Making her mark...
Hello from Nicole. I'm writing today because Lorna is stuck in the room, very "mal de estomago." (Upset stomach.) We went today with Ilena and Arnoldo, our new friends from Santa Clara. They are absolutely wonderful people - starting as contacts, and turning into real friends. They took us up the mountains to see the beautiful plants and environment of Cuba in the highlands. Then we went down the other side of the mountains into Trinidad, where we saw a completely preserved colonial city. When the sugar industry died in the early 1900's, nobody modernized the city, and what is preserved today could be exactly what it feels like in a Spanish colonial city. Many of the local artisans produce the kind of lacy tablecloths that my Oma and her mother made, with the fabric cut out and hand stitched.
It was in this town that Lorna started really leaving her mark in Cuba. It was in front of the art museum that she let loose with her entire contents. And she has continued leaving her mark since then. Poor thing. Driving back, she would ask to stop, and leave her mark wherever we were at the time. We made jokes about it, but poor thing, she was really miserable.
Beyond Trinidad a few miles is the south coast of Cuba. This is the side of Cuba where the sand goes down precipitously - but it is still icy blue colored with white sands. It was calm and warm - absolutely beautiful. The north side of the Island has a much more gradual incline into the ocean, so it is the prefered side for the beach goers.
I have only a few minutes to tell the stories of the day, but suffice it to say that our friendship with Ilena and Arnoldo we fully expect to be lifelong. I hope that we may be able to come here to work on some project with Arnoldo sometime, maybe living in this country for a year or so. It seems that despite much hardship, and the difficulty that many of the artists and intellectuals have in feeling trapped from leaving here, the values and warmth of the community are so refreshing and livable. I know that Lorna would have a difficult time staying here without her fast internet and Cable TV, but I think it could be done, and a tremendously enriching experience.
Arnoldo also organized a tremendous premiere of the movie last night here with a club of documentary afficianados. We grabbed video of the rich discussion afterwards, and in short time, let me just say it was well-recieved. Joseph has been invited to live in Cuba once again. And there is interest in exposing the work to a larger audience - on Cuban TV! We are crossing our fingers that this could work out. I'm sure Lorna will say more.
Tomorrow we are back to Havana - the last day of the film festival. Look forward to more of the story-telling! Love to all family and friends.
It was in this town that Lorna started really leaving her mark in Cuba. It was in front of the art museum that she let loose with her entire contents. And she has continued leaving her mark since then. Poor thing. Driving back, she would ask to stop, and leave her mark wherever we were at the time. We made jokes about it, but poor thing, she was really miserable.
Beyond Trinidad a few miles is the south coast of Cuba. This is the side of Cuba where the sand goes down precipitously - but it is still icy blue colored with white sands. It was calm and warm - absolutely beautiful. The north side of the Island has a much more gradual incline into the ocean, so it is the prefered side for the beach goers.
I have only a few minutes to tell the stories of the day, but suffice it to say that our friendship with Ilena and Arnoldo we fully expect to be lifelong. I hope that we may be able to come here to work on some project with Arnoldo sometime, maybe living in this country for a year or so. It seems that despite much hardship, and the difficulty that many of the artists and intellectuals have in feeling trapped from leaving here, the values and warmth of the community are so refreshing and livable. I know that Lorna would have a difficult time staying here without her fast internet and Cable TV, but I think it could be done, and a tremendously enriching experience.
Arnoldo also organized a tremendous premiere of the movie last night here with a club of documentary afficianados. We grabbed video of the rich discussion afterwards, and in short time, let me just say it was well-recieved. Joseph has been invited to live in Cuba once again. And there is interest in exposing the work to a larger audience - on Cuban TV! We are crossing our fingers that this could work out. I'm sure Lorna will say more.
Tomorrow we are back to Havana - the last day of the film festival. Look forward to more of the story-telling! Love to all family and friends.
posted by Unknown at 5:00 PM
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