Linda and I left the tour along with the others but asked our guide for suggestions. We wanted to find some street photography possibilities- people and places a bit off the beaten path, the road not yet traveled.
He wrote down a name: callejon de Hamel. He said to find a taxi driver, negotiate a price, and he would take us there. Linda also wanted to get a statue of Santa Barbara for her sister, who collects religious icons. This saint‘s day was December 4 and this saint is very important to the Afro-Cuban cultural and religious community, so she was hoping to get one. The crafts market was closed today. Could she get one? Could we do both at the same time? He thought we could. He said that 40 CUCs was the going rate to do the trip.
We waited in the street for awhile, then crossed the street, and eventually noticed a blue and white Bel Air convertible. Was he free? He was. His name was Michel. Did he speak English? Yes, he did. We were off. We careened through the streets of Havana, seeing the blur of buildings and then he stopped.
This young lady is playing with a small phone, above; below, our driver Michel poses in one of the rooms of the installation, showcasing the work of one of their artists.
