Cuba - need I say more

[daleeman]

Hay All,
As mentioned in another thread, looking for a good place to go for November 2009. Warm is a plus. We actually started talking about going to Cuba. Warm, low cost, small towns mostly and some unusual birds native to the island.

Do we have any photographers out there with experience and images from Cuba? How do locals react to people with cameras there? Amazed to see you or tend to run and hide, I know people are about the same anywhere just wondered what others experience there. Any huge Government pressure on not taking photos? "Only show this" Surrender your camera hombre"

Would love to see come of your work if you have some from your travels to Cuba.

Lee

[Alexis Alvarez]

I was there in November 2007.  People are lovely, except for innumerable touts everywhere -- don't fall for any sob stories, it'll be someone who's out to take you.  I had a Canon 5D, lots of people thought I was a journalist. They were friendly, loved having their pictures taken -- I think only person said no the entire time I was there, which was 16 days.  

Helps if you can speak Spanish -- I'm half Cuban, visiting for the first time, and they loved it.

And it's not so low-cost.  If you're thinking of renting a car, it was way more expensive than it was in the US, gasoline a small fortune. If you're going to Havana, stay at one of the fancy hotels, it's worth it, and very reasonable if you book on line.  If you're going out of Havana, stay at people's houses, like B&B's, sorry, can't remember what's they're called in Spanish -- I'm in desperate need of caffeine right now!  

Have a bunch of pictures up on www.flickr.com/photos/madame_suzuki.  If you've got any more questions, you can e-mail me directly at alexis.alvarez [a] mac.com



aa

[Philmar]

If you're going out of Havana, stay at people's houses, like B&B's, sorry, can't remember what's they're called in Spanish

'casas particulares'
more info: http://www.casaparticular.info/

[Alexis Alvarez]

Yes, casas particulares -- thank you Philmar.

Also, just remembered -- take lots of pens, pencils, small notepads or notebooks to give away -- a nice thank you gesture for those whose picture you take.

aa

'casas particulares'
more info: http://www.casaparticular.info/

[larryg]

I was there with an organized photographic tour  a few years back.   People were great and eager (for the most part)  to talk with you.  very friendly (maybe even curious?)

Landscapes were nice in Pinar Del Rio region (Vinales)   otherwise Old Havana.   Better go soon if you want to see it the way it has been for so many decades.  Once the gates are freely open i can only assume quite a bit will change there.

When I was the the US dollar was the chosen currency but I believe it is now the Euro

I agree with the give aways.  our group took pictures of the farmers (working in the fields) and their kids an gave them this and that  (huge smiles on the kids faces).

very quaint to see the Oxen plowing the red clay (for tobacco crops).

seemed to be a lot of armed policeman around Old Habana.  

I would try and be low key with the equipment on the streets

[reburns]

A disclaimer with these photos here, it was my inaugural trip with a digital camera (I didn't know about RAW) and first dip back into photography in many years.  However, you could say that my 2004 Cuba trip was the inspiration to start back into photography:
http://www.ascent-design.com/photo/Cuba_Dec04/index.html

+1 plug for Casa Particulars in general:
Havana:  Esther Cardoso Villanueva, Aguila 367 e/ Neptuno y San Miguel, Centro, Habana (stage actress?)
Vinales:  Oscar Jaime Rodriguez, Adela Azcuy #43, Viñales, Pinar del Rio, 08-93381  (fun family)
I found that Casa Particulars will overbook, but also that tourists often cancel without notice.  Poor karma both ways.

I'm fortunate to be a rock climber and that puts me into an international brotherhood.  Somewhat dated info here: http://www.cubaclimbing.com/travel.htm