Cuba 2007

This past summer I went to Habana (not Havana!) Cuba. It was amazing for me to go and see where both my parents were born and raised. Of my family, only my mother knows that I went as it is very controversial to go to the island coming from a politically identifying "Cuban-American" family.

I went to Cuba through Cancun, Mexico and spent two weeks on the island. Admittedly, I was not prepared for a lot of things I found in Cuba. Dead dogs strewn and left on the streets, the pestulance, the miserable food and the seeming inability to fully rest comfortably. Yet, I was also surprised at how safe I felt in the streets and how friendly everyone was.

To answer the question that so many people ask me-- "Do Cubans want change or revolution on the island?"-- I have to say I came across mixed reviews. Everyone seemed to agree that changes needed to be made to their society and that better programs needed to be instated. Yet, no one outright said they believed or wanted revolution (except one taxi driver).

Here are some photos from my trip: