Going Blind

They’ve traveled the 400 KM from Trinidad, Cuba to Havana, Cuba twice. They spent eight days in Havana the last time while waiting to meet with doctors. Now it’s Official. My friend Regla’s husband Tomas has advanced glaucoma and has been told that surgery is no longer an option. It took over six months to get the diagnosis. There are no second opinions in socialist/communist Cuba.

He will go blind … soon.

I only hope that the government doctors are being truthful with them and not denying treatment for other reasons.

How do I now all this? Regla may be poor, but she is intelligent and resourceful. Regla is able to access an e-mail account two or three times a month and we correspond. I use an on-line translation website to read and write in Spanish.

Tomas Mailero

Regla

Their Family

Trade Shoes ?

This good-natured Cuban offered to trade shoes with one of us as we walked past. We all had a good laugh.

Shoeshine

This friendly man shines shoes in Trinidad, Cuba to earn a few pesos.

He talks and smokes and shines without missing a beat.

 

 

Cafe’

Hot, black, short, and strong.

That’s the way Cubans like their coffee (think espresso).
In Havana, lots of people sell shots of cafe’ from their doorways. They have their regular customers who stop on the way to work and pay a few pesos for their morning drink.

 

Havana Nights

Havana Nights

I love to photograph at night. Better yet, I love to photograph in the predawn hours when a city is dark and still. I can watch a city awaken as people start to go about their daily routines.

 

 

Fishermen along the Malecon get an early start.

 

A taxi driver catches some rest before his busy day begins.

 

I couldn’t tell if this car was “parked” or if it quit running right here.

 

Cubans wait at a bus stop on Paseo de Marti.