The DER below is from the expedition to Cuba that began on March 8, 2017.
Our explorations of Havana continued today with more exciting “people-to-people” experiences. This concept was created as a meaningful way for American visitors to see Cuba, by creating everyday encounters with Cuban people in many walks of life, primarily with the aim of enhancing contact with the Cuban people, supporting civil society, and helping promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities. Whatever the reasoning, it is a highly successful way of learning about the culture and way of life of Cubans, and I strongly feel it is a model that should be adopted worldwide. The experiences we have had with the Cuban people over the last three days have given us, in such a short period of time, varied and invaluable perspectives into this complex country, its history and future. Our enduring motto for Cuba is now: “It’s complicated”!
Part of our group left Havana behind this morning for a scenic drive towards the small fishing village of Jaimanitas. This village has been the home of Cuban artist Jose Fuster for more than 30 years. Since returning from Europe with a head filled with inspiration from Gaudi, Picasso and others, he has transformed his little neighborhood into an abstract, mosaic fantasy land, aptly named Fusterlandia. Over this period, he has adorned roofs, walls, doorways and benches, stretching for blocks around the epicentre of his studio, with his brightly-colored sculptures and mosaics: mermaids, fish, palm trees, roosters, Santería saints and figures from the Revolution. More than 80 neighbors have allowed Fuster to use their homes as his canvas, and it is truly an impressive sight.
We then continued to explore Havana’s explosive art scene with a visit to the Art Laboratory Kcho Estudio Romerillo, exhibiting the works of Cuba’s most famous contemporary artist, Kcho, as well as guest artists such as photographer Raul Corrales, who was Comandante Fidel Castro’s personal photographer for many years, and author of many iconic shots of the charismatic leader.
Stunning art was everywhere today, even during our visit to the small museum showcasing the private collections of Cuban Revolutionary, environmentalist and prolific academic, Antonio Jimenez Nuñez. Here we learned about the vision of this great Cuban man, and met Professor Yociel Marero, an environmental engineer who hosted a round-table forum on the environmental issues facing Cuba, all against a backdrop of the paintings of the most famous of Cuban artists, Wilfredo Lam.
Other people-to-people encounters of the day included a visit with Nidialys Acosta and her family, who recounted how, out of a passion for vintage cars, they started a successful family business from scratch, rescuing and restoring luxury cars from the ‘50s for rentals. We also had the chance to visit the second-largest cigar factory in Cuba to learn about the process that gives us the world’s best cigars, from selecting leaves to using different combinations for different strengths and aromas – all while marvelling at the deft hands of the workers creating hundreds of cigars a day.
And maybe my favorite of all, a visit to the offices of On Cuba, a communication platform (including both printed and digital magazines) legally based in Havana through a U.S. Press Bureau. Its mission is to promote different topics about, and perspectives on, the Cuban experience in order to ultimately strengthen the bridge between Cuba and the U.S. Our time here with Communications Director Claudia Garcia and her team offered us an honest and unique insight into the Cuban reality and the hopes of a new generation for the future of a country at a crossroads.
We celebrated another day of enrichment and discovery with dinner on the rooftop of an old hotel in the heart of Havana, serenaded by a private performance from one of Cuba’s most celebrated and historic bands, El Septeto Nacional. The energetic rhythms of their “Son Cubano” soon had us all up dancing under a beautiful moon. Truly an unforgettable, vibrant city.
