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"If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." -- Michelangelo Buonarroti

114--The Caribbean: More than Rum and Cigars @ CherieSpotting     Jan 19 2003 - 16:59 PST cherie writes: Caribbean: More than Cigars and Rum Have you ever wondered what the Carribean is like? Do the women really walk around with fat cigars hanging out of their mouths? (Yes) Do the men really get to work by horse-and-carriage? (Yes) Do people really have to wait in long “bread lines?” (Yes) Can locals really buy a beer at a bar for less than a quarter? (Yes) Does everyone hate living under Communism? (No) The people are wonderful. They sit down and talk with you and tell you their life stories (then I translate these stories to Greg, Tom and Mike.) Not many people speak English here. You’re more likely to find someone who speaks Russian or German. Take a look at this photo essay to learn a little bit more about our Communist neighbors. *Unless noted otherwise, all the photos were taken by Cherie Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 5820    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Cherie and Greg weren´t paying attention while Tom was getting his hair cut. *Photo by Mike. This sign greeted us when we arrived. Three of twenty-one Cuban officials who boarded Scirocco upon arrival. Fourteen people and two dogs conducted a thorough search of Scirocco. Classic cars are oldies but goodies. It makes sense. Why not just use a palm tree to raise the flag? Mike, Tom and Greg relaxing at the Hotel Jagua. Art. Mike thinks this statue has "nothing" on him! Hotel Jagua. The view from Hotel Jagua. Mike, Tom and Greg in front of Club Cienfuegos. Political posters decorate most store windows. Funky front-yard art. So close, but so far away. A Cuban admires a yacht anchored off the coast. It may be a poor in parts, but the Caribbean is brimming with elegance and charm. Waiting for a client. Anyone need a manicure? Cars (like wine and women) get better with age. Even pretending to wait in line, we couldn't blend in. A "bread line." Inside a local church in Cienfuegos. All that bike riding can really make you tired. A school girl. Greg visits a local barber. Haircut or hairshave? Greg goes for the Eastern European look. Cherie approves! *Photo by Tom. Tom decides to get his hair cut, too! Tom gets a little more "taken off" than he anticipated. *Photo by Mike. Greg and his new haircut. *Photo by Mike. The barber´s table. Why wear a shirt on the job? Tom and Mike learning how it all works. This guy had the same number of brain cells as teeth. Two. Cherie and Ché. *Photo by Greg. The local kid´s playground. Even the "bad" neighborhoods are safe. A poster in a window. Mike blends in with the locals. Is the sky always red in a Communist country? It's a nice palace, if you like that sort of thing. The buildings are beautiful, even if they need a little loving care. A "taxi". Scirocco´s crew. They are just waiting to take someone for a ride. Club Cienfuegos as seen from Scirocco. Too young to smoke! At a cost of two cents per ice-cream, she can afford to eat two cones! The most popular mode of transportation! Lookin´ like a local. *Photo by Greg. Did we just travel back in time? Hanging out with my new friend. *Photo by Tom. Love is in the air. *Photo by Tom. Cherie´s new job. *Photo by Tom. I think this guy´s job is holding the door up. *Photo by Tom. One kiss before I leave. *Photo by Tom. Just having a smoke. *Photo by Tom. Carpool? *Photo by Tom. A father about to give his daughter away. *Photo by Tom. Mike and Ché. *Photo by Tom. Men trying to solve the world´s problems. *Photo by Tom. Who needs teeth to smoke a "fattie?" *Photo by Tom. Sunset kiss. Love is blind to politics. *Photo by Tom. When the sun sets, the day may end...but the night is just beginning. *Photo by Tom.