lazonga's daughter?" asked Rhedosaurus.

"Of course you may come along," said Stegosaurus.

And so it was that the three dinosaurs stomped forthrightly from The Stegosaurus School of Dance to the small, humble home of the last living daughter of Madame Lazonga, Hermosa Lazonga.

The elder woman was sitting outside on her porch in a rocking chair and saw the dinosaurs approaching.

"Hello Stegosaurus! I am delighted to see you come for a visit! What friends do you bring with you from out of town?"

"Greetings, Madame, I delight to see you well. These are my friends Nigersaurus and Rhedosaurus. I was teaching Nigersaurus a few dance moves in dances other than ones native to Cuba when I thought I would take him to visit you so that you could teach him Salsa like you did for me last week."

"Oh but Stegosaurus," said Ms. Hermosa, I am now 95 and not as young as I was. It wasn't last week that I taught you but 1940. I am now aged 95 and afraid I am not quite the dancer I was then."

"I do understand Ms. Lazonga," said Stegosaurus. "Time gets away from me sometimes."

"I would be glad to teach them what you taught me, Ms. Hermosa, will you still have us for a visit?"

"Of course, Stegosaurus," said Ms. Hermosa. "I am sure you can teach your friends how to develop their hips and their knees. I will be glad to tell you the great things about my homeland of Havana."

"We have a festival coming up on July 18th which is one of our most popular. Perhaps you'd all like to attend the Carnival of Santiago de Cuba it is a great deal of fun for everyone. We will have Latin rhythms that will help develop your hips and your knees, we have the best Carribean and tropical foods, a great deal of alcohol is consumed, there are parades and street performers I am sure that a few dinosaurs would be welcome and the stars of the evening. I know Stegosaurus is not a seafaring animal, but Nigersaurus may enjoy our sea sports; it being summer all seven or our ports are open, we have coral reefs and an abundance of sea life that you can eat or talk to as you choose. A lot of the mammals enjoy diving, and for that I should recommend the Marlin Marina Hemingway Nautical, one of our most popular spots for underwater activity; I am sure divers would enjoy riding upon your back while underwater, if you feel inclined to such generosity. We have four different beaches, if you choose for a little sun while cooling in our tropical waters. Come and spend time with us when we are not enduring a Natural disaster; we don't get as many US visitors as we did in 1940, because of the silly US embargo, but dinosaurs, having no cognizance of such laws ignore them and we enjoy Stegosaurus' company that's why we granted him some land to build his first School of Dance on over 70 years ago."

"I am indeed particularly interested in your annual ballet festival," confessed Stegosaurus, "Though having been down here for a while I knew about that one already but I have always been impressed by the resilience of the Cuban people who somehow remain a cheerful and proud people in spite of the adverse circumstances that surround them. Cuba is a delightful place filled with delightful people your climate is similar to nearby Florida I've been coming here since 1940 and will continue to do so. We will indeed stay for your Carnival of Santiago de Cuba and appreciate your kindness and generosity Ms. Hermosa. Should you like to come back to the School of Dance and supervise my teaching of the arts you taught me so long ago? I will teach Nigersaurus and Rhedosaurus, and if you see anything being done not quite right, you may stop and correct me. We'd love to have you. Will you come?"

"Yes, I can make it that far. Give me a few moments and we can be on our way," said Ms. Hermosa.

"And so it was that I enjoyed my time with my friends spending half the month of July in Cuba, a land that in spite of its problems is still in places a vibrant cheerful and welcoming culture of mammals," said Stegosaurus.

"Ms. Hermosa did not have to correct me too much on my dancing form, for which I was proud. She taught me well the first time."