city of heroes: santiago

Parque Cespedes, the central square, the Cathedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion

The residence of Diego Velázquez, the conqueror of Cuba (1511). It is the oldest standing building in Cuba from 1522. Santiago was the Capital for a time.

The Ayuntamiente, houses municipal offices. From here Fidel announced the revolution’s victory 2 January 1959. He called Santiago “the city of Heroes ”

The wheels show the difference

In Cuba every vehicle has its guard

A variety of ways to travel

On the truck you have to stand , but the view is better

The “driver” of the 3 wheeled bicycle tried to convince us to ride. We prefered to walk, after our refusal he went to have his shoes shined. Hoping to convince us he is a serious man.

Waiting for a ride. They have limitless patience

What satisfaction! Is it from the camera or the pictures?

The man picked mangos. He gave us several for free The clock tower also touches

the sky

The girl with the red kerchief

A family meeting , the husband came to see his wife at work

Behind the security grill we found a sewing shop

Those were the days my friend : when the boys took the girls on their bike

The Central Agriculture Market

Not a lot of merchandise, but the saleswomen are wonderful

The meat spread on the counter, without refrigeration

The “selection” of salamis

She doesn’t have a lot of “meat”, but a lot of beauty

The butcher had a sense of humor

The fruit seller with papaya

Ketchup- sold in plastic bags

The selection is small but the smile is big.

They wanted our email. The question- given very limited access to internet in Cuba –is why?

Has he finished his work?

There are more uses for security grill than security

On the two sides of the memorial for a victim of Batista 4 months before the victory.

This is how they prepare mango juice

Watcher and walker, pleasure to the eyes

Entrance to the Museum of the Carnival The carnival in the street

Motherhood

Without words

The student

Walking in the street we discovered many classrooms opening onto the road

The children's response was very warm. The teacher wasn’t angry. Twice we were shown a page written in English asking for a contribution

Think of the hottest week in summer here in Israel and then imagine wearing nylons

Two ways to earn money,

Casa particular-renting rooms to visitors. This is the sign.

Or open a Kiosk from your window.

In Dolores Parque we encountered a class with their teacher. It was Jose Marti Day and after the ceremony they stayed in the park. They were gathered around a guitar player

singing “Guantanemera”

Then they engulfed the violinist

Which most interested them, the musician or the camera?

They were eager to display their English

I gathered them, we held hands and sang and danced Hava Nagila

Look how happy they are and all in white and blue

These are the teachers An older student (by the color of her skirt) also enjoyed the event.

Preparing for yearbook pictures

Many resident use “smoke bombs” against the mosquitoes

Juan, his son, his wife Nastia and her mother.

The street from Juan’s roof

The one on the right needs to tan more

Casa de la Trova

The music house was rocking, the music, and rum great. Cuba libre or mojitos, salsa dancing out of this world.

The lobby of a once grand hotel is a venue for a gallery of excellent art work.

The artists express the situation in amazing ways

Blowing in the wind

This is how we went to the bus station to buy a ticket to Trinidad

This is how we came back

The brothers, Fidel and Raul

Black cloud below, white cloud above

A rundown part of the city

Such wide streets and almost no traffic

The water had been free. Now the The water had been free. Now the pipes are being replaced and pipes are being replaced and meters installedmeters installed..

This gives an idea of how many This gives an idea of how many residents are behind the doorwayresidents are behind the doorway

From afar and close up

3 different windows on one wall

Posing on the steps

A place for children to play after school

The wonders of building and sculpture

The government shop for cakes , please note the wide selection.

A workshop . In Cuba they still repair things.

What is clear is that they are thirsty

This is street food

A bit of shade

She stood in the window with a happy smile

Our last night with Juan and Nastia. They surprised us with shrimp and ice cream. We surprised them with a cake, not from the government shop.

Past the church ,ice cream bought.Given mangos fresh picked from the tree.Finally something offered for free.Down to the port without a thought.Bicycle taxis want us to ride.You are busy shooting the tide.

Up the hill to the marketTwo of this, three of that.No food to eat , so why so fat?

Street pizza ,I can't hack it.One more stop this first day.With kids in Dolores we sing and play.

A poem by Nimrod

Experienced, photographed, edited

Rachel Algom

algomr1@gmail.com