Cuba :: Part I
April 5, 2006
Earlier this evening I posted a short entry with a link to my first round of photos from Cuba, thinking I would be off to bed soon, but since my internal clock is still fairly out of whack I'm taking advantage of it to get this ball rolling. I feel like I was flung from Havana back to Los Angeles in a slingshot; within minutes of stepping off the plane two days ago I was dealing with all the details surrounding this weekend's moving marathon. I am in the midst of packing up our Venice house, which gets moved on Saturday, then we head up to Solvang to finish packing that up. The movers show up there on Monday, and will be unloading at our new house Tuesday. Time and stillness are precious right now, and I am happy to be awake so I can begin to share some stories from the most beautiful and fascinating trip I have ever experienced.
I honestly do not know where to begin. I have spoken to a few people about the trip and it has always taken me a minute or so to start. Havana, Cuba is a place of contradictions. Beauty + decay. Sadness + warmth. Creativity + anger. Control + rebellion. Every single frame that your mind takes in is full of so much information – so much to see, process, ponder and examine. At times it felt impossible to take it all in. I took more than 1000 pictures and I could have taken ten times as many. Everywhere I looked I found intriguing compositions, textures, colors and images. Whatever my eyes found to set themselves on had some kind of remarkable story.
This tiny island 90 miles from Key West has been through so much. I have barely begun to understand the details of the history of Cuba, but what little I learned on this trip is astounding. I have been quite blessed to have traveled to many places around the world, but never have I felt a country's history – and the effects of that history on its people – so acutely. I am not sure what it is about Havana, but there is something unique that managed to seep into my skin and is not about to let go; with every step I took throughout
the city roots began to take hold. By the time I left I knew this was a
place I must return to again and again.
"Everything I thought I was is crumbling and I have yet to discover what is going to emerge…" -Journal entry March 26, 2006, my first full day in Havana, Cuba.
oh the richness of your words. clearly this has changed your life. and the idea of the slingshot…hmmm…i do hope you give yourself permission to rest your mind and body a bit over these next few days. as you continue to take in your experiences in cuba and the shifts in your life as you move into a new space. blessings to you through it all.
wishing you grace and ease on your moving journey…
and knowing you lived with grace and ease on your havana journey.
so powerful…i have always wanted to visit cuba. i love getting to visit through all of your travels. i am able to melt into different worlds through you. thanks for sharing. it is a blessing
the cards are on the way. take care this week and next while you pack.unpack.and move into your next adventure…k
Amazing. I cannot wait to hear more. Loved the photos!
I love when a place gets into me like that. I look forward to hearing more and looking at your pictures…i’m off to do that now!
oh wow! i’m so fasciniated by your desciption of cuba’s impact on you. i don’t guess i’ve ever had a place that took ahold of me quite like that and reading about it makes me hunger for that kind of experience.
That’s so cool! What a wonderful place to visit. Post more photos!
Thank you for taking me to a place I’ve always wanted to see and know.
Beauty + decay…exactly as I picture it. Off to look at the photos now. Can’t wait to hear more…
What an amazing journey! I have a few friends that went and worked in Havana and the around the country that had similar responses to the country and it’s people. It has given me a deep longing to go someday.
We will be moving to Africa next year and I hope to find the rich experiance and connection to it that you have had to Cuba.
Good luck with the move!
Welcome back! I can’t wait to hear more about this remarkable journey!
“Everything I thought I was is crumbling and I have yet to discover what is going to emerge…”
What an amazing quote! So eloquent! I was sure it came from a published book…like The Journal of Solitude or something! You are amazing!
I’m so glad you are back so happy and well and I have held onto my last card and now have a whopper mini-package and long, long letter to send you! I PROMISE my postal paralysis will be broken this week. Good luck with all your moving and finding many new places for all your favorite things in your new place. I look very forward to following along on your adventure.
xoxo
wow. that is all i can say for now. xo
beautifully said, wow…can’t wait to hear and see more