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.