I have been fortunate to visit Cuba on two occasions. Both trips were amazing and eye-opening, and while there, I made social media posts featuring pictures and a few words( the government made cell phones and internet access legal in 2013). Not long after returning from my second trip, I received messages from two friends within a few days of each other. Both were polite and well meaning, but I found the stark differences between the two messages quite interesting.
The first message was from a friend whose opinion and i ntellect I deeply respect who has never been to Cuba. He politely said I was misguided with my quaint imagery of 1950s cars, trying to convey that the people of Cuba are living a romantic life when they live under the thumb of an oppressive and cruel socialist dictatorship. I paraphrased his message. I understand why he said it, and I agree with the latter.
The second message was from a friend who was born and raised in Cuba and now lives in the U. S. after fleeing with her husband and two small children. It was a long and dangerous journey for them and they, like many other Cubans, are good, hardworking people who will excel and prosper in the freedoms our country provides. She left a lovely message saying my pictures had captured the soul of Cuba and the essence of its people and that it was like being able to see through the bad things the government had done to them so people could see the beauty. Obviously, this made me feel better.
I mention these two friends because I think it is a good example of perspective between those who have been to Cuba and those who only know it from history books. Both feel the same way about what the Fidel Castro regime did to this beautiful island paradise, but when you personally experience the wonderful people of Cuba, it adds a cascade of color to a black and white world found in the pages of history.
Old Havana’ s Charm
During my first trip, I visited Havana. The city is a stark mix of pre- and post-revolution architecture and representation of the centuries of diverse people who have come to the island. Old Havana is a crowded and bustling place full of noise and food and diesel fumes wafting in your face. It includes a mix of early 20th century art deco, Spanish baroque and neoclassical buildings all slightly crumbling. As you travel farther from Havana, the stark contrast of the Soviet era is noticable. The warm, ornate curves and bright colors of Old Havana are transformed into cold and grey, sharp-cornered and brutal square structures that look like they’ ve been transported straight from a Cold War Eastern Bloc country.
Being a U. S. citizen in Cuba is a unique experience. Most people are friendly and want to talk to you. They advise you on where to go and what to visit. They ask you what part of America you’ re from and how you’ re enjoying their country. With beaming pride in their smiling, sun-drenched faces, they want to tell you about their families and friends who made it to America, where those people live and what they do for a living. It’ s both sad and beautiful, as I met so many people who love Cuba with every ounce of their soul and yet are desperate to get out.
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