The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Friday, May 6, 2016

Cuba - It's the people!

It's not about the first Carnival Cruise ship arriving last week or the Chanel fashion show on the Paseo or the thousands of tourists and all the glitz.  No, it's about the people. 
Just think about it, the places you knew, where you live, where you visit.  Sure, you can meet nice folks at the tourist magnets, but it only starts to get real when you go where people really live.
The gross disparity between the tourist areas and the glimpses I got into Habana Centro and some of the outlying areas continue to nag at me.  I mean we spent more on a single cab ride, about $10 US, than many folks make in a month.  People have never even had the opportunity, the luxury, of eating some of the meals we had.  An impossible dream for them.  They are living the dream... it's just a different sort of dream.
All of these were shot from the hip, trying to get candid shots.
Lots of folks just sitting and watching the world go by.  
 Voodoo?
 Santeria is visible everywhere.  It is the most popular religion in Cuba.
 And students in uniforms.  Cuba has such a commitment to education... uh, hello USA, Mexico, etc.
Tourists pay this woman for a cigar and a photo and she does quite well.
  And lots of classic looks. 
 Classic.
This is a pretty common sight, people with cells.  How they are logged in is a mystery seeing as though one has to purchase access which was expensive and sketchy.  Maybe they know something I don't... no doubt.
People watching.... it's the best way to see the world.

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