JANUARY 2024: CUBA

 

Pamela and I were part of a small group on a tour with Jim Cline Photo Tours. It was the first time Pamela had gone along as well, and despite not being a serious photographer, she had a great time and did end up taking some good pictures.

This is Pamela in one of the classic convertibles.  We were on our way to the famous Tropicana nightclub pictured below. It was once owned by mob boss Meyer Linskey. After the first number an empty table right in front was filled by four big guys who promptly all lit cigars and drank rum. They sure looked like a wise guy and his three bodyguards.

We also experienced Afro-Cuban Dancing. As well as having two ballerinas to model for us from the National Cuban Ballet troupe.

We left Havana and went to Vinales, and Trinidad visiting the tobacco farms, and photographing companeros who showed off their cock fighting roosters, and offered me a chance to ride a horse - my first time in forty years. I was thrilled to find I was quite comfortable being back in the saddle again.

VIDEOS:

I have completed two 3 1/2 minute videos of our time in Cuba. 

One focuses on the profusion of music we encountered: 

and the other illustrates the variety of live dance we experienced: 

I hope you will watch them!