CUBA 2016: Realization of a Dream
A Personal Reflection in Words and Images
by Sonia Martínez
DAY
1: JOSE MARTÍ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Arriving to the airport in La Habana was exciting. The entire trip seemed like a dream, and I
knew I could finally believe it was real when I exited the plane. The terminal was dark and humid. I expected police officers and/or soldiers,
but instead we were greeted by plain-clothed security who only targeted a
couple of us. Interestingly, the airport
female personnel were dressed in short skirts and fishnet stockings. (I wondered how they could possibly stand the stockings in such
heat!) I felt a little paranoid – like I
was doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing. I made sure to ask about the prescription
medication I had, and I was worried I would be questioned regarding my luggage
and the many bars of soap, bags of candy, shoes, framed-pictures for my
friend’s mother, and who the man in the photos was. The scenarios I envisioned passing through
Cuban customs were much more perilous. I
made my way through the “arrivals” door, went to the parking lot, and took the
photo of the airport. I felt part of an
elite group of Americans, and I wondered how may fellow U.S. citizens have had
the privilege to see such a marvelous sight.
DAY
2: TWO WORLDS
This picture was taken from the window of our blue blockade
bus. At first it appears to be just of
another old American car, but as one looks closely to the dashboard, one can
see an IPOD and a docking station. This
represents not only two eras (actually two
centuries) but two worlds: the old
and the new and how together they can form something useful and
purposeful. The driver gets to enjoy a
classic American car – the envy of many people here – and something that
produces better quality sound. I asked
my father, who is also of a different era, about the car, and he identified it as
a 1949 Buick. I am amazed how the Cubans
are able to keep these cars running even without having access to the car
parts.
DAY
3: CANNON
I saw a bird resting on a cannon at Fortaleza de San Carlos
de la Cabaña in Havana. Walking the ruins of the 18th century
fortress was a surreal experience.
Having just read the Reinaldo Arenas autobiography Before Night Falls, I learned that the place was also used as a
prison and of the inhumane treatment and executions that occurred there. My friend Ramon was also a prisoner there and
at the neighboring Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro during the 1970s. Ramon has told me unimaginable stories. Sweltering in the Cuban heat, I can only
imagine what it was like to be incarcerated behind walls of cement and to be shut
off from the free world. To me, the bird
overlooking the Havana Harbor perched on the cannon represented the universal innate
desire for freedom. And just as the bird
took flight, I was reminded that true freedom is a state of mind.
DAY
4: TYPEWRITER
The photo of the typewriter was taken at Ediciones
Matanzas. There I had the honor of
meeting a writer/translator/editor and staff and viewing the publishing
process. I purchased a couple of poetry
books: Otro Retorno al País Natal by Laura Ruiz Montes and Normales los Sobrevivientes by Franscisco
Garzón Céspedes. I was amazed at how
surprisingly inexpensive the two book were (only 1.80 CUC). Visiting this place
and Ediciones Vigía reignited a long-forgotten passion of mine: creative
writing. I am captivated by the art
woven by the wondrous world of words. Seeing
the old typewriter was especially nostalgic for me. My first college paper was typed on a similar
machine with no correction tape, so I remember laboring for HOURS for one
perfect page. There is definitely a
difference of typing the “old-school” way as opposed to computer keyboards
where “cut and paste” is executed in seconds and formats are painlessly
changed. I can understand why some
authors prefer their old, trustworthy typewriters. They produce labors of love that only a
writer can intimately know.
DAY
5: HAPPY BIRTHDAY
An adjustment for many of my fellow travelers and me was Wi-Fi
withdrawal. Having a hand-held,
mini-computer with non-stop feed has become a way of life for most of us. This
is the first time traveling internationally that I experienced this
scarcity. For the most part, I enjoyed
the freedom of being off the grid and going back to how things used to be. I reveled in the drought of e-mails and texts
but missed the comfort of knowing I could talk to my family at any moment and
the ability to ask Google for “critical” and mindless information. Interestingly, being disconnected by choice
is much different than being disconnected by force. I am grateful for the Nauta internet access
card that provided one-hour of connection, but I mostly lost my glorious hour
due to my lack of technological skills. But
on June 8th when it mattered most, on one of the most important dates
in my life, I was able to connect with my grandson Julian to wish him a happy
fourth birthday. I took a picture to
record this special moment.
DAY
6: TRANQUILITY GARDEN
Visiting the agricultural project in Matanzas was a
memorable part of the trip. The place
was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but it was also serene. The director Carlos León had us visualize a drop
of water and imagine its journey. I
thought of the significance on one tiny, life-giving drop of water, the water
cycle, the various forms of water, and its purpose. I felt an overwhelming
sense of connection and how each of us contribute to the overall scheme of
things. I also got a different
perspective on the rain we had experienced throughout the trip. Up until this point, I was irritated by the rain
and even felt it was ruining the trip. Much
anticipated events, such as seeing the cañonazo and strolling the Malecón, were cancelled
because of it. But rain is rain, and
water is critical. As a child, I loved
playing in the rain, so I was able to appreciate the weather much more. I saw sunshine through the clouds and
delighted in the temperature drop after the summer rain. This picture is of “Tranquility Garden.” The garden is
possible because of the rain; without it, the garden would not
exist. I am motivated to cultivate my
own piece of paradise.
DAY 7: PHARMACY
This photo was taken at the Museo Farmacéutico in
Matanzas. Entering the building was like
going back in time to a 19th century pharmacy. The architecture was beautiful…high ceilings,
woodwork, stained glass, and an open courtyard.
I wondered how it survived the revolution, but research revealed that
the pharmacy was converted to a museum in 1964.
The exhibit was fascinating: old
prescriptions, bottles, medicinal herbs, drugs, syringes, vials, and medical
equipment. Much of the medical equipment
has evolved, but I was especially drawn to the display of forceps and
speculums. OUCH! The old steel things resembled torture
devices, but interestingly, these items look very similar to the ones used
today. I visited another pharmacy, Farmacia Central
founded in 1838, and it looked very similar.
I bought azithromycin for my throat and was charged 10 CUCs. (I questioned the amount and think I paid the
foreigner cost.) These pharmacies were much
different than the Walgreen's and CVS that I know.
DAY
8: FLASHBACK
This picture was taken in Varadero when we stopped at the
pharmacy for sunburn medication. The
Flamboyant Trees were seen throughout Cuba, and the vibrant color contrasted
greatly to many of the faded buildings.
The flowery branches shade a fleet of classic cars. The picture is timeless and could have been
taken many decades ago. Only the color
print makes it seem more current.
Selecting one photo for this day was extremely challenging because so
many images from the Cuevas de Bellamar and Varadero and its pristine beaches were
worthy of selection. All will forever
remain etched in my mind.
DAY
9: TREASURE
Depicted is a seat cover made of scraps of material and
ribbons. I also saw the same design as
floor mats. I love how more than likely
each scrap was previously something else – a shirt, a dress, or a sheet. I remembered the day at the community center
when we gave the children candy, and I asked a worker where I could dispose of
an empty Jolly Rancher bag. She quickly
took it from me and placed items in it.
What I had considered trash was actually something that still had
purpose. I realized how I come from a
disposable society where most things are used only once. Since I returned, I have been more
responsible about recycling even to continue reusing my water bottles and
bags. I thought of the apartment
buildings that looked old and even condemned but still house people. I thought of myself, aged and deteriorating,
but so full of life.
DAY
10: FILL’ER UP
On the way to Holguín, we stopped for a restroom break at a
gas station, and parked at a pump next to us was a horse and cart. The man is actually filling up gas
containers. This picture illustrates one
of the many forms of transportation found in Cuba. Along with cars and buses, bicycles and
horses also share the roads. Again, this
is a meeting of the old and the new. We
traveled the Carretera Central and other roads.
At times the highway was divided, but we also traveled on roads that
were not. Cars and buses would drive
very close to the bicycles and horses and honk.
At first I thought this was rude because obviously the drivers were
going as fast as possible, but later I thought the honking was more for their
own safety as the cars and buses pass them.
DAY
11: BLOQUEO
Propaganda signs were seen throughout the island. Their importance was magnified by the fact
that no other advertisements exist. The
only non-political signs present identified businesses, cities and towns, or
road conditions. Seen were billboards
commemorating the revolution and its heroes; honoring the Castro leaders and deceased
Venezuelan President Chavez; praising socialism; and promoting patriotism,
work, and responsibility. The photo of
the day referred to the blockade as the longest running genocide in
history. Genocide. It depicted a hangman’s noose with the Cuban
island in the middle. The ad is poignant
and thought-provoking. The spider-web
graphic indicated something old. The
economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States in the
early 1960s has had a tremendous impact on the Cuban people. I was deeply moved by this very powerful
sign, and I am hopeful that the U.S. and Cuba are on the cusp of change for the
better.
DAY
12: MIRACLES
This photo was taken at the Basílica Santuario Nacional de
Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre in Santiago de Cuba. The church grounds provided a beautiful
panoramic view, and being able to sit for part of a service was special. Sunflowers were offered to the Virgin, and
candles were lit in supplication. The
picture I took in the church was of the many crutches and braces suspended by a
window. Each possessed its own story and
depicted an answered prayer of healing.
Other charms and mementos were on a table. I have seen a similar homage
in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle in
south Texas. I thought about how people
of different places and the need for faith and miracles.
DAY
13: MANGOES
The perfectly imperfect picture of the mangoes is priceless
to me! It was taken from the bus window
while en route to Camagüey. While
sorting through my hundreds of photos, I found quite a few out of focus, others
with half the subject missing, and more photobombed by people and cars. My camera and I were not always ready at the
opportune time. Oh, but still, the photo
was unquestionably of a mango tree. To
me, the tree resembled Cuba – alive, ripe, abundant, flavorful, and
exotic. The fact that it was blurred was
symbolic of the journey…fast and fleeting.
I got the taste. I will be
forever grateful for the experience I have had on this amazing Learning Abroad
trip. I plan to vacation one day in Cuba
to visit what I missed: like stand in
the Plaza de la Revolución, ride in one those fabulous classic cars and a
Coco-taxi, feel the cañonazo, walk the entire Malecón, swim in more beaches,
and buy more souvenirs…
DAY
14: THE VOYEUR
The last full
day was unexpectedly eventful when our bus broke down on the way to Santa Clara. We were stuck on the two-lane road, so most
of us sat by the sugar cane field while the driver and his son and our male
companions worked on the bus. I expected
to be there for hours, but Dr. Cuesta was already working on a Plan B. I was automatically struck by the fact that
we were not in the United States, and to my knowledge, there was no AAA or
roadside assistance. Amazingly, the
driver was able to stop the gas leak with bars of soap. (When I told my father about the soap, he was
already aware of the remedy. In fact, he
added that a radiator leak can be fixed by cracking an uncooked egg into it!) But while we were stopped, a man got out of
his taxi and took many pictures of us. I
didn’t realize how interesting a broken-down bus and a bunch of waiting people
could appear. I photographed this voyeur
who intruded on our mishap, and I questioned myself whether I have ever done
the same. I wondered about the man – who
he was and how he will share our story.
DAY
15: HASTA SIEMPRE, COMANDANTE
Before returning to the Havana airport, we made a quick
stop at the Che Guevara Monument in Santa Clara. The picture’s backdrop is a gray-clouded sky
with a profile of the Che statue. He
stands forever ready for battle, gun pointed even though his arm is in
sling. Amazingly, he remains highly
revered even almost fifty years after his death. Depending on who is asked, he is considered
either a hero or a villain. In Cuba, it
is obvious how much he is respected and loved, and his image and words were
seen throughout the countryside. I knew
about Che prior to the trip, but in preparation, I read more about him and saw
several documentaries and films. I am
moved by some of his quotes, such as the words he wrote in a letter to his
children, “Above all, always be capable of feeling deeply any injustice
committed against anyone, anywhere in the world.” I plan to learn more about him.
DAY
16: EL PILÓN
On the way home, we stopped in Mexico City for a
night. I felt privileged to be in two
very different capital cities in two countries in the same day. The next morning, I had the opportunity to
climb the Aztec Pyramid of the Sun and see the ruins in Teotihuacan. Visiting this site had always been a dream of
mine. We were only there for a short
time, but the experience was incredible.
Reaching the top and standing on the 200 AD structure left me
speechless. I thought back to what I had
learned about the mighty Aztec Empire and imagined how the valley might have
looked at the time of the Spaniard arrival.
I contemplated on the birth of the Mexican civilization and felt a
sacred connection to my ancestors. This
was definitely the highlight of my very brief time in Mexico. I remembered the connection between Mexico and
Cuba and how this was where Fidel Castro met Ernesto Guevara. What a great way to end the Learning Abroad
Cuba 2016 experience.
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