Those Walls Have Eyes

[asnow]

Just got back from a photo workshop in Cuba with Doug Kaye. Here is the first of many posts to come.

[Runmonty]

Very nice asnow. I love the colours.

I look forward to hearing more about the workshop and perhaps seeing some more photos (hint hint)

[Marko]

nice one asnow - I, too, look forward to more.

[asnow]

Thanks Runmonty and Marko. The trip was advertised as a photography workshop however it was more a well organized trip designed for photographers. There were ten of us. As much as regulations has loosened in the US to go to Cuba it still has to be a cultural itinerary. They are not allowed to do an official workshop or simply a vacation. The itinerary has to be submitted to the US government for approval. As a result there were a lot of items such art galleries, museums, ballet school, boxing events, cigar factory, farms, etc included in the itinerary. However with some of the loosening the number of Americans has skyrocketed. Doug Kaye said that when he went in Jan 2015 he only saw about 3 tour buses in the small town of Vinales. On our trip the town was full of tour buses. Problem is Cuba is not prepared with the infrastructure (hotels, guest houses, etc) to handle this new influx. As a result, accommodation is getting much harder, and I assume to go with it more expensive. The majority of tourists were American and German. Funny thing was I never came across one Canadian tourist even though we haven't had any restrictions. I guess Canadians go to the resorts and lay on the beach for a week and don't spend time in the cities.

[Marko]

Cuba was incredibly popular with Quebecers until this year because it was one of the cheapest sun-vacations that included all you can eat and drink packages ....prices are shooting way up due to this new (American) demand so Cuba will be much less popular with Canadians from now on. Floridians should expect more Quebecers because of this. The VAST majority of people I know who have gone to Cuba never visit Havana for the exact reason u mentioned.

I did do one of those vacations, I admit, and it wasn't my thing. Havana is where it's at and I expect to get there one day.

[asnow]

Very nice asnow. I love the colours.

I look forward to hearing more about the workshop and perhaps seeing some more photos (hint hint)

nice one asnow - I, too, look forward to more.

Runmonty, Marko. Be careful what you wish for ..... you are now getting lots more photos. Hope you don't get too bored with them all.