The DER below is from the expedition to Cuba that began on December 28, 2016.
We left the Port of Casildas near Trinidad at midnight and began making the long journey toward Isla de la Juventud (the Isle of Youth), where we will spend tomorrow. With a full day at sea, we took advantage of the opportunity to listen to talks pertinent to aspects of this voyage. In today’s world, very few people travel without digital cameras, so I began the presentations of the day with ideas on how to take control of the camera to make better travel photos. Naturalist David Cothran informed us about the tectonics, geology, and biodiversity of Cuba. In the afternoon, Susan Goldberg, the Editor-in-Chief at National Geographic Magazine and a guest on this voyage, told us about the principals for storytelling that National Geographic uses as guidelines for their content across all media platforms. She also showed us riveting videos that creatives are making in the field to tell more of their story.
Even as we make our way to a new destination tomorrow, some of us were still thinking about the wonderful time that we had in the Trinidad area yesterday. The people-to-people aspect of our voyage has been enlightening. Yesterday we visited the studio of a local artist, Lázaro Niebla, who makes beautiful woodcarvings of portraits of area farmers. These are made from salvaged shutters and doors as people renovate their homes. He talked about the importance of connecting with his subjects and the feel of the wood in each piece that he creates.
In the afternoon, some of us visited a former sugar plantation, Casa Hacienda Guaímar. After a tour of the grounds and old home, we talked with Chuchi, the man who oversees the property that at one time was one of the most important sugar cane plantations in the country. He talked to us about the harvesting of sugar cane and made us freshly pressed sugar cane juice (guarapo). Of course, since it is Cuba, we had the option to try this refreshing beverage on its own or with a splash of rum. Cuban hospitality is something that we’ve experienced during each of our visits to local businesses and homes, during the meals at the paladares we’ve dined in, and during regular interactions with Cubans on the streets. Seeing this beautiful country was a treat, and meeting its people, an honor.
