There are always so many memories you bring back from vacation. But the strongest ones (for me) are the people I meet and the reasons why they impress me so. I thought I'd share a few of them here.
My husband and I went on a people-to-people trip to Cuba not too long ago. So you won't see photos of resort pools or bikini beaches. Instead, I hope I've captured some of the spirit of Cuba seen through its people. Enjoy!
This woman was one of the original "drivers" of old-time cars back in the '50s. She would sneak out of the house at night to drive with her friends.
When she got older she opened up The Drivers Bar as a watering hole for classic car lovers and drivers. Girl Power!!
At a local tourist spot this guy was selling sweet crisps for about 3 cents a pack. He would do that from early morning until sundown (which in the summer was very late).
Then he would go home and cook for 4 more hours to make the next day's batch.
Makes Me Laugh!
Every time I see this picture it makes me think of "priorities".
It was a priority for this guy to chat with his friend and perhaps buy his flowers. Stepping 2 steps to the left into the open manhole? Not so much a priority! LOL
There's a working ranch in the heart of Cuba where there were such interesting faces. These real life cowboys, for instance. They were just so much fun to talk to (in pigeon Spanish on my part).
People buy their supplies with ration cards that everyone is given, depending on the size of their family. This woman was the grocer on the Ranch. What surprised me was the lack of pretty much everything on the shelves. Whether you have a ration coupon or not - you may not get what you need.
These children belong to a family that had an aviary and sold "all things bees". So when we came to the front of their house the kids ... in their bee costumes ... came out with smiles to greet us.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Perhaps at this young age it's not as exploitative as we in the U.S. might think.
And finally, a few people I admire for the way they tackle earning their money and having fun!
Among the bronze statues in a courtyard, this old gentleman mimics the pose beside him so that people can take his photo and give him a tip. Ingenious!
Rolling cigarettes with a big grin. When I asked if I could take his photo he said "si!" and put on this grumpy face.
Less than minimum-wage "security" post. 3 things fascinate me about this photo. The straight-off-the-tree-scaffolding on this building. The fact that mobile phones are so ubiquitous. And the universal truth that a lot of us revert to technology when we're faced with a boring job!
My favorite fruit and veg vendor! He was so proud (rightly so) of his cart and was happy to sell to us and let us take his photo. I so enjoyed the very artistic way he arranged the colors of his produce.
Thanks for traveling with me and allowing me to share some Cuban personalities with you.
Until next time!
