In Baracoa, a photo from Guantanamo, East

Photographer's Note

In this weird time, when I have been already staying at home for almost three months and I have no plans for the journeys, I look at my archive pictures, something's rarely happened before. and I am easily inspired. This time the inspiration was rather indirect :).

Crumbling Havana, colour-splashed Trinidad and Viñales’ prehistoric landscape are top of the list for visitors to Cuba, but Baracoa – a municipality in the eastern tip of the country – rarely gets a look in. Yet this is the land of chocolate and coconuts, jungle-covered mountains and hidden sandy coves. Among Cubans, it’s said to be home to the country’s most beautiful scenery, while for tourists it remains a little-known paradise. While Cuba is relatively flat, in Baracoa the country folds up into mountains which encase the small town, threaded with 29 rivers with melodic names which roll off the tongue: Toa, Duaba, Yumurí, Miel. These rivers slowly wind their way through rows of palm trees down the ocean, an azure front that Baracoa backs onto. It’s a beauty that photographs struggle to translate, when your cheeks sting from sweat and the sun and you hear the rustle of the palms as you slip along the mauve-tinged waters of one of its rivers at sunset. Getting to Baracoa has never been easy. For nearly 500 years – until the 1965 La Farola road was built – the town was practically cut off from the rest of Cuba. The mountain road is torturous but the journey is worth it, finishing in a place even older than dilapidated Havana. This was the first town in Cuba, built in 1511 in a place whose beauty seduced Christopher Columbus in 1492. Power and influence may have drifted up coast long ago, but what remains today is a vibrant town enveloped by a natural Eden.(https://suitcasemag.com/travel/explore/baracoa-cubas-best-kept-secret/).

What you read here is true. Baracoa is far from other popular places in Cuba, not so easy to get there, so it is a great pleasure to be there.
I hope you will like this mural. What is fantastic in Baracoa is that music is everywhere there.
Mariana Grajales Cuello (July 12, 1815 – November 23, 1893) is a Cuban icon of the women's struggle and the fight for an independent Cuba free from slavery.
There will be also Workshop.
better view in the large format:
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/76332/zzdsc9424.jpg
The same mural here:
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/76332/zzdsc9427.jpg
Another music mural here:
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/76332/zzdsc9386.jpg

holmertz, pierrefonds, johnjmoe, jhm, jean113, jemaflor, worldcitizen, PaulVDV, PaulVDV, ktanska has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (222721) 2020-06-09 0:58

Ciao cara Malgo, nice scene with lovely people and fantastic murale, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

holmertz (103510) 2020-06-09 1:32

Hello Malgo,
I sincerely think you should spend more time at home and pay more attention to your huge archive. ;-) This is a very good photo showing people relaxing in the small park with a fine painting on a wall. Nice colours, nice atmosphere and generally an interesting photo. Both paintings in the WS are also very good.
If it hadn't been for the pandemic we would probably never have seen these photos. ;-)
Kind regards,
Gert

alvaraalto (42804) 2020-06-09 2:40

Hello Malgo,
Although the current situation has more disadvantages than advantages, the chance to study your photo archive extensively is one of the few advantages, because what could be more pleasant than wandering past many good memories and finding inspiration for new journeys when everything is a little normal again.
Beautiful memory of Cuba.
Have a nice day, groet Rob

pierrefonds (115384) 2020-06-09 5:00

Hi Malgo,

You have capture well a daily life scene. The point of view is showing the details of the mural. The light is bringing out the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211738) 2020-06-09 5:57

Hello Malgo,

An archive is always interesting with this very successful pictures.
Nice detailed image.
An excellent picture, sharpness and clarity are pleasing to look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

rychem (72187) 2020-06-09 8:09

Fajna scenka, chyba popoludniowy odpoczynek, murale sa rzeczywiscie bardzo ladne i ciekawe, może pokazesz cos z tego rajskiego otoczenia :)
pozdrawiam Ryszard

jmdias (116287) 2020-06-09 9:51

malgo

beautiful murals with the real personages in front. I liked the quality of the light in this main post.

take care

jorge

lousat (139890) 2020-06-09 13:10

Ciao Malgo,I also haven't traveled in a long time and I feel like I'm in a cage. Your memory from Cuba makes me very happy, I have never been to Baracoa but the photo is enough for me to breathe the magical atmosphere of this island. We hope to leave soon but my first trip will certainly be in Italy, luckily in many regions the virus has practically disappeared. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

jean113 (28219) 2020-06-09 13:27

Hello Malgo, a very interesting note.
The Cubans love of music and dance is very obvious when we view the colourful murals. They are painted in a rather naïve style, which is charming.
A lovely picture of everyday life.
Kind regards, Jean.

Tue (93280) 2020-06-09 13:35

Hello Malgo,
A very nice impression of daily life in Cuba. I like the relaxed mood created by the people sitting here quietly in the shadows. The yellow walls bring colour to the photo, just as the wall painting in the background.
Lars

jemaflor (148072) 2020-06-09 23:54

Hi Malgo,
Interesting photo of your archive pictures ... before a new journey ...
Colorful with mural and all these people, good quality, sharpness and light, tfs.

ifege (49223) 2020-06-10 0:21

Hi Malgo
A good street photo/art series.
We're getting away soon for a couple of weeks as we've had enough just sitting around. We can now travel freely within the state so we're off next month to the NSW outback.
cheers
Ian

worldcitizen (16226) 2020-06-10 13:28

Hello Malgo,
It's nice to see all this art from a lesser-visited part of Cuba. I like the way everyone is casually sitting around. I can imagine them enjoying music in the streets, too. The man in the left seems to have noticed you. :-) I hope you're doing well.

PaulVDV (63402) 2020-06-11 9:43

Hello Malgo,
The place seems to be quite relaxed. Many people have time for a chat outside in front of the large murals.
While we see the wall drawings better in the WS, your main photo shows a pleasant atmosphere with a lot of Cubans.
Best regards, Paul

ktanska (45018) 2020-06-11 10:58

Hi Malgo,
These older pictures are wonderful. These people are obviously in no hurry. As if they would just be waiting for evening before they start imitating action on the mural, playing songs and dancing.
Kari

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-06-19 3:17

Hello, I have never visited the east part of Cuba. People are relaxing in that small square. The mural that represents musicians draws attention. Excellent daily life shot. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.