I met this woman in Bauta, a small village about 40 km from Havana. She was asking us for a ride back to Havana. Since space was limited, we had to turn her down. While we were talking she said that she worked in Havana. I asked her what her job was, and she answered, "I am an asker." I did not understand so I asked Roberto to explain it to me. "She stands in the Plaza at the Cathedral and asks people for things," he said. "Oh, you mean she is a beggar?" I answered. "Well, yes, I suppose you could say that," was the answer. I met several other interesting people in Bauta including a local photographer. I thought about it for awhile and realized that there are not near so many beggars on the streets as one encounters in other Latin American Countries. One is constantly hounded in Mexico. In fact, I think they are fewer in Havana than in Washington, DC.

I Love a Parade!

Parades are a big deal in Havana. It is amazing how the word gets out. Without much fanfare or advertising all of a sudden everyone knows that a parade is happening. And a happening it is. Businesses all close, school is cancelled, and the stores are closed. The parade route invariably follows the broad drive along the Malecon and ends up at the large plaza in front of the tall building that houses the US special Interests Section. There many very loud speeches are given, music blares, and the crowd cheers. All of the parade marchers which may number half a million people or more wave their little paper flags and most have smiles. Parades can bring out happiness almost anywhere. There are no military vehicles or military troops in the parades, it is a parade of the people. Usually timed to make a statement in response to some political development somewhere in the world that pertains to Cuba and to demonstrate that the people support the Cuban government. Even in Cuba people can have fun (or enjoy a day off to lay low and work around the house!)

This is Pepe. He sits outside the Fototeca keeping the door. The Fototeca is a relatively small place with two galleries where both visiting photographic exhibitions and local photographers' work are exhibited. Located on Plaza Vieja in Habana Vieja, it is part of a collection of galleries on the Plaza. Around the corner is the Casa Marina, a good place to go have a beer and talk. I have had good experiences at the Fototeca having met both Korda and Roberto Salas at various exhibitions. Although small there is a thriving community of photographic artists in Havana. They have struggled to obtain materials with which to do their work. I am hopeful that the relaxation on the ownership and use of electronic devices by Raul's government will allow them to move forward into the digital realm, an area in which they have been very limited. 

A note from Pac

It has been a long time since I posted on this blog. I am glad to be back doing something worthwhile like this; well, it is worthwhile for me. Last year was a very difficult year for me. I have encountered some things I would not wish on anyone, but I am now back and ready to resume life with full vigor. I don't have any new Cuba pictures. I haven't been there since 2005 so I will rely on my older ones for this effort. Our university lost its permit for educational travel to Cuba as did most US universities. I participated in an ECDET meeting in Washington, DC in 2006. It was held in conjunction with Cuba Day which was a big success; nothing was changed, but it did attract attention from many lawmakers. I don't think the travel situation will change until after the election. All the candidates will be in favor of the embargo in an effort to capture the Cuban-American vote. I am cautiously optimistic that in the next administration good sense will prevail and we will do business with Cuba. Certainly the current activities by the Chinese makes the embargo an even more ridiculous thing. It is as Col. Wilkerson once said,"The dumbest foreign policy the US has ever had." But then, one thing that politicians are virtually immune to is accusations of hypocrisy. Maybe if the Cubans would start making tennis shoes or jeans they would be more acceptable.

Ciudad Libertad

This is a picture of the abandoned area in Liberty City which is situated in Miramar. This was an army base under the Batista regime, the headquarters of the army in fact. It was from here that Batista fled once he realized that his rule was over. It was then converted to a school. Part of the old base is now an art school, another part, the old officers' club is the actual school. It has nice rooms, a pool, and is well painted. It is the school that was often shown on TV during the "Elian Gonzalez crisis." There is a secondary school in Liberty City that is attended by students from throughout latin America. Part of the city is abandoned, part is inhabited  by the students. Other than the presence of the young people it is hard to tell much difference between the areas. It will take years to repair the infrastructure in Havana, a very costly undertaking indeed. 

This old fighter plane sits outside the museum at Playa Giron or as many know it "the Bay of Pigs." This battle is viewed with great pride by many cubans and certainly by Castro himself. It was a military, foreign policy, and economic disaster for the United States. There are stories and relics of each of those martyrs who gave their lives at the  battle. It is creepy to see the bloody shirt of a teenager, but unfortunately that is the nature of war. Adjacent to this plane there sits the ruins and twisted remains of an American fighter plane shot down in the battle. It was shortly after this ill fated attempt to overthrow Castro and his regime that he decided to align Cuba with the Soviet Union. It is of interest that while there were many Communists involved in the revolution, Castro was not one of them and was resistant to many of their ideas. As the US condemns Castro for his brutality nothing is said about the brutality and oppressive nature of Batista and Machado who were cruel dictators acting as representatives of the US political and moneyed interests. It is of interest who gets to be labeled cruel, evil, and war criminal in these fracases.

Morning in Trinidad

It is early morning in Trinidad. People are just getting out and about. This town, one of the oldest in the new world, is the place where Christopher Columbus made his second landing in the Caribbean. It is quite pretty and the people are friendly. It is a bit touristy as many buses stop here. Made even more so by its proximity to the coast and two large resort hotels. These handmade baskets are for sale. Hopefully, someone will want one. A little capitalism at work here?

Morning coffee

These fellows are each getting a small cup of coffee from this private vendor. Many women will set up a small home version of Starbucks and sell coffee, juice, and cookies from their door or window to passers by on the street. This is welcomed by those in the neighborhood who may gather around the window to have their refreshments and chat. Unfortunately not so many Cubans are on their way to work when they stop by. It is a demoralizing thing to awaken in the morning and have no place to be that day. Hopefully that situation is changing slightly under the leadership of Raul.

Caneys y Rafael

I met these two men on the street in Santiago. They were extremely happy, friendly people as were almost all the citizens of that beautiful city. They were retired from having worked as clowns. They still did occasional birthday parties and things like that, but no longer worked at their jobs on a regular basis. Many people in Cuba are in that fix. It will be very difficult to make an abrupt transition from a society where the government provides at least a minimum subsistence to one where everyone must earn their keep. While many Cubans are anxious to work for themselves (and many already do that), others are very dependent on the paternalism of the government. 

This was made in the Bosque de Habana. A wonderful park adjacent to Vedado. In the vines and foliage of the Bosque it is cool and refreshing. The Almendares River runs through the Bosque. Unfortunately it is polluted and quite dirty. In spit of that, one might see people fishing in the river.