Cuba - Dia Siete - La Ultimá Noche

Dia Siete - La Ultimá Noche 

Last day was packed, and for me, it was my favorite day as a whole. I loved parts of each day, but for me this was just the best. Day 7 started by meeting DJ Jigue a music producer, historian, and all around amazing guy! He talked about the evolution of the Underground Cuban music scene, influenced by US, Caribbean, and the political climate/ economy of the times. Specifically the “Epoca Especíal”, The Special Period, the mid-nineties when Cuba was in economic recession. 

After the visit with DJ Jigüe, we went near the beach to visit a painter Sandra Dooley. I met her dogs, and loved the tile work in her home. Her art was a lot of cats, and girls. Really beautiful. Then for lunch we ate at Fusterlandia. This was my favorite artist experience. The pool, the mermaids, all those tiles. Dreamy. 

  


Then we went to the LGBT center to meet Mariella Castro. She is the daughter of Raul, and niece to Fidel. Her organization is doing great work. 

I must have stepped out! Missed this group pic

The next events are the pinnacle of fun in my opinion! We changed clothes, and went to the very first home restaurant, a Palladar and the owner, Uber, was so extra, I just loved everything about his fabulousness. Dinner was one of the best meals. 

Linked up
Mel+Uber 4 EVA

Then a quick bus ride over to Fabrica de Arte. This was my favorite place we visited, but I like to dance, and listen to music, and shop, and make art. A few of us were photographed like mugshots wearing glasses. I wear glasses, but not that night, so in line, I said, “ERICA - give me yours!”

"Bored" in Russian. This guy just handed to me. I guess I look Eastern European?

Then we danced, and finally Marla and I made it home around 2 am. Was a good way for me to end the trip. Next day, early awake, to the bus, to the airport. Adios, Cuba. Que viajé fantastíco!

Cuba- Dia Seis - LGBTQ issues, Castro’s Photog, the best chicken and a car ride to remember.

Dia Seis - LGBTQ issues, Castro’s Photog, the best chicken and a car ride to remember. 

We were lucky to meet a smart professora who talked to us about her work for LGBTQ people in Cuba and the current issues. It’s not a very friendly place to be a marginalized person, but her work is making things a little bit better.  Next stop was to the home of a photographer. He was born in NYC, but returned to Cuba as an 18 year old. He followed in his Cuban father’s footsteps in becoming a photographer, and he was one of the few people who were part of Fidel Castro’s entourage. Raul Castro, Ernest Hemingway, Ché Guevarra, were also part of this posse and he had photographs of them all. Was very cool that he shared his stories and invited us to his home to see his work. 

   

We then went to another artist’s home, and all I can remember is there were lots of nudes. That is the only notes I took on that. 


We got a much needed break for pool and nap at the hotel, then before dinner we got into 5 vintage cars and took an hour long ride around the city of Havana. It was magical! I was in a car with Erica and our host from the Center for Cuban Studies Marie. I dubbed our car the reggaeton car, when I asked our driver to play some music, we landed on “Despacito” to our delight! We laughed a lot on this ride! I did not want the ride to end, but it did at a lovely restaurant, where we had a great meal, cigars, and rum. Typically wonderful. 

The Entourage

Erica and I in the Reggaeton car! 

Those tiles, tho! Obsessed.

Cuba - Dia Cinco - Profesor, Rom, Cigarros, Nadar en piscina, y Buena Vista Social Club!

Dia Cinco - Profesor, Rom, Cigarros, Nadar en piscina, y Buena Vista Social Club!

Un otra día muy ocopada. Another day, very busy! We started off with a visit to a professor of Jesus, a Cuban consulate and historian Pepe Viera and his wife Cecilia. He spoke about his time working for the Cuban US relations consulate. I cannot lie, I was tired, and maybe wasn’t paying the closest attention. I had to rely on my fellow travelers to help with some details. He and his wife welcomed us to their home and served coffee and cookies.

Then we popped over to a cigar and rum factory, where we met, my favorite Cuban. A grumpy, gruff, sarcastic, no-time-for-you guy named Carlos. He sold us some rum, Tatiana told me he started working as a bouncer, and worked his way up to the sales floor. We had time after lunch to do some shopping thru Old Havana, then a little time to chill. I went up to the pool at the hotel. We then had dinner at the Hotel Nacional, and saw the Buena Vista Social Club perform. Sarah was picked out of the audience to dance with one of the performers. It was amazing! Luckily, she was trained as a ballet dancer in her younger years, and looked totally natural up there. I know for sure, not all of us would have been so graceful. 

Carlos!

Kathryn and Marla at the Hotel Nacional

Sarah gets lifted

Buena Vista Social club players

Cuba - Dia Quatro - Tobacco

Dia Cuatro - Tobacco 

Alfredo the Tobacco farmer taught us the process of growing and drying tobacco leaves, and then demonstrated how to roll a cigar by hand. He ran a farm called Finca Roja. He was the son of a tobacco farmer, who was the son of a tobacco farmer…and so on and so on for like a very long time. 

It was about this time when Hurricane Micheal’s effects were being felt. The morning was rainy but by lunch time it was coming down pretty hard. We had lunch at this amazing organic farm. Another delicious meal. We then had plans to go to a art center for children and adults with Down Syndrome, but on the way we were stopped when there was a huge branch blocking the road. We tried another way and another tree! We had to cancel, and make our way back to Havana. That evening I had dinner with my mom, Marla, Erica, Kathryn and Sarah. We took a small elevator to the 3rd floor and had a nice dinner. Erica dealt well with the small elevator. She's trooper! 

Alfredo teaches us about tobacco, Jesus translates

My favorite little dog

Rainy Day Doggy at Finca Roja - Hurricane Michael came through