Feliz 1 de Enero!

A shop on Obispo Street last January while in Havana. The street has changed dramatically since I was last there (5 years earlier). Many more shops, lots of them selling souvenirs and other kitschy items. A quick survey indicated almost all of it was manufactured in China. It's then not a lot different than Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg. While we there a friend purchased her own house. She had saved for 12 years and got enough together to make the purchase. Things are slowly changing, the government has gotten much more active in the micro management of the tourist industry. Perhaps good for them, but those who were trying to work independently are being effectively squeezed out of business.

Three Guys Passing Time

Sitting on the door stoop and watching life go by is an interesting way to pass time in Havana.  All three of these guys were friendly and open to having a photo made. The one in the middle was the most interested and looked directly at the camera. These old carved doors are seen commonly in Habana Centro and Habana Vieja. One hopes that they are preserved insofar as possible as these areas are slowly restored. It is a shame that the care of so many of these things has been so limited and desultory. Often one hears the government being criticized for putting too many of its resources into military things and not rebuilding or maintaining the country. I suppose that cuts several ways and it depends where you start since many governments other than that of Cuba leave themselves open to the same criticism.

Affordable Care--Finally

Today on the announcement of the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality, I dug back in the files for this image. I made this photo while visiting the Cardiovascular Center in Vedado in 2003. This is a cardiologist and a lab technician performing a coronary angiogram in the cardiac catheterization laboratory there. I am a retired cardiologist who did such procedures in my career and I had the privilege of meeting one of the leaders of this facility in Havana. The capabilities of the physicians in Cuba were superb, the specialty training had been done in a hospital in Spain. I spent the better part of a day visiting and talking shop with many of the doctors who worked there. The doctors major complaint was the scarcity of information. They all felt that it was difficult to stay abreast of advances in their field of specialization. Almost all of their supplies were cleaned and re-used. In more advanced countries, most all of the supplies and instruments are disposable. Catheters and other things were cleansed, sterilized and re-used. The time to dispose of something was when it no longer worked. In spite of these shortcomings people were getting good care and it did not cost them anything. The availability of good front line care and public health has benefited the people in lessening disease and it reduces the cost of health care by avoiding unnecessary procedures. There are still many scarcities though and now there are some costs for drugs and things like that. Still the people can find a clinic and a provider anytime and can get some sort of treatment. It is an interesting contrast to the US system, like in most things the best way lies somewhere between the two....and, it is possible  to provide everyone with health care regardless of their ability to pay.

Roberto

The first time I met Roberto he was dressed in all white and sitting in the lobby of the Ambos Mundos hotel. He had been working as a guide for various people attending a workshop being done in Cuba by the Maine Photographic Workshops. He spoke very good English, but was concerned that the workshops were ending up and his work was running out. He perked up when I told him we were going to be around for the next week and could use a guide for some of those days. Over the years we have continued our friendship and he has helped me many times when I was in Cuba. He has helped plan road trips to other cities, functioned as a driver, assisted with renting vehicles, and keeping track of university students when I brought them to Cuba for educational workshops. We have gone to Santeria functions, sacrifices, and Folkloric dances that were produced by his late wife Maria. He has grown older, wiser, and the problems of living in Cuba have not been easily overcome although he has done that so far. The present effort to keep all the tourism under the control of the government run tourist agencies has made it more difficult for independents like Roberto. He now speaks four languages and maintains his government license as a guide and translator but life is still difficult. Anyone thinking of hiring a guide should contact me and I'll hook you up with him.

Cab Driver

This is the first photo I made in Cuba this past December, 2011. It may well be the best. This man ended up being our driver for multiple trips. He never missed a turn even though he only has one eye. He was typical of what one encounters in Cuba among the people-intelligent, kind, helpful, and interesting. Yes, he is a state employee; he has less freedom than those in many other places and that is a very bad situation. On the other hand he is Cuban and he loves his country. Unlike most cabbies in New York city he spoke English! and smelled OK. There are many instances that can be used to illustrate the oppressive nature of the Cuban government. Unfortunately there are as many or more instances of oppression that can be cited to prove the oppressive number of both the state and federal governments in our country-the USA. Neither Cuba nor the United States has a lot of room to talk re: human rights these days. It is mostly the pot calling the kettle black in the disputes between the two. And, just because sanctions seem to be working in Iran to some extent, it is not likely that similar tactics will work in Cuba where the USA has a century or more of supporting the wrong side.

Cathederal San Lazaro

Lazaro is the saint for the infirm  and the downtrodden. This beautiful small cathedral is about 15 miles from Havana just past Boyeros. The best day to visit is on Saturday for there are many more people and their are vendors selling all sorts of things plus a small market. When we went the entire church was decorated for Christmas. Many were there, praying, lighting candles, and visiting. It was not a somber atmosphere at all, and each time I've visited, I'm struck that it seems a more joyful place than many other cathedrals which are very quite and almost tomb-like in their overwhelming silence. We were respectful in making photos and the people did not seem to mind at all.

Most of the Cuban people are kind and friendly toward US citizens. They see the arguments at a higher governmental level and not at a personal level. One of the students wrote in their evaluation of the trip:

“It has given me a whole new insight on the impact of the trade embargo with Cuba […], it helped me to reevaluate everything that I had originally accepted as facts of life and to see how I could change things.”

I think that accomplishing this is the purpose of educational travel. It helps everyone.

 

Lennon Park

This is a pretty cool place. It was an adventure getting to the right place. The cab driver assured us he knew where to take us and we ended up in a dump of a park, Lenin Park, really not well kept. After more explaining and calming him down we got the driver to understand the name of the place and the address. Se we went there, fortunately he was noble enough not to charge us for the boondoggle run. The statue of John L is maybe a tad larger than life size. There is an elderly attendant that stands there and holds the glasses. He puts them on when a person comes up to the statue. Apparently the glasses were regularly stolen and workers are easy to come by in Cuba. The park is well kept by Cuban standards. Suppose that we all got along, Imagine that. Wouldn't life be wonderful.

LOOK 3

I am just back from Charlottesville VA and the LOOK3 Festival of the Photo. There were many wonderful photographers, photos, and speakers. Did a two day workshop with Eugene Richards on photographing people. My photos were an unmitigated disaster, but I learned a lot. The class was full of terrific people and everyone was mutually supportive. Some of the work was wonderful, some not so hot. It was good to have all skill levels with everyone being truly interested in each others work. I came home much more committed to getting what work I have done better organized, processed properly, and maybe see about doing a couple of Blurb books this summer. I got a great deal out of the review of Lightroom 4.1 that Julianne Kost did for Adobe. My good buddy Ira rode his new BMW bike from Brooklyn; I have heard from him and he survived the return yesterday.  The chance to see Stanley Greene, Donna Ferrato, and Alex Webb be interviewed and talk about their photographic lives was a gift. Not only these masters, but there were several upcoming Masters that showed work as well. These included Lynsey Addario's conflict photography, Hank Willis Thomas work, Mitch Dobrowner's images of tornadoes, and a truly fascinating series of photos of sounds. Several good parties, saw some old friends, and today feel really drained. I guess my age is beginning to show?

Tires repaired

There are poncheras dotted all over Central Havana. The condition of the streets and even most of the main roads is such that tires are frequently punctured or burst by pot holes. I really liked both the colors and composition of this shop front. In many instances the work is done on the side of the street and drivers just maneuver around the minor obstruction.