Cuba in Color

My first trip to Cuba over Christmas and New Year took me through the cities of Varadero, Santa Clara, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Havana, and Vinales.  Each was unique.  Not doing a package tour and staying with locals really made a big difference, as it gave me a more intimate experience that I wouldn't have had staying in a hotel, hostel, or cruise ship.  The country has beautiful landscapes throughout, towns that make you feel you are stepping back in time.  The history is one of the richest you will find anywhere in the Americas and the Cuban people live with a swag and hard work ethic, while managing to smell the roses and enjoy the life's simple pleasures.  In all, photographing Cuba is easier than most other places.  I will say this though, there were hoards of tourists and these photos don't reflect that.  We try to capture a place the way we want to see it don't we?  Waiting for the perfect shot usually means waiting for the other gringos to move out the way.  lol

CHES & CHE

Varadero at sunrise

Varadero minus the resort side

You will find a lot of US school buses throughout Latin America.  Cuba is no exception 

Christmas day in Varadero

classic and timeless

Che & a Rainbow in Santa Clara

This is my host in Santa Clara who is showing me a photo of him as a small child with his parents when they immigrated from Tenerife, Spain 

Fidel is alive and well in many Cubans even after his death

This woman is a retired school teacher and spends much of her time at the senior facility where they can chat with other seniors, watch television, and just chat with tourists like me who walk by.

It was Christmas day, so I surprised these guys with bags of American candy.

I love waking early when traveling.  Going out into the streets just at the break of dawn to take photos.

Trinidad 

Trinidad

Trinidad

Trinidad

Trinidad

Trinidad

free rumba workout for the residents of Trinidad 

What I like about Cuba is the fact people live outside and even when inside, you are still a part of the view.

there is a fine line between taking pictures of strangers while traveling and being a creep.

future gold medalist

future baker

be careful when you hire a car in Cuba because you might get a shit car that has to pull over every ten minutes to cool off.  The Cuban experience everyone wants before it changes right?

hiking outside Trinidad

outside Trinidad

dominoes is a national game

caught

dawn in Trinidad

State bus station

machismo in Cuba is thick

on my way to Cienfuegos

anti-America propaganda

one of the various forms of transportation in Cuba

the Fidel Christmas Tree in Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos is a stop for cruise ships 

brotherly love

 

getting ready for the pork roast for New Year's Day

kids play on the sidewalk in Cienfuegos

It's unthinkable the amount of hours wasted by Cubans waiting in line

Swastikas on the tile of an old mansion in Cienfuegos

old mansion in Cienfuegos

old mansion in Cienfuegos

old mansion in Cienfuegos

Santeria for sale

Cienfuegos

only one way to arrive in Havana... Chevy Bel Air.

street market in Havana

like something out of good fellas

Ernest Hemingway's spot "Floridita" in Havana - birthplace of the Daiquiri 

this dinosaurs may not be around much longer.  Cheap Asian made cars are making there way to Cuba

The best spot to go in Havana for entertainment

Flamenco at FAC

Flamenco at FAC

Santeria Funk

outside lounge at the FAC

outside lounge at the FAC

Cuban Nights

riding shot with Raul in Havana

CHE in Havana

Fidel in Havana

Revolutionary Square

more dinosaurs

Fruit and vegetable market

so few options in the state stores

Colon neighborhood in Havana where I stayed

You will see lots of amputees in Cuba

practice during church service

white characters from the bible for a black audience

pastor blowing some steam

New Year's day is a time to tell someone "sorry" and you love them.

lady on the floor caught the Holy Ghost

Colon neighborhood in Havana

New Year's morning and still drinking... with mom and the wifey

capitol dome is slightly higher than the one in DC

making music with foreigners

Santeria

Havana

Havana

Havana

Santeria

Havana

ferry ride on Havana harbor

Havana skyline from the bay

cruise ships and crowds regularly change the cityscape

Havana

Havana

Dominoes in the late night

coffee stop on the way to Vinales

about to start my hike in Vinales

Vinales Valley

Vinales 

Vinales

kids grow up riding horses in Vinales

Vinales

sunrise on the morning rain

is this what karma looks like?

Vinales

outside of Vinales was a community called Chile that was like going back in time to the Soviet era

time warp in Vinales

Vinales is great for biking

students returning from school

sunrises through an old house in Vinales

beautiful drive to Varadero

kid stressing to the elderly man how old he is in Old Town Havana

Santeria store in Havana

Varadero felt like a town out of TV Land USA.

Tai Chi in El Barrio del Chino

Gave this kid  a skateboard and he was happier than a pig in mud.

woman in Old Havana

Communism and Cats

Street art is not all that common in Cuba

caught this family and friends dancing Christmas eve from my window.

A very talented Hard Rock cover band at Yesterday's in Varadero

another use for banana leaves

privatization of a vegetable and fruit market

some of my travel crew

dinosaurs on display in Cienfuegos

old mansion in Cienfuegos

selfie in Cienfuegos

father plays futbol with his boys

sunset in Cienfuegos

last request to go out with locals.  

My hosts in Havana

Rumba at the FAC in Havana

the Malecon in Havana

Baseball diamond at sunset in Vinales

Vinales Vally at sunrise

being attacked for my candy on the streets of Old Havana

Electronic and house at the FAC

felt like family with Fidel and Marlene

Florida Keys, Back Home