There is no place like Cuba. And
you can get pictures in Cuba you can't get anywhere else. It is a photographer's
dream. I've been to Cuba sixtimes now and am planning to go again in October
of 2024. I've got the experience, the connections and the locations. I'm not
a travel agency. I'm a working, professional photographer with experience
over much of the world. A couple of times a year, I put together a trip specifically
for photographers.
IMPORTANT FACTS WHO
CAN GO? ITINERARY
THE
PHOTOS BACK
TO DOUGLAS HENDERSON
What you would see, experience and photograph...
Havana
This may be the best place in the world for street photography. Havana's
crumbling colonial architecture, the classic American cars, it's parks, monuments,
the largerst cemetery in the world, the ancient Fort Morro, the very open
friendly people, the dancers, the skyline. But Cuba is more than Havana. A
lot more.
Malecon. Along the seawall of Havana is a highway and boardwalk where
everybody hangs out. A people watchers smorgasbord.
Santa Clara. SC is a provencial capitol located more or less, in the
center of the island. This is Che' Quevera's town, his mausoleum is there,
maybe the most sacred place in Cuba.
Trinidad, an ancient colonial city on the southern coast. Built in
the early 1500's, cobblestone streets, belltowers we can go up in a shoot
the city.
The Bay of Pigs, where at the height of the Cold War, an American-backed
invasion of Cuba went wrong. In spite of being named "bay of pigs",
this is a very pretty little fishing village. We stay right on the water.
Pinar Del Rio, where the finest tobacco is grown and the finest cigars
are rolled.
the Mogotes, the unique geological formations that make this landscape
so photogenic. These are laced with caves and tunnels. We may go in some of
them.
Vinales, considered to be the most beautiful, scenic area of the entire
island of Cuba.
THE IMPORTANT FACTS are:
TRIP DATES; departing October 5th, 2024, returning
October 14..
TRIP COST; The exact figure we are still
working on, as prices change without notice in Cuba. At this time(early September)
we expect the cost to be approximately $3,000. plus the cost of airfare, typically
about $800.
COST INCLUDES;
*Cuba
Travel Visa
*Insurance as required by the Cuban government
*Lodging
while in Cuba.
*Transportation
on the ground
*
an interpreter
*
entrance fees to several locations
*
some meals
WHO CAN GO?
It is important to me that this trip be a good fit for you. My trips are designed
for photographers and the photographs are what we are after. But you don't
need to be a professional photographer.
A non-photographer spouse or friend can go, I'm okay with that...but they
need to be okay that the pacing of these trips revolves around the photos.
If we need to wait for the light... we will wait.
The trips are...adventures, not luxury cruises. I won't put you in any danger,
we won't be hang-gliding or bungee jumping. We may do some mild hiking, but
not for great distances. There is nobody to carry your bag or rub your feet.
The food is fine; but these aren't five-star restaurants. No massuse. No cruise
ship, No luxury hotel.
Planned Itinerary:(subject to change: this IS Cuba!)
Sometime in September; A pre-trip meeting, where you will get to meet your
fellow travelers, learn a lot of details, learn what you need to take.
October 5. 1st Day. We would fly
from our perspective cities to Miami, Florida and then on to Santa Clara,
Cuba, where classic American cars will pick us up at the airport and take
us into town. We will spend the night at a small hotel, about a block off
of the main square.
Octoberber 6. 2nd Day. Our small, private (1954 Chevy Panel Wagon) bus will
take us to several photogenic places around town, including Che Quevera's
mausoleum. We also plan to take a train trip(Cuba commuter train, NOT a dinner
train)Later that day we will head south, through a national forest, to Trinidad,on
the coast, spending the night there.
Octoberber 7 3rd Day, Trinidad is an ancient city, much of which has been
preserved. We will shoot lots of streets scenes and go up into bell towers
to shoot morning views over the city. There is also sort of a steam train
graveyard on the edge of town which makes some very interesting photos. Mid
day we'll leave Trinidad, working our way toward Artemisia. Near Artemisia
there are the ruins of an ancient coffe plantation. We hope to spend the night
in Artemisia, but planning things in Cuba is difficult. This is NOT a tourist
destination and there are no facilities for tourists. But we'll see.
October 8, 4th Day. We continue on along the coast to Bahia de Cochinas...."the
Bay of Pigs". We'll spend the night at Playa de Largo, right on the water.
Very peaceful. While I haven't done this before, this time, I'm going to see
if I can get one of the fisherman to take me out in his boat, to shoot him
fishing.
Octoberber 9th 5th Day; Leaving the Bay of Pigs area we will go through Pinar
del Rio, spending the morning in and around Pinar del Rio. We will visiting
a cigar factory where dozens of workers roll the best cigars in the world.
But this is iffy, the factory isn't always open. (?!)Then across the valley,
checking out tobacco farms and farmers, horse- and ox-drawn carts and plows
as we go. Since we are on OUR schedule... if we see something interesting...
and we will...we'll stop and shoot it. However long we choose to be there.
October 10th, 6th Day. Vinales. The unique landscape around Vinales could
occupy a photographer for days. We will check out the Mogotes, and the caves
that run through them. Near here is a small tobacco farm where the farmer
will show us the ins and outs of Tobacco farming and roll us a few cigars.
Octoberber 11th 7th Day. We will head on up the coast to Havana, . It's not
too far, but we take a back road that takes longer, but provides more for
us to see. We'll arrive in Habana (Havana) mid afternoon. We will stay in
"Casa Particulars" (sort of like a bed-and-breakfast), in a building
that's right on the Malecon, next to the sea. There is soooooo much to shoot
there. We have reserved (subject to Cuban way of doing things) the rooftop
apartment in this building. At night we will sit up there, smoke cigars( I'll
teach you if you don't know how) and drink rum(not a requirement) and look
out over one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
October 12, 8th Day. Full day in Havana. Lots to see, do and photograph in
Havana, We'll use classic American cars for some of running around Havana.We
will only scratch the surface of all the stuff there is to see and shoot in
this city.
October 13 9th Day.
We will Leave Havana mid-morning,returning to the US, arriving back in Tulsa,
about 9 pm.
Can you bring back cigars and/or rum? Well, that's hard to say. The restrictions
on bringing these goods into the USA seem to change each year. I'll have more
info on this as our time gets closer.
I am happy to talk to you about the trip, no obligation to you.
Call or text me; 918-688-9606(CST zone)
Message me on facebook
Email dh@douglashenderson.com.