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 p.1 #4 · Street photo, Havana, Cuba | |
Poff Photo wrote:
I understand the "educational tour" is the only way to get there legally... Was it any fun? I really want to go but I hate those rigid vacations where every step is planned...
I had exactly the same reservations and resented having to be on a formal tour for U.S.-legal travel to Cuba. I am used to exploring on my own. However, the 2-week "educational tour" turned out to be better than my going independently or on a formal "photography" tour. Although the arrangers are in the U.S. (Road Scholar), the tour operators are Cubans who are eager to show and explain every level of Cuban society--rich and poor, city and country, old and new. We went to places I could never find or visit on my own, including ranches, small farms, farmers markets, very humble rural homes, schools, and many places "off the beaten track," far from the tired photo cliches of Old Havana and the 50's cars. Our Cuban guide was very well educated and gave very informative lectures, mainly as we traveled from place-to-place in the secure, air-conditioned tour bus. Her explanations gave much more meaning and understanding to what we were seeing. Often we would arrive at an old colonial town, visit some highlights with the guide, and then be on our own for an hour or two to explore (and photograph) on our own, before going to the next place. We stayed at various hotels across the island, and all but one were in the center of town, so we could explore before and after the formal activities. The light was very nice in April. Caribbean light is often just a little hazy, reducing sharp shadows. In addition, the narrow streets flanked by high walls had a lot of reflected light, especially good for photographing people with darker skin. Most old buildings in Cuba have high ceilings and large windows, so interior photos could be done with natural light (at higher ISO).
So, this wasn't too rigid. I would have liked more time on my own, but I got to see and photograph more on this kind of tour than I could have done on my own. For Cuba, I recommend it over independent travel. However, I look forward to the time when both can be combined--a tour for access, transportation, and orientation, and independent time added at the end.
Here's a map showing the areas we visited in our 2-week tour. We landed at Santiago de Cuba and departed from Havana.
http://cubit.smugmug.com/Other/Cuban-History-and-Architecture/i-GgkCs4W/1/XL/Cuba%20in%20carib-XL.jpg
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