WAITING FOR ELIAN

SALVEMOS A ELIAN - ELIAN COME HOME

With the crisis deepening over the Christmas and New Year period the demonstrations for the return of Elian Gonzalas from Miami to Cuba became more regular outside the American Interests Section. School children from all over Cuba were encouraged to demonstrate and bussed into Havana to let their feelings be known and their voices heard as they waved the national flag in hope of Elian’s swift return.

Outside the U.S. Interests Section 20th December 1999.

Waiting for the Boy School children given the day off sit on the sea wall of the Malecon across from the U.S. Interests section in Vedado and give their support chanting chanting "Cuba Si Yankee No!, Cuba Si, Yankee No!'’ to the demonstration being held for the return of Elian Gonzales from his relatives in Miami. Elian had been picked up drifting afloat in the Miami Straits a few weeks earlier after an attempted crossing from Cuba to the US had gone wrong where all the other escapees including his mother had perished in the waters. Relatives in Miami immediately seized the young boy declaring him theirs while a political tug of war ensued as Elian’s father in Cuba called for the return and repatriation of his and one of Cuba’s son’s.

On Malecon Wall, Habana Vieja outside the U.S. Interests Section, December/January 1999

A NEW LIFE A HAPPY LIFE

Confined within the island a couple embark into married life taking a trip to happiness and the day to day is forgotten as romance dances across it’s tailor made backdrop.

On the Malecon passing the end of the Prado, Habana, january 2000.

INTO THE SEA OFF THE MALECON WALL HABANA VIEJA

Above and beyond the beauty of Cuba is the beauty of the people themselves. Confident coffee coloured youngsters leap into the sea from the Malecon Wall. Here is proof if roof was needed that God gives with one hand and takes with the other, with no money and hand me down clothing the mixture of Spanish, African and Arabic blood has produced something near the western middle aged idea of perfection.

DOG WALKER DIPPER

Walkies. All along the sea front Cubans hang out and walk the dog or should I say swim the dog. Two passing American girls shout for this guy to not be so cruel to the dog, easy to say when you come from the outside and look in without trying to understand. Lets live a little and try not so much to be opinionated, let us leave their culture to be how it is, they are Cubans and this for the time being is their way of life without the outside world interfering and putting it’s own agenda upon these island people so long shunned by the “Good Ole U.S. of A.”

Late afternoon on the Malecon Wall, Habana Vieja

THE PATRIOT

Back home in the Old Town after a day protesting outside the U.S.Interests Section.

Le Habana Vieja just off Obispo.

WAITING IN THE SHADE FOR A BROKEN DOWN CLASSIC

Waiting in the shade. All too familiar a sight for Cubans, a broken down classic roadside in this city masquerading as a motor museum, hood up waiting for the attention of another Cuban mechanical genius. The occupants wait not quite knowing when the will resume their journey let alone arrive at their destination. Ingenuity, make do and tolerance for inanimate objects are definite Cuban traits.

Dragones, China Town, Havana.

MANS BEST FRIEND CHRISTMAS EVE ON SAN JUAN DIOS, HABANA VIEJA

A man and his turkey while away their last afternoon sitting in a doorway watching the world go by. With food being scarce and meat being especially prized here the fate of mans best friend was already sealed and I never did see that turkey again after Christmas Eve.

HABANA MORNING

The Lights Go On For The Last Time. A beautiful sunrise on my last day in Cuba as the early dawn light glances across the rooftops looking southwest towards the Capitolio across Villegas from Ophelia and Antonio’s roof top casa on San Juan de Dios.

19th January 2000.

COOL RIDER AT THE LIGHTS OUTSIDE THE CUBA NATIONAL THEATRE IN PARQUE CENTRAL, HABANA VIEJA

1950’s cars, baseball caps and Che posters it still feels like the 1960’s here…so this is where it ended up, it’s like being in the last un-tidied student bedroom in the world.

January 2000.

THE REAL DEAL TOBACCO FARMER

The Latino cowboy look popular with London’s urban cowboys the previous summer is put to shame in the company of the real thing. The tobacco farmers of Pinar del Rio are to the cigar connoisseur some of the finest of their breed anywhere, blessed with their leaf growing knowledge and the rich red soil of the area they help to bring us the finest cigars to be had anywhere on the planet.

In a tobacco field just outside the town of San Juan y Martinez in the heart of Pinar Del Rio Province, South Western Cuba.

ON A DOORSTEP ALONG GENIOS AND SAN LAZARO

Two Amigos hanging out, a part of life and the racial harmony I found simply walking through the streets and back streets here but I do wonder for how long. When Castro goes what will be the effect of the vacuum left behind and I question and fear how outside forces will come to bear on the way Cubans live with each other.