After reappearing in my home town in the United States after my trip to Cuba, many discussions about the differences in culture and perspective in a capitalist and a socialist society ensued. My two-week crash course on a society I was previously unfamiliar with had been psychologically hard and exhausting. It was very very challenging to overcome all the propaganda about Cuba that had dictated my mentality, and remain open to it as it is.
Read MoreEvery December 16, thousands journey along the road that leads to the village of El Rincon, several miles outside of the Cuban capital. They are believers who want to be present at the church at dawn the following day to celebrate the parish’s San Lazaro Day festivities.
Read MoreFor years, deserved tributes have been made to those unjustly killed medical students who didn’t have a chance to defend themselves nor a way of preventing their murders. But the black members of the Abakua association did indeed have a choice. They had the option of not getting involved with the incident, of not challenging the colonial authorities – yet they decided to act.
Read MoreIn our journey to get to La Plata, we went through the rural community of Santo Domingo. The old command center is run by a man who was a messenger for Fidel in the Sierra, and who is one of the few people still in the area who possess a land title signed by Fidel himself.
Read MoreToday in Cuba there is a group of photographers who work documenting daily life. Some of them are engaged in this full time, while others do so as a second or part-time job, but without receiving any type of pay; one of these individuals is Emilio Valdes Espinosa.
Read More“But kids these days aren’t so interested in what’s happening on the American continent. I can understand that. Thanks to television we’ve been saturated with Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador… Really, I understand it…not everything is political. For that reason (and for the quality of the films) they prefer to see the more international selections,” said festival goer Jorge Armando.
Read MoreIn the city’s historic center, an important part of the area’s attractiveness, is also located a museum that guards some of the belongings and documents of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the first “president of the Republic in arms.” Also on display is “El Cubano Libre,” the country’s first independent newspaper, published by Cespedes, as well as other objects and relics of the national liberation struggle.
Read MoreContributing photographer Elio Delgado brings us a look at the ruins of the San Juan Evangelista Tower in the city of Bayamo.The landmark is on the site where a church dating back to the 17th century existed and at the entrance to where the first open field cemetery in Cuba was established.
Read MoreDuring the festival, competitions in composition and interpretation took place in the cultural hall of the Amadeo Roldan Theater, as did trumpet workshops. The audience reveled in jazz, harmony and interpretation, as well as the performance of the two invited Norwegian groups, Pist and Listen.
Read MoreThe streets of Havana were awash in color, sweat and contentment. People came out early to demonstrate their capacity for sports. Fortunately the sun loafed a little and came out later than usual, allowing the athletes to move at an easier pace without the punishment of the suffocating heat.
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