Where the Sacred Dwells, Namaste

Reflections on Cuba, and Hasta Luego

arnie — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:00:36 +0000

May 3

Early breakfast on the roof, before setting forth for the airport. On the bus I read the spoof blog that I wrote of what really happened on our trip, which is very well received by the group. We have three hours at the airport, which I spend talking to Doug, Isabella and Michael, [...]

Crabs and Photos of Che

arnie — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:22:16 +0000

May 2

Breakfast at the hotel and depart by 8 AM for Havana.

Run into a whole bunch of crabs, making their way from the ocean across the road that we are on. We stop to photograph them.

Drive the rest of the way into Havana, arriving around 2 PM. We are dropped at [...]

Revolutionary Fervor and Whispering to Horses

arnie — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:19:10 +0000

May 1

May Day, Labor Day in Trinidad, and we head down very early to the parade site, Cespedes Park, where people slowly gather. Once the time comes, though, just about the entire town is there, some of them under government pressure to come, others because they want to enjoy the festivities. The mood is [...]

African Gods and Horses in Homes

arnie — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:43:06 +0000

April 30

I opt to skip the early morning walk, so head off, after breakfast at the hotel, around 9 AM. First stop is a dance performance, at Palenque de los Congos Reales, an African/Cuban dance with dancers representing various African gods, then some rumba dances. Performance is good, if a bit repetitive of others [...]

Trinidad: Pigs and Cigars, with Charm

arnie — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:32:43 +0000

April 29

Finish packing, then up for rooftop buffet breakfast before setting off at 8 for long bus ride. On bus, Nevada talks about photography, much of which I’d heard in China, but it’s helpful to hear it again and be reminded. Several of the people on the trips are techie geeks, so there is [...]

Old Homes and Tangos

arnie — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:38:54 +0000

April 28

Another walk through parts of Old Havana, past the Capitol and the closed-for-restoration National Theater. Colorfully painted and architecturally beautiful buildings give one the sense of the grandeur of what was here. People live in many of these old buildings, and others are being restored. Photograph street scenes and talk to Dustin about [...]

Tropicana, Without Desi.

arnie — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:52:11 +0000

April 27

Met in the lobby at 6:15 for a pre-dawn walk to catch the early light. Great opportunity to photograph old Havana just waking up.

Over to the bay to photograph some fishermen, then wend back to the hotel for buffet breakfast on the pleasantly cool rooftop. Hour to relax before [...]

Praying in Spanish

arnie — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:33:33 +0000

April 26

Met group in lobby. Went into lobby Starbucks for coffee and came out to find the group had left on shuttle to airport, my luggage sitting in the lobby. Tough group. Called Nevada on her cell and took next shuttle to terminal. Hour and a quarter in various lines, overweight luggage fee of [...]

Dreaming in Cuban

arnie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:06:42 +0000

April 25

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m starting to write this on April 22. Got to begin developing the mindset, and, besides, there are a few background matters to talk and think about, so here it goes.

First, thoughts about blogging. People ask me whether this doesn’t take an awful lot of time. Well, yes; [...]

Fidel-ity

arnie — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:05:30 +0000

Well, I don’t leave until April 25 (actually, the 26th for Cuba), but I thought you’d better start getting ready. For starters, here’s a map.

Notice a few things. If you never knew where Gitmo, much in the news, was, now you do, Southeast tip, almost as far as you can get from Havana. [...]