Cuba Libre

Protesters chanting "Patria y Vida" - "Homeland and Life"

The Cuban people have suffered enough. Today a new generation, a younger one, have taken to the streets of Havana and across all of the isle of Cuba. The youth are finally demanding a truthful, and long-awaited "Libertad" - a freedom. 

In 1958, a corrupt dictator, Fulgencio Batista was overthrown by a new ideology, and within seven years, a newly established revolutionary government had adopted a Marxist- Leninist approach - the Communist Party of Cuba -  thus beginning 56 years of oppression.

I traveled to Cuba on a journalist's visa and stayed over several times. The Cuban people are a proud, and a good people. And for the most part, like all things American.  Most envy the US.

 

Looking across the street from where I lived during my first short stay, staying with a young family.       

Old Havana, (La Habana Vieja) 1994.

 

 

 

Thankfully, they adopted me.  My Cuban family.  ‘Romilia’ and the girls celebrating a family birthday. And no, the TV didn't work.  We just played Parcheesi most nights on the floor.

 

'Malula' (12) beating me on the board, using buttons for pieces.

  

Romilia's upstairs apartment.

 

 

My sleeping quarter's upstairs from Romilia's. Viewpoint from my apartment's bed on the floor.

 

In 1998, I returned intentionally, to stay longer and to help with Gonzalo, Romilia and the girls - and photographically, to document the neighborhood.  

Below, the corner across the street in old Havana, in the neighborhood of Jesus Maria, where I set-up daily, my large field camera outside for a week, shooting B&W street portraits with interviews.  Corner of Calle Cardenas & Apodaca.

 

 

Elementary students wearing their national 'pioneer' school uniform.

 Upper-school students in uniform.

 

 

 

 

 

 Pride in their heritage, pride in their flag.

 

 

This younger generation above, now some 20 years on, have patiently grown, waited.  They deserve better. They deserve so much more.

Charlottesville, Virginia

 A brief history (of a good town).

 

Monticello, home to Thomas Jefferson

American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, musician, philosopher, slave owner and 'Founding Father' who served as the third president of the United States.  (Virginia, 1743-1826)

 

 

In August of 2017, a modern Charlottesville became the center of a bloody past, by national, well organized far-right groups marching under the name, "Unite the Right".

 

Confederate General, Robert E. Lee.  (Virginia, 1807-1870)

Some say the initial impetus for the Unite the Right march was the threat of removal of a divided people's Confederate Lee's statue (a last stand of sorts) from historic Lee Park, located in downtown Charlottesville. Two days of violent confrontation resulted - from a mob of far-right protesters clashing with mostly peaceful counter-demonstrators. Today, the Robert E. Lee statue remains.

 

 

 

Confederate Lt. General, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.   (Virginia, 1824-1863)

During the two-day August stand-off, both the Lee statue and one of a large, imposing "Stonewall" Jackson were each vandalized by counter-demonstrators. The graffiti left on the carved granite base of "Stonewall" Jackson's monument read, "1619" - a reference to the date the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia. This statue, also still stands.

 

 

 

On the rally's second day, on August 12th, with white supremacists loudly protesting under the 'Unite the Right' siege - a Charlottesville local, Heather D. Heyer was group targeted, plowed over by an on-rushing car and killed. A self-admitted "neo-Nazi" named James A. Fields, Jr, of Ohio, was later convicted of multiple federal hate crimes and sentenced to 'life'. That same jury recommended 'life in prison' with an additional 419 years. 

The victim, Heather Heyer was reportedly a well-liked and impassioned 32 year old 'C-ville' resident, who worked as a bartender, waitress, and part-time para-legal. (Virginia, 1985-2017)

In the photo below, a small painted portrait is referenced as Queen Charlotte (wife of King George III). Supposedly the "black Queen" of Great Britain and later Queen of the United Kingdom. (1744 -1818)

 

 

 

Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine - Visiting the memorial site shortly after Heather Heyer's death.  (Photo, public domain).

 

 

Approaching the fourth anniversary, the site today (not forgotten).

 

Update 

Little did I know, that 2 days after my leaving Charlottesville, the statues would come down. Few knew.

NPR link;

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/10/1014926659/charlottesville-removes-robert-e-lee-statue-that-sparked-a-deadly-rally

Eureka Peak, California

High in the Sierra Nevada's, from it's early California gold rush days, Eureka Peak was noted as the "Gold Mountain" for the rich treasure there, that long, hard, tunnel mining help produce.  Today, it's past has a way of leaving it's history behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ranching in West Marin

Cow Track Ranch, Nicasio, California

A family run cattle ranch, mostly of Black Angus, with a few Longhorns. 

Staying four nights in the "bunkhouse".

Hilltop view of the valley ranch below.

Calves corralled and selected for market.

A mother penned away from her calf.

Melissa and Bailey separating a few choice calves for the ranch's future breeding.

 

 

Pair of newly arrived young bulls from a ranch out of Idaho.

Bailey, taking me up on a hillside hike.

 

 

 

 

Local cream

 

Barn storage

 

"Adelaine" (one of the many free-rangers under my feet)

 

Wedding barn

 

Holly

 

Tango

 

The road heading out, with a sea-fog slowly settling in.

 

 

 

 

a differant era

Yesterday, late afternoon, I got 'called-out' while taking a photo, in a public place, at South Lido Park.

A young woman in a wedding gown had quietly appeared. Passing from a distance, a low cross-light shimmered off of her white sequined dress. I reached for my phone, never resisting an off-guarded moment.  I took one shot, and as I approached with a good friendly explanation, the female photographer attending, when she saw me, went into a hysterical rage. She demanded that I delete “all the photos". 

Bemused and amused, I gladly handed her my phone. And she did just that - deleted the one and only photo taken, and a great one at that. I would have willingly shared it with my blessings.

Which brings me back to an earlier era, an easier historic subject.

The once simple, mid-century attractive, and now the unoccupied Doctors Gardens building directly across from our long-standing Sarasota Memorial Hospital, is slated for an early fall demolition. My pediatrician from the 1950's, my early doctors and dentist - my oldest daughter's pediatrician (mid 70's) -  once, all had offices there. The property is now owned by a huge, expansive SMH hospital complex - and for them, now seems about the right time.

Doctors Gardens, 1880 Arlington Street, Sarasota, Fla.

 

The rear parking area showing the outside entrance to each medical office, with the upstairs balcony entrances approached after using either, the centrally located elevator and /or the outside stairs.

A missing 'D' has fallen from the word 'Doctors'.

Now that the Physicians are long gone, the hospital's contractors have moved in. 

Thomas with his ductwork pressure tester.

  

objects bought and found

"Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki" - A native Seminole (Mikasuki) description of a place to learn, a place to remember.

Some, forty some years ago, I purchased several articles of Seminole clothing, all used, and worn from years past. Men and women's personal clothing, all found neatly hanging from a 'sales' rack at the tribe's Miccosukee Cultural Center, then a roadside attraction off the old Tamiami Trail, in the heart of the Everglades. 

I remember the individual pieces being somewhat expensive for the time - a man's detailed, cotton patchwork jacket that I still wear on that rare occasion, and for my new wife, the outfit below, who wore the skirt once upon my insistence, but in reality buying all just to photograph each.

Recently, I came across one of my prints from back then, from 1978 - honoring those reclusive Seminoles, all who had purposely hidden deep within South Florida for nearly a hundred years.

 

Women's Seminole patchwork velveteen 'long skirt' - with sheer white (over-lay) cape top.  (1940's?)

 

 

waiting for that 1st student

I'm impressed. After 6 months (and possibly years), my darkroom is once again functional and well organized. Cleaning up from the flooding, from way back in November was the initiative. Keelie, my niece, was the helpful inspiration. Now just waiting for that first student. Someone who won't mind getting their hands wet.