Trip to Cuba - March 7 - 14, 2003

Tiffany and I traveled to Cuba for the 16th convocation of the World Association of Sexology, where we represented Seattle's Sex Positive Community Center. I gave a presentations about the SPCC's goals and how we wish to help the world become a better place where people celebrate their sexuality as the gift to their lives it represents.

The trip had several aspects that made it an experience of a lifetime.

Cuba is the most repressive society I have ever visited. All advertising is for the government. The CDR - Committee for the Defense of the Revolution - is everywhere and watches all the people of Cuba. Police are everywhere. Society has deteriorated as the Cuban Peso that people are paid with are virtually worthless. No one has any real incentive to work. The US dollar is the de-facto currency now of Cuba and all Cubans are obsessed with earning them to make ends meet. Consumer goods we take for granted are unavailable.. All posters are government propaganda.

The conference was illuminating. Both Tiffany and I attended numerous sessions together and apart as our interests dictated. She loved the conference as much as I did. Several folks I knew from the IASHS where there too.

We were impressed and purchased some Cuban art. Art, unlike other items, can be brought back to the U.S. without regard to the regular $100 limit. We purchased paintings, hand-made jewelry, and carvings. The carvings are quite impressive featuring faces from Santeria, an African derived religion unique to Cuba.

Here are some of the photos I took with my little Casio 3.3 mp digital camera:

(Click on the thumbnail to see the full size version)

The Main Stage at the Convention	The Havana Libre - our hotel	Cuban art at the conference
Tiffany bought this artist's painting	Cuban kids greeting the attendees	Workers from a food stand dancing
A beautiful Havana sunrise	Robert and Lisa	Robert and Lisa
Tiffany looking at the bird	Tiffany feeding a bird a cashew nut	The bird grooming his foot
The balcony of our suite	Tiffany on the balcony of our suite	A Cuban bus
A painting Tiffany wanted we didn't buy	The National Hotel	The National from our suite's balcony
Another view from our balcony	A view of the busy corner from our balcony	Another view from our balcony
One of the vultures flying around the hotel	A Cuban building with an old car	A beautiful old Cuban Caddy
Interior view of a Cuban apartment	Yet another political billboard	A Havana street scene
Another Havana street scene	A Havana side street	Another typical Havana building
Tiffany looking at a deteriorated building	Tiffany with a friendly Cuban named Daniel

 

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