Photo Feature

“Gasolina” and the Blues

It’s easier to take him for crazy. To look at his Walt Whitman-style mane, with green leaves sometimes tangled in his white hair; the clothes he wears, as old as he is; the beard, which might remind some people of a confirmed Marxist, and his carefree gait through the streets of Caracas, with his four string guitar on his shoulder, inseparable; one might say, “Look, one more lunatic.”(9 photos)

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Historic Trinidad, Cuba

Founded in south-central Cuba in January 1514 by Spanish colonialists, the town of Trinidad — with its cobblestone streets — maintains a colonial air that has transformed it into a city museum. Many of its structures date back to the 18th and 19th centuries but remain in perfect condition thanks to the efforts of the Office of the City Preservationist. (26 photos)

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Wild Barber & Hairdressers Celebration

Barber’s and Hairdresser’s Day was recently celebrated in Cuba, which was the reason behind the 7th Artecorte Festival taking place in Havana. The festival featured the unusual combination of music, painting and hairdressing. (26 photos)

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New Year’s Away from Cuba

At this very moment I would be 15 times happier if I were able to be with my family and with my friends, and it wouldn’t matter if it were before or after December 31; what is important is being with them again. (20 photos)

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Valley of the Sugar Mills in Trinidad, Cuba

In the Valle de los Ingenios still remain the ruins of the numerous sugar refineries that once gave such splendor to the area but which today constitute little more than archaeological artifacts of that industry. (13 photos)

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Same Old Christmas but Different

The year 2010 is coming to a close, one more year that slips through our fingers like sand. For believers and non-believers Christmas is apparent in the two currencies, the “dollar” stores with more fancy decorations and the shops that sell in regular pesos with less color and sparkle. Nonetheless, the “kitsch” is apparent everywhere. (20 photos)

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San Lazaro Draws Masses at El Rincon Sanctuary

December 16 is the eve of Babalu Aye (“the father of the world” in the Yoruba language) or, as he’s better known under his syncretized name, San Lazaro. Starting days before — and even weeks or months prior — all those who have made promises to this saint of illnesses and misery begin to walk toward El Rincon. (8 photos)

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May the Rain Stop in Venezuela

Back in February or March, Venezuelans still looked to the clouds anxiously hoping to get from them the water they needed so desperately. The lack of this precious resource had led to power outages, forest fires and shortages of water in homes. At that time no one imagined that in less than eight months things would radically change. (26 photos)

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The Abakuas in the Streets of Havana

In 1871, five Cuban black men led an armed action in protest of the shooting of eight medical students. After 139 years, other men and women from this island — in the middle of the street — tried to grant just recognition for that act of bravery. (47 photos)

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