Comuna 13

Visiting Comuna 13 in Medellin, Colombia

Comuna 13

Visiting Comuna 13 in Medellin, Colombia

Angel, a Cuban from Havana who was selling clothes on the street.

Angel, a Cuban from Havana who was selling clothes on the street.

A Cuban woman makes sure her dog performs properly for passersby.

A Cuban woman makes sure her dog performs properly for passersby.

Elpidio was sitting on steps outside Havana's Cathedral, enjoying the last sun rays of the day.

Elpidio was sitting on steps outside Havana's Cathedral, enjoying the last sun rays of the day.

Pinar Del Rio

A woman threads freshly cut tobacco leaves onto sticks to dry them for cigar use.

A woman threads freshly cut tobacco leaves onto sticks. The sticks are then lifted into a barn to dry the leaves which will eventually become cigars.

A woman threads freshly cut tobacco leaves onto sticks. The sticks are then lifted into a barn to dry the leaves which will eventually become cigars.

Ronald shows us the different types of dried tobacco leaves used for rolling cigars in Pinar Del Río.

Ronald shows us the different types of dried tobacco leaves used for rolling cigars in Pinar Del Río.

A Cuban woman shows her cigar smoking skills in Havana.

A Cuban woman shows her cigar smoking skills in Havana.

This young man speaks perfect English, dabbles in French, Italian and is learning German. “Languages are my passion, I burnt the midnight oil learning English.” He attempted to flee to Florida but was picked up by the coast guard and returned to Cuba.

This young man speaks perfect English, dabbles in French, Italian and is learning German. “Languages are my passion, I burnt the midnight oil learning English.” He attempted to flee to Florida but was picked up by the coast guard and returned to Cuba.

A man supports his local junior high baseball team with his self-built bicycle-pump-air-horn. The huge baseball stadium built by the Soviets is mostly empty.

A man supports his local junior high baseball team with his self-built bicycle-pump-air-horn. The huge baseball stadium built by the Soviets is mostly empty.

Luis Benitez, beekeeper outside of Cienfuegos. All of the honey he makes gets returned to the government for packaging and resale.

Luis Benitez, beekeeper outside of Cienfuegos. All of the honey he makes gets returned to the government for packaging and resale.

Honey man

A Cuban shows the inside of a bee hive. All the honey in Cuba goes to the government to be bottled and distributed.

10 hours a day, 6 days a week, this Cuban rows for visitors to see the flamboyance (group of flamingos) of Guanaroca Lagoon bird sanctuary.

10 hours a day, 6 days a week, this Cuban rows for visitors to see the flamboyance (group of flamingos) of Guanaroca Lagoon bird sanctuary.

The tired face of a Cuban who is resigned to the poor Cuban lifestyle.

This Cuban invited us to see his extremely small house. Most would consider his abode to be not be fit for living. That would not deter this man from being proud of the property he has.

Two Cubans sit in a touristy area of Trinidad, accepting photo requests from passersby (for a fee).

Two Cubans sit in a touristy area of Trinidad, accepting photo requests from passersby (for a fee).

A Cuban sits in a touristy area of Trinidad, accepting photo requests from passersby (for a fee).

A Cuban sits in a touristy area of Trinidad, accepting photo requests from passersby (for a fee).

A deaf man stands in the sun in Trinidad, Cuba, selling trinkets made of grass blades.

A deaf man stands in the sun in Trinidad, Cuba, selling trinkets made of grass blades.

This young Cuban was the driver of this horse cart. I handed this man a 5 CUC tip (one sixth of Cuba’s average monthly salary). As soon as I turned around, his boss grabbed the tip from him.

This young Cuban was the driver of this horse cart. I handed this man a 5 CUC tip (one sixth of Cuba’s average monthly salary). As soon as I turned around, his boss grabbed the tip from him.

Fishermen outside of Jagua

Cuban sitting in the shade of the Cienfuegos Cathedral.

Cuban sitting in the shade of the Cienfuegos Cathedral.

Antibes sunrise yoga

Antibes