Typical street scene in Guantanamo

 

 

Visiting the home, also a museum (El Centro de Arte y Literatura Regino E. Boti),  of Regino E. Boti, one of Cuba's greatest poets.  Pictured are Dr. Roberto Pun, Guantanameran surgeon, Sole, grandson Regino Rodriguez Boti, and Sandy, Spanish teacher and most excellent interpreter

 

Saying our good-byes:  Dave and Jorge, our host at ICAP in Guantanamo-- we won't soon forget his story of the two lovers of Havana!

 

Our carriage awaits--off to Baracoa!  This bus was also a donation by the Friendship Association.

 

Roadside stop on road from Guantanamo to Baracoa

 

A welcome sight!

 

View of El Yunque, Baracoa's landmark, from our hotel, El Castillo

 

Another view from hotel

 

 

Panoramic of Baracoa from Hotel Castillo: Go to link below and let it load first (it may take a minute or two and first you will

 see bars then individual pictures will emerge and finally it will be loaded - you can start moving around when you see the bars)

                   and then you can move up and down and around with your mouse.  Push down on your left mouse button to move around the pictures. 

http://www.a1astudio.com/cuba/baracoa-c1.html

 

Here is the same type of picture movement in flash: 

http://www.a1astudio.com/cuba/baracoahotelcastille.html

 

Street mural by one of local artists (Caboverde).  Che is a popular theme--he sells well to the tourists.

 

Polimitas are beautiful colorful snails, which are only found in Baracoa and are endangered.  The Friendship Association has been an active participant in helping produce these posters which encourage one and all to protect them (and not use them in making necklaces) as they are part of the Baracoan heritage, as well as the world's heritage.

    

 

 

One of the highlights of the trip was the distribution among the painters of "the book":  "La Magia de sus Pintores" (The Painters' Magic), a project  of two years  by Soledad, the authors, the photographers, and the painters, which highlights the painters of Baracoa. For us "newbies" it  was a special joy to meet the painters and visit the studios of the "heroes" of this book

Pictured below is Luis Eliades Rodríguez Martinez, or better known as "Eliades".  His son is also an excellent painter, living in Havana, who we also had the pleasure of meeting.

 

In Roel Caboverde's home--painting his latest work

 

Caboverde in a different style

 

Work by Mildo Matos

 

In the studio of Orlando Piedra

Music from "Bésame Mucho" by Duo De Reyes--Elio y Maria de los Angeles

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